The Baltimore City Council this week voted unanimously to approve Mayor Brandon Scott’s $4.33 billion fiscal 2022 budget, including $3.84 billion for operating expenses and $487.6 million in capital investments. The General Fund budget totals $2.01 billion, a 4.4 percent increase from the fiscal 2021 spending plan.
The budget maintains core City services, leverages federal aid to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and targets new investments to make the City safer, cleaner, and more efficient.
“From immediate necessities to long-standing priorities, a budget offers an intimate glimpse into how a city truly sees itself and what it values, said Mayor Scott. “Appropriately, fiscal 2022 candidly reflects the aspirations, plights, and essential needs of diverse Baltimore residents withstanding the blow from COVID-19.”
According to a statement from Mayor Brandon Scott:
Thanks to the Baltimore City Council for their leadership and commitment throughout this process. Though this budget is not perfect and hard choices were made, the City Council worked closely with my administration to produce a fiscal blueprint that every Baltimore resident can see themselves in and be proud of. Moreover, our collective efforts resulted in a tangible product that allows Baltimoreans to visibly make out the promising direction of our great City.
I vowed during the State of the City address to restore faith in City Hall and prove that local government can operate effectively and efficiently in the public’s best interest. The swift, unanimous support in passing this budget is a clear and direct sign of progress.
Fiscal 2022 Highlights:
- Maintains critical City services.
- Restores two graffiti removal crews, which were cut in the Fiscal 2021 budget.
- Maintains base property tax rate at $2.24 per $100, and preserves 20 Cents by 2020 reductions for owner-occupied properties.
- Utilizes $52 million of CARES and FEMA aid to support continuing COVID-19 response.
- Leverages City funds to access State weatherization resources, enabling the completion of 500 additional home projects.
- Continues implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Fiscal 2022 City Employee Highlights:
- $1.0M of Federal aid for cleaning and disinfecting City buildings.
- $0.5M for additional PPE purchases.
- $0.9M for employee screening and telework.
- $0.4M for employee COVID testing.
- No pay freeze requests to City unions; No furloughs or layoffs.
The fiscal 2022 budget will go into effect on July 1, 2021, and run through June 30, 2022.
