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BALTIMORE, MD (April 18, 2012)—Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined Baltimore Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso and education advocates at John Eager Howard Elementary/Middle School to highlight the need to increase funding for school construction and renovation. Mayor Rawlings-Blake called on members of the City Council’s Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee to support her plan to increase the City’s annual contribution to school construction and renovation by 140%.
“Now is the time to make stop making excuses and start making the tough decisions to invest in our schools. Baltimore has the oldest school infrastructure in the state, and our plan to improve these schools deserves an up and down vote from the entire City Council,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “We are urging committee members to allow this vital legislation to move forward.”
The Mayor’s Better Schools Initiative, first announced in November, includes a variety of new revenue streams, including dedicating proceeds from the proposed 5-cent beverage container fee, 10% of city revenues from the proposed Video Lottery Terminal facility land lease, and by leveraging additional State funds from the City’s contribution to teacher-retiree healthcare benefits. The combined package of proposed new revenue streams could leverage as much as $300 million in bond funding for school construction and renovation or could be pumped into shovel-ready projects as early as next year.
Beginning July 1, 2013, the Rawlings-Blake administration proposes allocating the following revenue streams for School Construction and Renovation:
- A proposed 5-cent beverage container fee: The proposal exempts milk, juice, dairy substitutes, and “economy size” containers 2 liters or larger in order to minimize burden on struggling families. With nonresident workers, tourists, and other daily visitors also paying the surcharge, the proposal will generate an estimated $10 million annually for school construction and renovation.
- 10% of estimated city Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) funds: Revenues from the proposed VLT land lease total $1.2 million.
- Leverage retiree healthcare benefit costs: An additional $12.0 million in State funding—through the re-appropriation of BCPS retiree healthcare costs that leveraged an extra $12 million in FY’12.
- Continue annual capital contribution: The City will continue to contribute approximately $17.0 million in bond proceeds.
The Baltimore City public school system is challenged both by the oldest school buildings in the state of Maryland and a local tax base that is insufficient to meet the current and future funding needs of the school system’s construction and renovation plan. Baltimore City Public Schools faces a major funding shortfall for school construction and renovation.
High quality school facilities have a measurable positive impact on rates of student learning, attendance, and graduation. Studies have shown that school facilities in poor condition contribute to lower student achievement and higher absenteeism and dropout rates. School facilities also affect a district's ability to attract and retain high quality teachers, which directly impacts student achievement. School facilities in poor condition can also pose threats to the health and safety of staff and students.
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