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As the U.S. House passed a $1.9 trillion federal stimulus plan on Wednesday, the Maryland House temporarily slowed work on the state budget ? to give appropriators time to understand the flood of federal money headed to the state, and to wrest some control over stimulus spending from the governor.
Billions of dollars are expected to come to Maryland through the third federal stimulus package, including more than $3.8 billion that would come directly to state government to help with budget strains. Additional billions ? yet to be calculated ? will also come to the state to bolster local governments, extend unemployment benefits, boost infrastructure projects, and ease financial burdens for Marylanders.
And that money comes on the heels of the state’s most recent financial forecast showing an estimated $299 million increase in unallocated revenue for the upcoming fiscal year, which lawmakers are building a budget for now.
