A late-introduced bill, SB 1055, would require counties to maintain funding levels year to year across a wide variety of services labeled in the bill as “critical.”
From the bill, the essential provisions are excerpted below:
“CRITICAL SERVICES” MEANS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
(I) CORRECTIONS;
(II) FIRE PROTECTION, RESCUE, AND AMBULANCE SERVICES
(III) LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS;
(IV) PUBLIC LIBRARIES; AND
(V) TRANSPORTATION.…
BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND IN EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, EACH COUNTY SHALL APPROPRIATE LOCAL FUNDS TO EACH CATEGORY OF CRITICAL SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT THAT IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO 3
THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THAT CATEGORY OF CRITICAL SERVICES FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
Since SB 1055 was introduced after the formal filing deadline for Senate legislation, it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations. That Committee could re-refer the bill to the appropriate standing committee, very likely the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Read bill information on the Maryland General Assembly website, or read the bill text.
