Photo Credits: Phylica Ghee, Live Baltimore

In the beginning of 2024, BBMR hosted a series of in-person and online Budget Forums to collect residents’ feedback on allocation priorities. A total of 105 residents participated all six of the Forums collectively throughout January and February.

This month’s Budget Brief will show some examples of how community feedback is prioritized in budgetary decisions for two pillars in the Mayor’s Action Plan: Prioritizing Our Youth and Equitable Neighborhood Development. Investments made for other pillars will be discussed in the October and November newsletters.

Prioritizing Our Youth ($623 million)

This pillar focuses on the overall improved quality of life for children and youth in Baltimore. This includes ensuring access to quality educational and recreational environments.

Renovating Recreation Centers and Parks

Feedback collected from the Budget Forums include calls for continued funding for recreational centers. A resident reflected that “rec centers are critical to community integrity. Parks are critical to learning, recreating and relieving urban stressors. These are high priorities to my mind for sustainable communities.” Others emphasized the need for safe spaces for youth to play. 

In response, City leaders allocated funds to renovate the Lilian Jones and Fred B. Leidig Recreation Centers, Bocek Park athletic fields, City Springs Park, and North Harford Park. In addition, the Department of Recreation and Parks continues to utilize State funding through Program Open Space to support operating costs and capital projects.

Changes in Contribution to City Schools

Another area of concern that residents raised is education. A resident inquired, “can existing funding from blueprint, new crime diversions & workforce state funding be used, and city funding reduced?”

For fiscal year 2025, the Budget is giving $477 million to Baltimore City Public Schools for their operations. In 2025, this will be the third year of funding under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future plan. The City’s required contribution for 2025 is expected to be $3.2 million less than in 2024 because of changes in state funding. 

Equitable Neighborhood Development ($311 million)

This pillar focuses on providing support to Baltimore economy with a focus on local business owners, ensuring an equitable recovery from COVID-19, increasing capital investment, and revitalizing neighborhoods.

Utilizing State Grants and Creating Positions to Address Vacant Properties

A major concern that many residents shared is the city’s plan to address vacant homes. Urgent calls for “addressing abandoned properties” and “boarded-up" homes” top the list of priorities for investments.

In the decision-making process, City leaders created two positions to support acquiring and repurposing vacant properties. On top of this, the Department of Housing and Community Development will utilize $50 million of State funding from Project CORE to jump-start the City’s vacant housing initiative. With these funds, the turnaround time between acquisition and repurposing of vacant houses will be decreased.

The Budget also maintains funding for three positions in the Law Department to support work focused on reducing the number of vacant properties in the City. These positions will work closely with DHCD on the in-rem foreclosure process.

Supporting Local Businesses through the BDC

Besides housing, residents also reflected hopes for “continued investment into business and commerce retention strategies.”

The budget will continue funding the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), which is funded under the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In fiscal year 2025, BDC aims to attract 150 new businesses and retaining existing ones in local commercial corridors. The expected return on investment for this program is to provide 40 local jobs for every $1 million public investment.