Baltimore County Executive Olszewski: “You put all of that together and it’s going to be a much more challenging budget cycle for us. It really is in some ways the perfect storm of presenting some challenges.”
In a recent interview with WYPR, Baltimore County Executive and 2024 MACo President Johnny Olszewski outlined concerns with local and state budgets amidst what he calls a coming “perfect storm” of economic woes ahead of the 2024 legislative session, which starts January 10.
From the WYPR report:
As the 2024 Maryland General Assembly prepares to convene its three month session on Wednesday, the threat of state budget cuts, along with the drying up of federal COVID money as well as inflation are teaming up to create a rocky budget year not just for Baltimore County but for localities across Maryland.
“You put all of that together and it’s going to be a much more challenging budget cycle for us,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said. “It really is in some ways the perfect storm of presenting some challenges.”Olszewski said that tax increases should always be “the last option as we consider our budgets,” but did not rule out the possibility.
The State started warning of budget woes and proposing drastic cuts to key county programs in December:
They warned that transportation projects could be delayed and commuter bus service and road repairs could be cut because of a more-than-$3 billion hole in funding the state’s six-year transportation plan.
Lawmakers were told the state has a $761 million budget shortfall.
Also in December, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warned local officials of a worsening budget picture at the Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACo) annual meeting.
Olszewski is the 2024 president of MACo and commented on his new role:
‘I look forward to using this role as a chance to really be at the table to share the concerns of my peers and colleagues across the state so that whether it’s transportation, or public safety, or things like transparency in education funding.’
