League of Women Voters of Maryland

This bill provides spending reductions of approximately $550 million in fiscal 2009. Some of the reductions are to public school aid formulas (opposed by the League, see separate article) and community colleges, from state employee health account surpluses, other local aid, and position reductions, and $213 million in reductions to be identified by the Governor in January 2008. Since the League has consistently taken the position that funds in addition to those needed to close the deficit should be appropriated to cover state needs, these reductions are a disappointment.