9-25-12: Bonds on the Ballot

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BondIssues-0925.mp3

On November 6, some Maryland voters, once they get through picking a presidential candidate, and a Senator, and a Congressperson, and, uh, something about orphans court judges, and referenda about redistricting and gambling and same-sex marriage and and and…

Some voters will then have to vote on up to nine separate bond issues. Should their county borrow money for park improvements? And school buildings? And the zoo? And and and?

Baltimore City’s ballot has nine bond issues for borrowing a total of up to $100,000,000.

Nine for Baltimore County, too, for up to $255,000,000.

Prince George’s County? Seven, for up to over $600,000,000.

Other counties don’t put bonds in front of voters at all.

In an election where government debts and deficits are at the front of voters’ minds, we thought we’d ask UMBC political science professor Roy Meyers to walk us through the issue of bonds on the ballot.

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How voters can inform themselves about bond issues

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Roy Meyers on whether voters should have more input via ballot on borrowing

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Roy Meyers on what can lead to a bond's demise