EASTON — When entering last year’s General Assembly, the fiscal situation Maryland faced needed serious attention. In some ways, that fiscal pressure has increased since.
Michael Sanderson, the executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties, briefed the Talbot County Council on those financial troubles and more during a special meeting Tuesday.
He told council members a budget shortfall of potentially $600 to $800 million could be facing lawmakers in Annapolis. Fixing that is “not easy, but not impossible,” he said.
“There are a couple of years of that in our forecast, and then it gets really serious,” Sanderson said.
When fiscal year 2028 arrives, Sanderson warned that the state will run out of money in its trust fund that’s been used for The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s expansive and optimistic education initiative.
Many counties have been under significant financial pressure due to state requirements stemming from Blueprint. Sanderson says the state will be feeling that level of pressure soon.