MACo Matters: Ferguson renews stance against broad-based tax increases

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said budget pressures would have to reach an "extremely high bar" to trigger tax increases. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Ongoing budget pressures — and how to address them — have been top of mind for leaders gathered in Ocean City this week for the annual Maryland Association of Counties summer conference. But the leader of the Maryland Senate said he is unlikely to consider broad-based tax increases to address looming budget deficits.

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), speaking to reporters Thursday, said that there is “an extremely high bar … to pursue a revenue strategy” for the state’s fiscal woes, when economic growth should be the key.

“I think the bar for revenues is extremely, extremely high, because we have got to grow our economy, and growth is essential, if we are not competitive with tax rates or our bureaucratic systems, then we’re in trouble,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson’s “high bar” is similar to Gov. Wes Moore’s stance earlier this year about tax increases. The first-term Democratic governor did not specify what would trigger the need for higher taxes, but Ferguson said, “I don’t think it’s a bright red line, you know?”

“I don’t think there is a set of specific metrics. It’s an, ‘Are we able to fully invest in our priorities in a way that Marylanders would expect?'” he said. Ferguson added that the state has “sufficient resources to invest in the vast, vast majority of the things that we need and the things that we want.”

Last month, the Board of Public Works cut $150 million from the current year’s budget, which faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall, roughly $800 million of which comes from projected Medicaid shortfalls over two years. Adding to the budget pressures are increased spending on a state subsidy for child care.

“Expanding Child Care Access and making sure that people have access to health care through Medicaid are core, fundamental priorities,” Ferguson said. “And so that wasn’t mismanagement. It’s not some sort of problem. It’s that there are more people utilizing those services, and that’s not a bad thing.”

But the money for those programs has to come from somewhere, he said.

“So, anywhere where there’s additional discretionary spending or new programs that haven’t been launched yet, I think it makes sense that we’re going to have to make some tough cuts and tough choices,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think there’s anything draconian. I don’t think it’s going to be severe.”

In January, legislative budget analysts projected a structural budget deficit of $1 billion in the coming fiscal year, rising to $1.3 billion by fiscal 2027, the last year of Moore’s current term. A year later, it more than doubles to $3 billion — about 12% of projected general fund revenues for that year.

The state is also staring down costs of the public education reform plan known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Some lawmakers and county leaders have called for the General Assembly to lengthen the time to implement the program, so the state and local governments have time to absorb increased costs.

Despite Ferguson’s reluctance, House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) said that the House may once again offer some sort of revenue package next year.

“I’d be willing to discuss cuts or extending the time (for the Blueprint) if there is data that shows it’s not working,” Atterbeary said. “But you’re going to have to show me the data first.”

You say you want a revolution…

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) are not only two of the state’s top elected leaders, they’re apparently revolutionaries as well. Or at least distant descendants of revolutionaries.

The two were recently approved for membership in the Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and organization whose members claim to be direct descendants of someone who served or aided in the American Revolutionary War.

J.D. Urbach, president of the Maryland chapter of the organization said the applications for both Moore and Ferguson had been recently approved.

“It’s very exciting,” said Urbach. “We want to be able to tell the stories of patriots of color.”

The national society claims to be the largest male lineage organization in the country. Each member can trace his family back to someone who either served in the Revolutionary War or aided the effort in some way.

The Maryland chapter has roughly 800 members. The late Sen. Doug J.J. Peters (D-Prince George’s) was a member, and Urbach said he  tried to help other General Assembly members.

“He was sort of instrumental in getting the ball kicked off with both Bill Ferguson and Wes Moore,” Urbach said.

Moore traces his lineage to a man named Prince Ames who served in the Massachusetts militia. Urbach said Moore is the first member to establish a relationship to Ames.

“This is a newly established patriot for Prince Ames,” said Urbach. “There had been no one necessarily descended from Prince Ames previously, who had applied for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.”

A Moore spokesperson could not immediately provide details Thursday.

Urbach did not have details on Ferguson’s family lineage. A spokesperson for Ferguson confirmed the application but also did not immediately have details.

Urbach said both Moore and Ferguson will be formally inducted before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, in Largo…

There they were on a stage in Largo, the president, the vice president and the could-be president.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared Thursday at Prince George’s Community College for an event on lower prescription drug costs. It was also the first time the two have appeared together since Biden bowed out of the presidential race less than a month ago and Harris swept in and won the Democratic nomination for president.

