Update On the State Budget and Maryland Nonprofits’ Policy Priorities (As of March 24th)

By Henry Bogdan, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Maryland Nonprofits

State Budget: The House version of the budget and budget reconciliation measures (HB 70 and 72) passed with major amendments that (1) eliminate or lessen numerous proposed spending reductions, and (2)  “impound” additional funds so that they may only be spent on some or all of a list of legislative priorities. The Governor may choose which or all of those to fund, but any unallocated balance will essentially go to a fund balance for the year. The ‘re-direction’ of the impounded funds does require agreement of the governor – but he cannot make any other use of the money.

The Senate budget proposal, pending floor action, overall takes a few more cuts, assumes about $10 million in additional revenue, establishes $24 million in additional legislative priorities for funding from the impounded funds, and would close FY 16 with a $4 million smaller General Fund balance, than the House plan.  

It contains a number of funding cuts and add-backs that differ from the House action, listed below. There are also additional amendments, not listed, adding, changing, or striking budget language. The Budget and Tax Committee summary document can be found here, and the full report (206 page PDF) here.

In general, there are still reductions from originally mandated levels for the coming year, and numerous programs or provider reimbursements have been held to the FY 2015 levels. In short, not as bad as it could have been, but a pattern that will impact services and cannot be sustained. 

Senate Budget & Tax Committee Funding Changes to House Bill 70 as passed by the House   (Amendment #’s listed) 

• Reduce the Local Disparity Grant by $2.1 million (same level proposed by Gov.’s contingent reduction) #1&2

• Reduces Judiciary operating expenses by $600,000 less than the House  #3

• “Repurposes” $15 million from PAYGO school construction to DHCD programs – $5 million less than proposed by the House  #4

• Cut $1.4 million in special funds from MD Health Benefit Exchange #7

• Added back $1 million in GF to House Cut, for Medical Enterprise Restructuring Project (DOIT) #11

• Reverses a $3.6 million House reduction of CRF funds to Academic Health Centers #16

• Adds back $7.1 million (all funds) for DDA Community Services to the House appropriation  #17
  ACA hospital presumptive eligibility, reduces House cut by $6M GF, and $6M FF #19

• Restores House cut of $330,000 from CRF for nonpublic school textbook program  #25

• Reduces a House Cut to BCCC from $1.5 to $1.4 million  #31

• Reduces SF for Preservation of Cultural Arts Program by $343,000  #35

• Restores $377,000 “negative deficiency” (cut) in FY15 funds for nonpublic special ed placements  #40

• Increases the House cut to Temporary Cash Assistance funding from $10 to $13 million ‘based on additional federal funds available’

Senate Increase in “legislative funding priorities”: Amendment #42  ‘restricts’ $202.6 million in general funds, $24 million more than the House action, to be used only for listed legislative priorities. Priorities added by the Senate include $15 million to Family Health and Chronic Disease Services for a grant to Prince Georges County Hospital Center; $5.7 million to maintain nursing home reimbursement rates at the Jan. 1, 2015 level; $3 million to support crisis resolution services; and $125,000 in additional support for children’s medical day care services.