Gov. Larry Hogan’s new supplemental budget provides additional funding to fight the heroin epidemic, but includes no specific mention of helping Baltimore City Schools.
Hogan announced the details of the budget Friday morning, saying he's had, "ongoing discussions with Mayor Pugh on school money that has been fruitful," and that he's hopeful for a resolution.
The plan includes $10 million to the Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council to prevent and treat opioid addiction, including drug trafficking enforcement, outreach and grants to state agencies.
An additional $2.6 million has been allocated for higher education initiatives, including more than $1.4 million to fund community colleges and scholarships, but doesn’t specifically outline a plan to address the Baltimore City Schools budget deficit.
City families and staff were hoping Mayor Pugh and state lawmakers would share the load closing the $130 million budget gap, but so far, only the city has agreed to spend $180 million over the next three years.
Hogan’s budget also includes $2 million for the Baltimore City Police Department to pay for equipment needed to comply with the Department of Justice consent decree.
“This supplemental budget will provide even more support for some of our administration's most important priorities, including addressing the state's heroin and opioid epidemic, improving education, encouraging economic development, and providing the necessary public safety services that Marylanders expect and deserve,” Hogan said in a news release. “We look forward to working with the legislature to ensure a smooth and timely passage as we enter the last few weeks of session."
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