Current:Home > NewsMaryland lawmakers finalizing $63B budget with some tax, fee increases -MarketStream
Maryland lawmakers finalizing $63B budget with some tax, fee increases
View
Date:2025-04-16 19:23:27
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers headed toward a final vote Friday on the state’s $63 billion budget legislation, which includes tax and fee increases to help pay for transportation and education, though not as much as some lawmakers wanted.
The General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, mostly kept intact Gov. Wes Moore’s $63 billion proposal for the budget year starting July 1. Moore, a Democrat, submitted a balanced budget plan in January without tax increases.
A final vote would come as soon as Friday.
After negotiations between the House and Senate, lawmakers added some transportation-related fees that will raise about $252 million during the budget year. As part of the package, a new statewide fee of 75 cents per trip will apply to ride-hailing services.
Vehicle registration fees also will rise, and a $23 surcharge will help pay for rising costs of the state’s emergency trauma system. In addition, there will be a $62.50 surcharge on zero-emission electric vehicles to help make up for gas tax revenues that their owners don’t pay, and there will be a $50 surcharge on plug-in electric vehicles.
A variety of tobacco tax increases, including an additional $1.25 on a pack of cigarettes, will help generate about $91 million for K-12 education, though that is estimated to drop off due to a projected decline in tobacco use.
The revenues are focused on paying for transportation and the state’s K-12 education funding plan known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which phases in larger amounts of money to expand early childhood education, increase teachers’ salaries, and provide aid to struggling schools.
“We know that those things cost, and we do have to raise some revenues now and then to cover those costs, but I think we did it in an efficient way and a responsible way,” Democratic Sen. Guy Guzzone, the Senate’s budget chairman, told reporters Friday. He noted additional money for education, as well as for road projects, local highways and transits.
House and Senate differences on how much to raise new revenues held up passage of the state’s spending plan until late in the legislative session, which is set to adjourn Monday at midnight.
Last month, after the Senate passed its budget legislation, the House proposed a $1.3 billion plan to get further in front of expected education costs and transportation funding shortfalls. In addition to taxes, fees and tolls, it included corporate tax reform and a proposal to legalize internet gambling.
During negotiations, the Senate largely held firm, rejecting legislation to raise tolls, the corporate tax reform proposal known as combined reporting, and internet gambling. But the House kept pushing and managed to add some new revenues.
“We were able to thread the needle,” said Del. Ben Barnes, a Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
The revenue debate played out in an election year for an open U.S. Senate seat and congressional races, featuring the surprise U.S. Senate candidacy of former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who campaigned against tax increases to win his first term in 2014 in the heavily Democratic state and won reelection in 2018.
veryGood! (88)
Related
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Prince William Shares First Social Media Message Weeks After Kate Middleton’s Health Update
- Mother-Daughter Duo Arrested After Allegedly Giving Illegal Butt Injections in Texas
- Another Trump delay effort in hush money trial rejected, but judicial panel will take up appeal during trial
- New Orleans mayor’s former bodyguard making first court appearance after July indictment
- Internet providers must now be more transparent about fees, pricing, FCC says
- Tara VanDerveer retires as Stanford women’s hoops coach after setting NCAA wins record this year
- Today's Google Doodle combines art and science to get in on the total solar eclipse frenzy
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Rep. Ro Khanna calls on RFK Jr.'s running mate to step down. Here's how Nicole Shanahan responded.
Ranking
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- California court affirms Kevin McCarthy protege’s dual candidacies on state ballot
- Town creates public art ordinance after free speech debate over doughnut mural
- Crews encircle wildfire on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Eva Marcille Shares What Led to Her Drastic Weight Loss
- Oregon player comes forward as $1.3 billion Powerball lottery winner, officials say
- Alex Verdugo off to flying start with NY Yankees, embracing the new Bronx 'dawgs'
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Is the U.S. in a vibecession? Here's why Americans are gloomy even as the economy improves.
Yet another MLB uniform issue: Tigers' Riley Greene rips pants open sliding into home
Former Virginia assistant principal charged with child neglect in case of student who shot teacher
$1 Frostys: Wendy's celebrates end of summer with sweet deal
Hank Aaron memorialized with Hall of Fame statue and USPS stamp 50 years after hitting 715th home run
A new version of Scrabble aims to make the word-building game more accessible
Tax tips for college students and their parents