ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore's team stood in for him during a hearing on funding for the Blueprint of Maryland's future.
Moore's chief of staff, Fagan Harris, took questions from state delegates about the Governor's plans to adjust funding the Blueprint.
"Is the Governor open to dedicated revenues now and additional revenues for the Blueprint," asked Delegate Ben Barnes, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
"Yes," Harris replied.
The Blueprint is expected to fall $81 million short in the next state budget. In fiscal year 2028, it balloons to $2.1 billion.
Harris, said the state is trying to come up with ways to cut that deficit in half.
Delegate Jason Buckel asked Harris to clarify his remarks to Barnes.
"We’re raising taxes this year to pay off this year’s budget deficit. What specific ideas do you have, what more can we tax and dedicate to the Blueprint going forward," asked Buckel.
"I do not have a specific funding source in mind, other than the willingness for the governor to have the conversation with this body about which funding sources would make sense," Harris replied.
When Buckel raised that raising taxes might be the only way to make up the deficit, Harris didn't rule it out.
"I think that is a path, I wouldn’t say that is the only path," said Harris. "I would argue that these adjustments put the program on more sustainable footing. It’s a question of priorities."
According to Buckel, about 12 percent of Maryland's state tax revenue goes towards Blue Print funding.
"We have a variety of other dedicated and specific taxes that the legislature has agreed to allocate into this big blue envelope," Buckel argued. "All of the taxes that we have dedicated and allocated to the Blueprint Fund are not going to pay long term for the costs of this program."
Senator Paul Corderman, a Republican, released a statement echoing that concern, "today’s hearing on the Governor’s Blueprint Bill was illuminating and concerning."
Moore's current proposal would pause a portion of the blueprint that allows teachers additional planning time, which requires more teachers to be hired, leading to higher costs.
The state would also pause increases to community school programs offering wrap-around services to students in impoverished areas.
While the state would still commit about $500 million towards the community schools, it wouldn't be the amount the blueprint calls for.
"This governor is committed to seeing the blueprint through," said Harris.
Ultimately the House and Senate will have to agree on a budget with potential cuts in the coming weeks before sending it to the Governor.
