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| This year, Baltimore City taxpayers faced the worst fiscal crisis in the City's modern history. Because of the global recession, city revenues have been hit hard, while the cost of providing basic services continues to grow. The gap between the cost of maintaining services and revenue was $121 million, equal to half the police force or the entire firefighter force.
Together, we confronted this crisis with honesty and shared sacrifice. We made the tough choices necessary to protect our core priorities-public safety and public education.
Despite a deficit equal to a 36 cent increase on the property tax rate, we did not raise property taxes to balance the budget, protecting City homeowners and businesses and promoting job creation and continued reinvestment in our neighborhoods. The real property tax rate will remain at $2.268, its lowest level since 1972. The Homestead Tax Credit remains at 4%, saving City homeowners $156 million in Fiscal 2010. We extended the Newly Constructed Dwelling Property Tax Credit-an important incentive, which encourages people to build and renovate homes in Baltimore.
The budget includes $36 million in tough general cost savings, with furloughs and the implementation of a new prescription drug employee cost-sharing plan. The savings ask a lot from our hard working City employees, but this shared sacrifice will prevent an additional 700 positions from being abolished.
Even after tightening our belt, without additional revenue the City faced the prospect of closing more fire companies, laying off hundreds of sworn police officers and firefighters, grounding foxtrot, closing dozens of recreation centers and swimming pools, cutting street repair, and abolishing nearly 1000 positions.
To prevent unacceptable cuts in public safety and essential city services, we worked together to develop a Comprehensive Plan to balance the City's budget without raising property taxes.
The Comprehensive Plan will close the $121 million budget deficit with $70 million in tough spending cuts and $50 million in new diversified revenue to fill critical gaps. The budget will fully fund our obligation to public schools, maintain every single police officer, reduce fire company closures, and keep all community libraries open-all without raising property taxes.
Because we didn't delay the tough choices and shirk our responsibility, the more efficient government that we have created will put Baltimore on sounder fiscal footing. After reviewing our budget, Standard & Poor's and Moody's affirmed our bond rating, saying the City's budget is "balanced through a broad-based restructuring of City services, indicative of [a] willingness to adapt to the current challenging fiscal environment..."
Working with the City Council, we enacted an 8-point plan to reform Police and Fire Pensions-a system that we inherited completely out-of-control and in crisis. We stood up and made the tough calls, so now our Police and Firefighters will have a competitive, dignified, and secure retirement plan that the City can afford. The restructuring saves more than $400 million over the next five years and has rescued the City from fiscal collapse.
Managing the dollars and public resources the citizens have entrusted with me is an awesome task, which I take very seriously. I am deeply committed to ensuring transparency and ethical conduct in City Government. Accordingly, we have overhauled City ethics laws to be the strongest in Maryland, created more independent oversight, and hired a new inspector general charged with investigating potential fraud and abuse. The taxpayers of Baltimore deserve nothing less.
With the Comprehensive Budget Plan in place:
- We will increase our efforts to target Baltimore's most violent and dangerous criminals, reduce gun violence, and invest in smart crime-camera technology.
- We will reduce rotating closures of fire companies to improve emergency response times and better meet the National Fire Protection standard.
- We will fully fund our City's obligation to public education-improving academic achievement and school choice for City families.
- We will invest in new innovative programs, like Teach For America and Experience Corps, that produce real results.
