Budget actions maintain Triple A bond rating; Protect public education, public safety, and jobs
ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 18, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley introduced more than $360 million in budget actions before the Board of Public Works today, bringing total spending reductions for FY2010 thus far to over $1 billion. Today’s actions bring General Fund spending to $500 million less than it was three years ago, as Maryland continues to manage this national recession in a way that maintains the Triple A Bond rating and protects our core priorities of public education, public safety and jobs.
A complete list of budget actions is available here.
A summary of total budget actions is available here.
“These have not been easy decisions, but they have been necessary decisions to balance our State’s budget, and get our state through this recession more quickly and stronger than other states,” said Governor O’Malley. “Our citizens expect and deserve a government that works, and in spite of the most severe recession in a generation we’ve been working to reform our State government to make more efficient and effective.”
In the past three years, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has implemented $4.6 billion in budget cuts and spending reductions, including the elimination of more than 3,300 state positions.
Governor O’Malley once again held public education harmless in this round of budget cuts, noting Maryland’s nationally ranked number one public schools and the need to invest in our schools even in difficult times. General Fund support for K-12 education in FY2010 will exceed FY07 spending by almost $700 million.
Of the FY2010 budget actions, six of every ten dollars have come from reforming state agencies. Among today reductions were efforts to continue reforming our State government to make it more efficient and effective, including the suspension of non-essential vehicle purchases and reducing out-of-state travel for state employees. In addition, the State Highway Administration will reduce operating hours for five of 12 SHA-operated rest areas. An additional rest area will close during the winter months, and the rest area at US 219 at Keyser’s Ridge will close permanently.
Additionally, Governor O’Malley introduced $11 million in savings from efforts to ensure that only people who are eligible for Medicaid receive Medicaid services, and by scaling back unnecessary services; $500,000 in savings from negotiating lower prices with venders; and $3 million in savings from streamlining operations and consolidating functions across our government.
With today’s reductions, the O’Malley-Brown Administration maintains its commitment to fiscal responsibility by preserving the Rainy Day Fund at the mandated five percent of General Fund Revenues. Maryland remains one of only seven states to defend the coveted Triple A bond rating certified by all three bond rating agencies. In reaffirming this top ranked status, Standard & Poor’s wrote in October that Maryland “has proactively responded to [a] recent structural budget imbalance.” And the rating agency Fitch noted that “the state has taken prompt and repeated action to preserve operating balance….”
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11 comments:
The state's operating budget is $13billion, and they "cut" $4.6billion? Sounds to me like once the economy is back on track the 5.6 million residents of Maryland each deserve a tax cut of $800.
They cut/abolished a total of 112 vacant/filled jobs and saved $5.7 million (page 6 of the 2nd link). Do the math on that one - it comes out to be about an average salary of $50,892.85 per year (that sounds rather high to me). Seems to me that the State needs to re-evaluate the salaries for its employees. The median income in MD floats around $43,000, I think that the State's payroll should be structured to reflect about the same. IMO, There should be nobody working for the State making over $100,000 per year. It's good to see that they made some reductions in unneccessary personel, but I'd like to see that continue. When times get better are they going to just hire again or learn from their lessons?
This is pathetic! Just to keep the AAA bond rating, he crushes State employees again with one of the largest cuts to Mental Health and Hygiene. So we have a AAA bond but cannot afford to take care of some people that need it the most. I hope all the criminally insane people that will be added to the general population go to Annapolis instead of Ocean City.
Why not look at the teachers and Judiciary system, both of which have huge amounts of wasteful spending. And I don't need to hear any teachers crying "well it's your children". My children already have to deal with it.
4:28 - "Why not look at the teachers?"
Cuz they already endorsed him in next year's election.
It's all politics and there is and allways will be plenty of waste to cut. It must be killing the dems having to cut a little spending and not being able to buy votes with the tax payers money the way the used to.
Crushes state employees aganin.You have got to be kidding. thats what he should be cutting an yes the teachers/BOE budget could also be slashed.Only the BOE would be forced to by supplies for 5 times what they could get it for elceware
What does the BOE pay 5x retail price for? Everytime I put out a bid for anything but labor I lose big time.
...and in other news, thanks to the buffoonery of O'malley and O'bama and O'kratovil, industry and jobs continue to leave Maryland like a used rubber off a congressional aide
O'Malley gives you what you want, but you still b*tch.
At least Maryland is not on the list of "Ten States in Trouble."
I'll count my blessings, thanks.
Do the teachers buy there suplies at Walmart or from an over priced suplier. And yes we all know that answer
3:59
50k a year you say. You realize take home pay and employee COST are different. Lets see, their is matching ss and medicare, there is health insurance and other benefits calculated into COST. There is unemployment insurance and workers comp insurance. That poor soul costing the state 50K a year, probably only earns a salary of about 40K per year. Clearly you have never employed anyone.
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