05/08/2026
As 19 organizations working in Baltimore City, we urge Mayor and City Council to pass Council Bill 26-0172 and advance all of the important reforms to Baltimore City’s charter that it contains. Our budget is a statement of our values. The people, through their most directly elected representatives on the City Council, deserve more say in city finances. The amendments in 26-0172 would promote just that. Please pass Council Bill 26-0172 with these reforms intact to promote fiscal responsibility and economic democracy in Baltimore City.
As local representatives, City Council members are the people’s voice in our city government. However, the City Council’s ability to exercise substantial influence over the budget is limited by a lack of substantive authority, procedural restrictions, and a too-short timeline. The budget reforms contained in Council Bill 26-0172 will make the City’s budget and procurement process more democratic and accountable to City residents by:
⏱️Giving the City Council more time to deliberate on the budget, by removing the redundant Board of Estimates step from the process.
👏Allowing for the creation of non-lapsing funds, giving the City Council similar powers as other legislative bodies in Maryland and around the country to shape ongoing spending.
📋Allowing the Council to make conditional appropriations, which the Maryland General Assembly and Congress already can do. By requiring conditions like a detailed report or the attainment of certain metrics before releasing funds, the City Council will gain the authority to ensure that agencies are spending our tax dollars effectively and in line with legislative intent to ensure accountable and effective spending of City tax dollars.
🤝Improving the City’s procurement process by allowing more flexibility in decisionmaking.