It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as Mayor for the past 142 days. I know that Baltimore's best days are ahead. Our City will emerge from this challenging time with better schools, safer streets, and stronger neighborhoods. |
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Sincerely,
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore
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No Kid Hungry Innovation Awards
Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need. The Family League of Baltimore City, Inc. has been selected as one of the national finalists in Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Innovation Awards. This award would enable Baltimore to expand the number of youth receiving nutritious meals, but your vote is needed! Please take a moment to visit http://www.strength.org/votetoday and vote for The Family League in Baltimore. You may cast your vote once per day. |
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Making the Learning Connection
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums, has launched a new national campaign: Making the Learning Connection. The campaign aims to engage museums, libraries, and civic leaders in meeting the 21st century learning needs of their communities. If you are interested in joining the conversation on Baltimore's 21st century learning efforts, please contact Buck Jabaily at bjabaily@baltimoreculture.org. |
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Training and Placement for Green Careers
Civic Works will promote sustainable employment in high demand "green collar" jobs for Baltimore's underserved populations. Funded by over $1
million in grants, Civic Works will expand its B'more Green program to train unemployed and underemployed Baltimore residents in providing
energy retrofit services. This is in addition to B'more Green's existing training classes in brownfields remediation, hazard abatement, and
environmental demolition. For more information on the Baltimore Center for Green Careers, please call 410-929-6124 or visit
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Northeast Neighborhoods Tri-Park Festival Saturday, June 26, 12:00 pm-9:00 pm
Lake Montebello, Herring Run Park, Clifton Park Hosted by the neighborhoods of Belair-Edison, Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello, and Greater Lauraville, the Tri-Park Festival will feature a full day of music, events, and healthy living. Daytime activities will take place at Lake Montebello and Herring Run Park. Evening musical entertainment will be at the Clifton Park amphitheater, featuring local jazz musician, Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes.
For more information go to www.triparkfest.org, email info@triparkfest.org, or call 410-235-6715. |
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City Sand June 26, 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Harborplace Amphitheater, 200 East Pratt Street Teams from local architecture firms will build sand sculptures at the Harborplace Amphitheater. The event is comeplete with music, a kid's sand box, street performers, and a giant sand sculpture made from 12.5 tons of sand.
For more information, visit http://www.harborplace.com/events/city-sand-2010. |
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LatinoFest Saturday & Sunday, June 26-27, 12:00 pm-9:00 pm
Patterson Park, Linwood Avenue and Eastern Avenue Experience a lively weekend of Hispanic arts and culture, featuring live musical performances, dances, food, and more. There is a small admission fee.
For information, call 410-563-3160 or visit www.latinofest.org. |
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Carnival Science June 26-27, 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Maryland Science Center, 601 Light Street You are invited to partake in traditional carnival activities like beanbag toss, face painting, juggling, hoop toss, water duckies, and more! While you're playing, you'll learn how science applies to each activity. All activities are free with paid admission.
To learn move, visit http://www.mdsci.org/events-calendar/events/CarnivalScience.html. |
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Community Day at Whole Foods Market Tuesday, June 29, 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Whole Foods Market Mt. Washington, 1330 Smith Avenue 5% of net sales will benefit Clean Water in Baltimore. From 10:00-6:30 kids will find great activities. At 6:30 pm in our Cafe, learn about tips, incentives, and simple practices to conserve water, and save money. Mt. Washington Mill will match funds raised at this event.
For more information, contact Molly Kushner at 410-532-6700. |
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Mt. Washington Farmers Market Wednesday, June 30, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
United Methodist Church, 5800 Cottonworth Avenue Each wednesday through November 17, browse organic produce, preserves, flowers, and much more. This year, the market is in a new location.
For more information, contact Molly Kushner at Whole Foods Market, 410-532-6700. |
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Harborplace's 30th Anniversary Junly 2-4
Harborplace, 200 East Pratt Street This landmark and icon of Baltimore turns 30 this year! Harborplace will celebrate this milestone with shopping offers, special events, entertainment, and much more!
For more information and event listings, visit http://www.harborplace.com/events/harborplaces-30th-anniversary. |
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Ports America Chesapeake 4th of July Celebration Sunday, July 4, 2:00 pm-10:00 pm
Inner Harbor Enjoy live performances by jazz band Lovecraft and the Naval Academy's Electric Brigade band. The fireworks start at 9:30pm and can be viewed from several locations in downtown and beyond including Federal Hill, Fell's Point and Rash Field.
To learn more, visit http://bop.org/index.cfm?page=events&id=42. |
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