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Hogan Unveils $46 Billion Budget

Rachel Baye

Gov. Larry Hogan previewed his $46-billion fiscal 2020 budget Thursday, and education appears to be his top priority.

At a press conference Thursday, Hogan revealed some of the numbers, but the details of each proposal — and what is missing from the budget — will become clearer after he releases the full budget Friday morning.

He said he is allocating $6.9 billion to K-12 education, more than the school funding formulas require.

“Every single school system in Maryland will see increased investment by the state,” he said.

Under the formulas, which use enrollment numbers, Baltimore and several other jurisdictions would see decreased school funding.

He said he is setting aside $200 million for recommendations expected to come from the Kirwan Commission, which is tasked with improving public schools.

On school construction, he promised an additional $438 million, “which is the biggest investment for school construction in state history,” he said.

The University System of Maryland is slated to get $1.4 billion, up from about $1.1 billion last year.

In addition to education-focused priorities, Hogan said he is allocating nearly $250 million more to fight the opioid crisis.

Transportation projects are slated to get about $3 billion.

And he allocated money for tax breaks for businesses that create jobs in areas designated “opportunity zones.”

“It does all of this without raising taxes, without cutting services, and without raiding dedicated special funds,” he said.

Rachel Baye is a senior reporter and editor in WYPR's newsroom.
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