New Day Maryland

Tax Commission Findings

Projected deficit of $1.6 billion in FY 2011 and growing to more than 2.0 billion in FY 2012 and beyond

• Total revenues - $30 billion

• Spending has outpaced revenues since 2006

• $750 million of rainy day fund in 2009, first time in 5 years, which was used to balance the budget

• On-going General Fund spending outpaced ongoing revenues by $1.3 billion in 2009 and growing

• In FY 2009, over 150 jobs added in higher education and judiciary agencies

• In FY 2009, continued allowance of 2 thousand job vacancies

• In FY 2009, claims paid for employees retirement plans increased by 9% while other hardworking Americans nation-wide lost their retirement

• Funds budgeted for employee benefits increased by 20.6%

• Spend more per capita in Baltimore City in state aid, yet it is shrinking at 0.5% (-0.5%); BC gets 16% of total revenues spent

• Roughly 40% or $2.5 billion of a total $6 billion of state aid goes to 2 counties – Prince Georges County and Baltimore City, per capita #7 and #9

• State of MD ranks 50^th in economic freedoms (this measures how much money is taken out of every dollar earned by citizens)

• MD ranks 4^th in hardest taxed citizens in country at rate of approximately $.10 on state level (doesn’t include federal or sales taxes)

• $7.1 billion (roughly 51%)  of general fund revenues come from individual citizens

 PORK SPENDING

• Spent $1.2  million to paint historical bridge and $1.4 million for dog park construction

• Approximately $500,000 provided to the Sports Legend Museum, located next to Camden Yards.  The Governor not only provided the half million, but reduced the rent on the state owned building from $10 thousand per month down to $2 thousand per month.  The proprietor of the museum is Steve Geppi.  The name should sound familiar, since Mr. Geppi is the owner of Baltimore Magazine, part owner of the Baltimore Orioles, and full-time owner of a highly successful comic book company.  Why the hard pressed taxpayers of Maryland should subsidize a wealthy citizen like Mr. Geppi is highly questionable.

• The Governor used $7 million in taxpayer's money to bail out a consistent "white elephant project" in Western Maryland, known as Rocky Gap.  This so-called tourist attraction has attracted nothing but debt since it was created at the request of former House of Delegates Speaker, Casper Taylor.  Speaker Taylor, coincidentally represented Western Maryland

• Live Entertainment Venue in Silver Spring $2,000,000

• $14.4 million to buy more than 4,700 acres of privately owned forestland in Worcester County.  Speaking about the "deal," Comptroller Peter Franchot observed that the sate needs "a better bargaining system because it is paying the higher of two appraisals." 

• A closed bridge on Paper Mill Road in Baltimore County was painted at the cost of almost $2 Million with a sign that says 'No Trespassing - Bridge Closed"

• State House and House of Delegates building $10.6 million in the worst economy since the great depression.

• Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts $.5 million Speaker Busch’s wife is on the Board.