MARYLAND — Mayor Jack Young and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin have joined local Congress members and several County Executives to advocate for funding for cities and counties that have seen revenues plummet in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Senator Cardin, when the last stimulus funding was released, it didn't cover for loss revenues and he is determined not to let that happen for any future stimulus funding because it will continue to hurt the local economy.
When the local government suffers, funds that are used to pay police officers, firefighters, teachers and other essential workers are depleted and, once that happens, those workers get laid-off.
County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Steuart Pittman, says that his county's revenue dropped $63M; Howard County Executive Calvin Ball says his county lost $35M in revenue; and Marc Ehrlich, the County Executive of Montgomery County, says that they've lost between $150-250M.
All three County Executives are in full support of the government releasing addition stimulus funding. However, a couple of officials also brought up the issue with flexibility.
"Cities and counties have to have flexibility when they get money," said Representative-elect Kweisi Mfume.
Delegates don't just want to get the money, they want the freedom to be able to delegate the funds to where they're needed the most.
This is an ongoing situation and it'll take time for things to go back to normal, but Mayor Young and other local government officials are doing all they can to fight for Team Maryland.