Although it was not an official campaign event, it had all the energy of one. Many were there in support of Harris, and they were sporting gear from Howard University, her alma mater; the colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha, her sorority; and Kamala Harris merchandise. The stage was crowded with prominent Maryland Democrats, including Gov. Wes Moore.

Many speakers referred to Harris as the next president of the United States, but when Moore called her the 47th president, that led someone in the crowd to shout “48 that’s you,” followed by someone else shouting “2032.” Soon, the entire auditorium of 2,300 people was chanting “forty-eight.”

Moore, who is often on talking-head lists of potential presidential nominees and who was talked about by some as a potential running mate for Harris after Biden dropped out of the race, smiled and told the crowd he loved them all. Then he told them to quiet down.

“Y’all need to hold on because we’re trying to bring the president and vice president out here,” Moore said through laughter.

DEI: It’s more than you think

A session on diversity, equity and inclusion policies ranged from discussions on DEI to talk about environment justice and social equity at the MACo conference Thursday.

This was the second year that the association hosted a DEI officers meeting at its summer conference. “We are hoping to be a future agenda item for all MACo future conferences. It’s needed,” said Sevetra Peoples-Brown, chief of Baltimore County’s diversity, equity and inclusion division, who had encouraged MACo officials to make it part of the organization’s summer conference.

One of the main messages from the panel discussion: DEI is more than just race, but also includes gender, religion and disability. The panel also talked about environmental justice with Asha Smith, director of the Office of Equity and Human Rights in Anne Arundel County.

When Smith asked attendees if they knew about the state’s Department of the Environment’s environmental justice screening tool – a map that can evaluate if someone lives in an underserved or overburdened community in terms of environmental hazards in a region – only a few people raised their hands.

“That’s a tool a lot of folks don’t know about, including the people who are making your planning and zoning decisions. That really is the bottom line,” Smith said.

Courtney Davis, deputy director in the Maryland Office of Social Equity, provided an update on the community repair and reinvestment fund, or CRRF. Her office, in the state’s cannabis administration, works with people in communities affected by the war on drugs and tries to get them involved in the cannabis industry.

Davis said money from the fund cannot be used to supplant a budget nor given to law enforcement agencies, but must go to “community-based initiatives that are intended to benefit low-income communities and also disproportionately impacted areas.”

Acting Charles County Administrator Deb Hall said it was “good to hear further details” on how the money can be used, since there “was not a lot of information that came along with” the program.

Like many at the event, Hall also said the conversation on DEI must be done throughout the state.

“People are afraid to have a conversation about race,” she said. “It’s really key if you’re going to move the needle anywhere, is to recognize we all have different backgrounds, different abilities. DEI is collaboration. It’s putting a seat at the table for everybody.”

Peoples-Brown summarized her county’s three-phase project to assess the performance of all county agencies on equitable and inclusive decision-making. The goal is to complete it by February 2026.

“Agencies have to commit. They have to take action. They have to have patience,” Peoples-Brown said. “We want to make certain that we’re allocating resources to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources.”

Alsobrooks feels the ‘love’

In recent months, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) has traveled to Maryland to support stronger gun laws, talk about the need for reproductive rights and stand with President Joe Biden (D) to unveil a deal for lower prescription drug prices.

All three visits were held in Prince George’s County, where County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), the Democratic nominee U.S. Senate, is typically on hand to greet Harris, a longtime mentor. That was true Thursday when Alsobrooks was at Prince George’s Community College with Harris and Biden – making their first appearance together since Biden dropped his reelection bid and Harris stepped in to win the nomination.

After that early afternoon event, she dashed to Ocean City to host an evening reception at the Maryland Association of Counties conference with Employ Prince George’s, the county’s workforce development arm. Gov. Wes Moore (D) stopped by Alsobrooks’ reception Thursday with a quick message for supporters.

“Partnership produces progress, y’all,” Moore said. “The reason we’re moving is because we are moving together. Make sure we go out there and make it work in November and get the election results that we need and deserve.”

As with many places Moore goes, he was swarmed by people looking to talk and take selfies with him. But Thursday evening, the same thing happened  when Alsobrooks walked in the Spain Wine Bar.

When asked if she feels like a rock star, she calmly said, “Oh, no,” adding that people “love you when they know you love them.”

“People have a sense of authenticity. They know whether you care genuinely and sincerely about them. I have been so grateful that it’s all come back,” she said. “I mean, people have been so kind. They’re engaging. They’re excited. But I think they know that I care about them.”

Harris is expected to officially accept the Democratic nomination during the party’s convention next week in Chicago. Alsobrooks will be on hand.