Established in 1998, the Institute provides independent, nonpartisan research and analysis of state budget and tax policy priorities.  Our particular focus is how policy decisions affect low- and moderate-income families, vulnerable populations, and the important community programs that serve them.

In addition to producing accurate, timely, and accessible research, staff provide briefings on budget and tax policy issues around the state for nonprofit sector advocates and staff members and other entities.

The Institute is a project of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, or "Maryland Nonprofits."  The Institute is part of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative and the Economic Analysis and Research Network, both of which are national networks of policy research organizations.      

Staff

Neil Bergsman is Director of the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute. From 2004 until 2007, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. Bergsman served in the Maryland Department of Budget and Management from 1988 to 2004 – as state budget director for six of those years.  From 1985 to 1988, Bergsman was an analyst for the Maryland legislature. 

Director Bergsman was the president of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) for 2002-2003. He has conducted trainings and made presentations for organizations, including Maryland Nonprofits, the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices, and many other groups. Bergsman holds a master’s degree in public management from the University of Maryland. He is currently a Public Policy doctoral student at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Benjamin Orr is Transition Coordinator and Policy Analyst for the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute. He came to MBTPI in 2011 after three years with the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, where he worked on policy issues affecting the greater Washington region. Mr. Orr is a prolific author and frequent blogger for MBPTI, and has appeared in both local and national media.  Prior to his time at Brookings, Mr. Orr worked for the CUNY Institute for Demographic Research, the New York Census Research Data Center, and the John Jay College Center on Terrorism.  Mr. Orr holds a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York.