Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gubernatorial staffers faced tough questions Wednesday from state lawmakers over Gov. Wes Moore’s education bill.
Senate Bill 429 would rewrite portions of the state’s landmark education law, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future school-funding mandates that each district must follow.
oore’s staffers told members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Wednesday that the law needs adjustments in order to sustain current academic gains.
“We see the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act as a critical step in moving towards that goal,” said Fagan Harris, the governor’s chief of staff.
Tax increase to pay for education?
Lawmakers learned the governor is open to creating a new revenue stream to help pay for education, as staffers said Moore is open to discussing a tax increase.
“We want to make sure that we are not back here taking more cuts in two years. To that end, is the governor open to dedicated revenues now?” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Barnes, D-District 21.
“Additional revenues, yes,” Harris said.
“I believe you said that the governor was willing to create a new dedicated revenue stream to prop up or pay for the long-term costs of the Blueprint fund. What is that?” asked House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, R-District 1B.
“I do not have a specific funding source in mind other than the willingness of the governor to have the conversation with this body about what funding sources would make sense,” Harris said.
The governor chose not to testify.