Governor Larry Hogan today submitted a $1.5 billion supplemental budget for fiscal 2022, including $1.4 in federal funds to support schools, low-income home energy assistance, childcare, and emergency food assistance for residents struggling amidst the pandemic. Although customarily accepted, supplemental budgets may only be attached to the operating budget by the consent of the legislature.
Governor Hogan emphasized additional resources to support the safe reopening of schools. “This supplemental budget provides further support for the safe reopening of Maryland schools,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to commend all the teachers, administrators, parents, and public health officials who are doing everything they can to give Maryland students the chance to get back in the classrooms safely.”
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the governor last month unveiled his fiscal 2022 spending plan. Overall, the $49.35 billion budget proposal — a 2.2 percent decrease over the current year’s budget — leaves a closing balance of $264.4 million at the end of fiscal 2021 and $191.8 million at the end of fiscal 2022. The Governor’s Budget provides $8.8 billion in aid to local governments — $216.6 million over fiscal 2021, the vast majority of which is in the form of education aid, which increases by $195.9 over fiscal 2021.
According to a press release:
Highlights of the $1.59 billion supplemental budget include:
- $931 million in funding for local school systems in support and targeted assistance for the safe reopening of public schools.
- $434 million in additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Pandemic EBT program.
- $128 million to support the state’s Child Care Scholarship program, including almost $60 million to help support licensed child care providers recover from the impact of the pandemic.
- $35 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund to support the safe reopening of nonpublic schools.
- $20 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund to support community colleges, private institutions of higher education, and competitive innovation grants.
In addition, the supplemental budget provides $9 million to support local health departments and $1 million for Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development to support the Maryland Housing Counseling Fund.
The supplemental budget is submitted to the legislature as an amendment to the governor’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022, which provides a record $7.5 billion for K-12 education, above and beyond the legislature’s funding formulas.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
Useful Links
Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Governor’s 2022 Budget Proposal – What It Means for Counties
Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Here We Go Again: Governor Revives SDAT Cost Shift to Counties
