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Baltimore taxpayers invited to speak out on proposed city budget
The city’s Board of Estimates will hold its annual Taxpayers’ Night on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. at the War Memorial Building near City Hall.
The event is a public forum on the proposed 2013 budget of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, which will also be the topic of several public hearings before the City Council this spring.
Facing a $48 million budget deficit, Rawlings-Blake last month proposed the $2.3 billion operating budget that calls for a reduction of the municipal workforce by eliminating 231 positions that are now vacant.
The budget proposes to lower the property tax rate by 2 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The proposed budget also has several cuts; the mayor also has proposed to close three fire houses in the city, some recreational centers and a reduce hours for some public libraries. City workers and retirees would pay more for health benefits and current employees would not receive a cost-of-living raise under the proposal that would take effect on July 1.
Taxpayers’ Night gives citizens a chance to voice concerns about the city’s budget proposal before the Board of Estimates. The board is headed City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, and also includes Rawlings-Blake, City Comptroller Joan Pratt, Director of Public Works Alfred Foxx and City Solicitor George Nilson.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the War Memorial Building, located at 101 N. Gay St.
