Employment and Barriers to Independence
NEW Fact Sheet
Md Health Care Coverage Expands, Un-Met Needs Persist>> 6/24/09
“My 2 Cents: A Maryland Video Competition” 
Youth Video Competition on Taxes and College Finance. Winners will receive cash prizes, as well as having their videos showcased at an awards event in 2010.
Visit the official My 2 Cents Video website for details.
Read full press release (PDF)>> 6/15/09
Stimulus Job Numbers
The US Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the Federal Stimulus Bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA) will create or save 3.5 million jobs across the country over two years. The council estimates 66,000 jobs in Maryland. The numbers are estimates based on economic models and "rules of thumb." When the actual numbers start coming in this fall, they'll be different--especially since it will be hard to identify and count the "jobs saved."
Ohio's Center for Community Solutions has prepared a great report on how these estimates were constructed and what happens next.
Download the report (PDF)>>6/22/09
Link to Ohio Center for Community Solutions
Child care plus budget news.
Download the full report (PDF)>> 6/16/09
THE MYTH OF MARYLAND'S MIGRATING MILLIONAIRES
Millionaires are not fleeing Maryland.
Recent press reports, including the Washington Times', DC Examiner's, (Annapolis) Capital's and Wall Street Journal’s suggest that our state's recent surtax on income over $1 million is sending the wealthy to seek refuge in other states. That finding is contrary to available evidence.
There are fewer million-dollar returns because income is down – especially dividends, investments, corporate bonuses and the like. In addition, many high-income taxpayers are facing unusually complex tax situations, and likely filed for extensions. The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy's analysis shows that the number of prelminary $1 million returns is not very different from the number filed last tax season. An additional 4,700 came in with extensions last year. See below. There are no reports of sudden unexpected surpluses in Virginia, Delaware or Pennsylvania from millionaires “escaping” Maryland.
The additional ¾ of one percent tax on income over $1 million is a small charge placed on those most able to contribute to support education, health care and public safety. Studies in New Jersey and California have shown that personal income tax rates don’t significantly affect location decisions of high-earners.
What about the shortfall in revenue? It’s the economy.
-Neil Bergsman 5/29/09
See Neil Bergsman's Column in Maryland Commons>> 6/22/09
Budget Update - April Revenues Down 17%>> 5/13/09
>>Check out real stories of Marylanders in need at Md Alliance for the Poor's new Blog
State Budget Wrap-up>> 4/15/09
Special report - Senate approves budget - conference committee set to resolve differences>> 4/3/09
Special report - House Appropriations Committee approves balanced Budget (PDF)>> 3/23/09
Special Report - Revenue board cuts estimates by $1.1 billion. (PDF)>> 3/13/09
Special Report - Board of Public Works approves $94 million in budget cuts. (PDF)>> 3/6/09
Special Report - Governor's Plan for Using Federal Stimulus Dollars (PDF)>> 2/27/09
BUDGET BRIEFS / FACT SHEETS
Md Health Care Coverage Expands, Un-Met Needs Persist >> 6/24/09
Food Stamp Benefits Increase Effective April 1st >> 3/31/09
A Threat to School Readiness >> 3/23/09
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC/EIC) >> 3/18/09
Energy Administration Budget >>3/6/09
Medical Care Programs Administration Budget >> 3/4/09
Family Investment Administration Budget >> 3/3/09
Early Childhood Development Budget >> 3/2/09
Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund (PDF)>> 2/25/09
Developmental Disabilities Admin Budget (PDF)>> 2/20/09
Mental Hygiene Administration Budget (PDF)>> 2/4/09
Medicaid and Maryland's Economy (PDF)>> 2/3/09
State Employees (PDF)>> 1/30/09
MARYLAND POLICY REPORTS
2009
May Policy Report (PDF)>> 5/19/09
January Policy Report (PDF) - 1/19/09
2008
November/December Policy Report (PDF) - 11/20/08
October Policy Report - 10/10/08
September Policy Report - 9/4/08
August Policy Report - 8/11/08
July Policy Report - 7/8/08
May Policy Report - 5/1/08
April Policy Report - 4/2/08
February/March Policy Report - 2/26/08
January Policy Report - 1/8/08
Recent Reports
The Regular Person's Guide to the Governor's FY10 Budget (PDF)>> 2/18/09
Special Report on the effect of the federal Stimulus Bill on Maryland (PDF)>> 2/18/09
Exciting PowerPoint Budget Summary (PDF)>>1/28/09
Governor Introduces Budget for Fiscal 2010
Instant Analysis from MB&TPI>> 1/22/09
"Make the Cut">> 1/14/09
Maryland's state leaders face a projected deficit of at least two billion dollars for fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1, 2009.
The state is required by its constitution to pass a balanced budget. After raising revenues in a special session last year, most of the state's elected officials consider additional taxes "off the table." This would mean that almost $2 billion or more has to be cut from projected spending.
Maryland Commons "Make the Cut" budget game allows you to consider how the state might cut 11 areas of spending to balance the FY 2010 budget. Good luck.
Legislative Budget Preview (PDF)>> 1/12/09
Budget Update: "Devastating" (PDF)>> 12/18/08
See MB&TPI director Neil Bergsman's column on the new "Maryland Commons" website.
Federal Estate Taxes affect 9/10 of 1% of Marylanders
Citizens for Tax Justice has issued new data showing that most Marylanders - including farmers and small business owners - are not touched by Federal Estate taxes. Eliminating this tax only reduced burdens on those most able to pay, and exacerbates federal and state budget deficits. 12/3/08
See Citizen's for Tax Justice Maryland data (PDF)
See the full Citizens for Tax Justice report (PDF)
Special Report - $300 million in cuts approved by Board of Public Works>> 10/17/08
Budget Update: Governor considers $400 million menu of cuts>> 10/14/08
State of Working Maryland 2008>> 9/19/08
The Regular Person’s Guide to the Maryland Slot Machine Referendum>> 9/12/08
Download the full report (PDF)>>
MB&TPI Update - 454,000 Marylanders Are Poor, 762,000 Lack Health Coverage: Slowing Economy Likely to Add to Ranks of Poor and Uninsured
Read full press release>> 8/26/08
Food Stamps Background Report - 5/30/08
HUNGER: Food Stamps Gets a New Name, But will Hungry Marylanders be Fed?
Budget Updates
- "Tech Tax" Repeal, Conference Committee, Supplemental budget - 4/2/08
See this update>>
- House of Delegates Action on the Budget - 3/18/08
See this update>>
- New Revenue Estimates - 3/10/08
- State Senate Action on the Budget
See this update>>
Inequality - 4/9/08
Prosperity is Not Widely Shared
Maryland Ranks among the top states for the largest income gap between wealthiest and poorest
New report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Economic Policy Institute
Regular Person's Guide to the Governor's Budget 2/8/08
Maryland Budget & Tax Policy Institute and Open Society Institute-Baltimore present an accessible, understandable explanation of the budget for the Maryland state government.
Review of Juvenile Services Budget
Funding for Current Operations But Not for Significant Reforms 2/13/08
The Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute and the maryland Advocates for Children and Youth have joined forces to prepare a review of the proposed budget for the Department of Juvenile Services.
Special Report
The Governor’s Budget – On the Surface, No Surprises 1/17/08
Governor Martin O’Malley announced his proposed budget on January 16.The budget generally follows the plan laid out in the special session. It reduces the state’s structural deficit by relying on the increased tax revenue from the special session and $550 million in cuts from the planned spending levels. The budget totals $31.6 billion, a $1.9 billion increase over this year’s appropriation. Total spending increases 5.9% over the current year.
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