This is a jobs budget. 52k jobs for modern schools, infrastructure. We must bear these costs for our state’s future. This budget invest in 78k teaching jobs, 11k jobs of building real classrooms, 19k record procurement, 7k jobs from venture capital jobs, Various jobs related to building various infrastructure projects all over the state. Areas covered are law enforcement, higher education, utility, healthcare, utilities. These must be balanced with cuts, revenue, and partnerships. We have relied almost entirely on cuts. With 84% dedicated to education and public safety, cuts are nearing the end. Revenues must be raised.
Pensions should be aligned with other states. Maryland is proposing a 50/50 split for teacher pensions between state and counties. How much less public safety and education are we willing to accept? Green upgrades have greatly helped the bay. The flush tax should be reworked to a fee based system based on usage.
Transportation funding needs to be increased. Our traffic is some of the worst in the nation. Gasoline is our primary transporation revenue. Tax is still 20 cents from 1992. if we settle for 1992 tax rate we will have to settle for 1992 infrastructure. Best way to fund current costs is to repeal the sales tax exemption at 2% per year. Nobody is going to do this for us..we must do it.