ROCKVILLE, MD  (January 7, 2016) — The Maryland Public Policy Institute today supported Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s call for continued fiscal restraint and taxpayer relief in the New Year.  Governor Hogan delivered a state fiscal update Thursday afternoon, where he announced that 90 percent of State’s $5.1 billion cumulative budget deficit had been eliminated and that the Administration is on track to deliver $1 billion in tax relief.  The Institute also supported the concept floated by Governor Hogan to limit funding mandates that have contributed to the State’s chronic structural deficits for more than a decade. 

“For too long, Maryland’s budget has been on cruise control with taxpayers asked to pick up the tab later,” said Christopher B. Summers, president of the Institute.  “We support any effort to rein in mandated spending, which accounts for 83 percent of the State budget, and to return tax dollars to those who actually earned them: Maryland citizens and small businesses.”   

The Instituted noted several positive signs of Maryland’s improving fiscal health, including:

• $400 million in tax and fee relief for Marylanders over the past year;
• $600 million in tax and fee relief proposals to be announced next week;
• Governor Hogan’s pledge to lowering the State’s debt limit, and;
• Governor Hogan’s pledge to introduce legislation that limit mandated spending when revenues fall short of statutory requirements;

About the Maryland Public Policy Institute: Founded in 2001, the Maryland Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on state policy issues. The Institute’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies at all levels of government based on principles of free enterprise, limited government, and civil society.  Learn more at mdpolicy.org.

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