Voters in Baltimore will have the opportunity to decide on a proposal that would provide new parents a $1,000 lump sum payment.
Over 10,000 signatures from city dwellers in favor of the proposed charter amendment were approved by the Baltimore City Board of Elections, as reported by our media colleagues at The Baltimore Banner.
The “Baltimore Baby Bonus” campaign was started by an advocacy group. In the event that it passed, the money would go to the newly adopted or biological parents.
The plan is intended to provide financial assistance to locals who give birth or adopt a child, according to Maryland Child Alliance President Nate Golden.
“The Baltimore Baby Bonus started as a campaign where we could go around state legislators, around city legislators and take our message directly to voters,” Golden stated.
The Board of Elections has mandated that the proposal be placed on the ballot for the 2024 General Election if it receives at least 10,000 certified signatures.
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Proposal organizers stated that no taxes would be increased to finance the project. Rather, the general budget of the city would be used to support the charter amendment through the value of city property.
“Our funding structure requires an appropriation equal to 0.03% of city property value, but it does not raise property taxes,” according to the campaign.
“This is an incredibly low-cost program,” Julia Ellis stated. “With about 7,000 babies born in Baltimore every year, the total estimated cost for this program is only $7 million, which is less than one percent of our city’s budget.”
