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The nearly $150 million budget cuts will mean delayed hiring and fewer funds for many programs throughout the state.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Hours after nearly $150 million in budget cuts were approved by Maryland's Board of Public works Wednesday, Gov. Wes Moore told WUSA9 the reductions will ensure the state can adequately fund childcare and health care programs that are seeing costs escalate.
"I said we were not going to compromise on investing in health care. We’re not going to compromise in investing in childcare because these are really two important things to get our economy going," said Gov. Moore in an interview with WUSA9. "So to do that, it also meant you had to make really difficult choices as to the things that you were not going to spend on."
Just about every agency will feel the cuts in some way, officials said.
For example, The Department of Information and Technology will see a nearly $16 million budget cut. According to the governor's proposal, the reduction will mean fewer funds for the Major IT Development Fund.
"I think anyone who has sat at their kitchen table trying to balance their budget against rising costs, knows that in tough times, everyone has to share in the challenge," explained Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.
State operated colleges and universities will also feel the pinch. The University of Maryland will now have to absorb a $20 million funding reduction.
Advocates, whose agencies and/or programs were earmarked for funding reductions, tried to make their case for reconsideration prior to Wednesday's note. Their efforts, however, were unsuccessful.
"We are the community that can least afford to absorb this cut," said Charlotte Davis, Executive Director of Rural Council for Maryland, an agency responsible for addressing problems and concerns in the state's 18 rural counties. "We have the highest unemployment rate, the highest poverty rate, and we have the lowest per capita incomes."
The proposal showed the Rural Council for Maryland will now have to deal with a $2 million dollar cut to its program for grant-making.
"We and our team have been going through this line-by-line and the thing that I know and understand is the very emotional pleas that people were making," explained Moore. "But when we’re talking about rural parts of the state, do you know some of the places that will disproportionately benefit? It’s the rural parts of the state."
Other agencies, like Maryland's State Arts Council, told WUSA9 they are working on a plan to ensure the cuts don't impact smaller, independent artists they provide funding for. An official plan is expected within the next few weeks.
Gov. Moore told WUSA9 the cuts better position the state for additional economic headwinds that are on the way while also ensuring families and most importantly children get the financial support they need.
"I want to be very clear. This is just the beginning," said Moore.
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