The Maryland state budget is finally agreed upon; but Republican lawmakers think the financial plan has flaws

MARYLAND. – Monday was the last day of the session, and lawmakers agreed in the final hours regarding the state budget. Unfortunately, while the Republican members on the minority side made their opposition clear, they aren’t able to do much about it.

District 38 State Senator, Mary Beth Carozza, believes some members of the General Assembly didn’t account for how the new plan will impact residents. “This was a very tough budget for Maryland across the board, and it didn’t need to be this way. The result was a $1.6 billion tax increase on Marylanders.”

The finalized budget will include budget cuts. Some vacant state government positions will likely be left unfilled. Some costs will travel to the local county level. And for those earning over $500,000 a year, they will be subject to higher taxes.

Governor Wes Moore outlined the plan in an address live-streamed here. “At the start of the session, I laid out 3 principles that our budget needs to meet. First, we need to reform our tax code, and we will not do it on the backs of middle-class families. Secondly, we need to grow the economy, and we need to diversify our economy off Washington – making Maryland more business-friendly, and lastly, we need to invest in our people.”

Delegate Wayne Hartman has concerns along with colleagues. He states this new budget will make Maryland less competitive against the neighboring states.

“Maryland is not perceived as a business-friendly state, we’re one of the highest tax states in the country. And if we’re losing federal jobs, we need to fill that hole with the private sector, and we haven’t done that at all.”

He believes this new spending model will destroy the image of the state. Senator Carozza feels the tax plan would push people away from the state, and make more residents inclined to move.

“Not only will we have more retirees or small businesses thinking about leaving the state, but it will be hard to attract others from other states to come to the shore to retire, live, work, and raise their kids.”

The minority party believes there will be a special session later in the year to rework the budget plan.

Many Democrats hope this model will reduce the budget for 2027. Making it a more manageable number in the end.