Reinforcing Maryland’s Pension System:
There will be extra contributions to the state Pension System exceeding the actuarially required contribution by $75 million in fiscal 2021 and $100 million in fiscal 2022, helping to accelerate progress toward past deficiencies. This is important as the pension system has been chronically underfunded, and this will get us back on track.
Continuing Commitment to Education:
K-12 public schools funding will exceed $7.5 billion. Direct aid to local school systems will increase an estimated $229.4 million, or 3.5%. $512 million, along with $80 million of federal stimulus funds has been added specifically for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements at public schools over the next two years.
Community colleges are receiving a 9% increase over fiscal 2021.
Independent colleges, including, McDaniel College, were fully funded.
Investing in Maryland’s Future:
Expanding Access to Broadband will be accelerated by $300 million of federal stimulus funding allocated to building out the infrastructure and subsidizing service and devices for low-income households. Carroll County should be ready to roll out the long-awaited plan for connectivity to every household and business in the county. The need for this has been more visible than ever as our students were forced to learn remotely and many had to work from home during the pandemic.
Expanding Workforce Training and Apprenticeships will enable the unemployed and underemployed to obtain jobs in the evolving economy, and will be enhanced with an additional $75 million investment.
Improving Health Care Services:
Increased Medicaid Funding will allow the State to provide coverage to over 1.5 million of our residents. Expenditures increase by about $673 million to support unprecedented enrollment growth of over 151,000 since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as provider rate increases.
Enhanced Services for Vulnerable Populations, a long overdue 4.0% rate increase, effective January 2021 for most health care providers, including those serving the developmentally disabled and people with behavioral health needs. Rate increases of up to 4.0% are authorized for group homes serving youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system.
Bringing projects home to CARROLL COUNTY:
$9,463,000 – Construction of Carroll Career & Technology Center
$1,500,000 – Grant to Carroll County Government for Local Parks & Playground Improvements
$1,200,000 – Way Station Behavioral Health Center – HVAC System Replacement
$1,000,000 – Carroll County Public Safety Training Center
$756,000 – Carroll Hospital Center – Surgical Peri-Operative & Post-Anesthesia Care Project
$200,000 – Hampstead War Memorial Park Revitalization
$145,000 – Morgan Run Trout Stream Accessibility Improvements
$50,825 – New Windsor Town Park Renovations
Legislative Bond Initiatives:
-
$175,000 – Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department
-
$120,000 – Carroll County Youth Services Bureau
-
$ 25,000 – Freedom Elementary School Playground
Governor Hogan and the Republican Caucus continue to advocate for tax cuts for our seniors to make sure that Maryland is a competitive state for retirees. We are consistently ranked in the bottom 10 of the least desirable states to retire. Unfortunately, none of the bills we supported made it through, including an amendment that would have taken the Earned Income Tax Credit offered to illegals and give it to our seniors. That was voted down along party lines.