As the session winds down, both the Senate and House have adopted their respective budget plans for the coming year – with a conference committee set to reconcile a shorter-than-usual list of differences.

For coverage of county issues in the two versions of the budget plan, see Conduit Street coverage:
House Budget Plan
Senate Budget Plan and County Issues Focus

From coverage in the Gazette:

Maryland’s House of Delegates approved a $38.7 billion budget Thursday that trimmed some spending growth from the governor’s original $39.2 billion plan but maintained a $200 million diversion of funds away from the state’s pension system.

It also approved a companion bill to balance the budget, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2014.

…

While the House plan passed, it does not exactly match what the Senate passed earlier this month — likely sending the budget to a conference committee in these final days of the session.

 

Coverage from WBAL TV includes more commentary:

Differences between the House and Senate will need to be worked out before the Legislature’s April 7 adjournment. Del. Norman Conway, a Wicomico County Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said differences between the House and Senate [aren’t] as big on the budget this year, largely because they are in agreement on using the pension money to make up a budget shortfall, instead of searching for a large variety of different budget adjustments.

Read the full WBAL coverage here.

Online links to budget information are on the Maryland General Assembly website.