Supporting a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program in Prince George’s County
Dear Prince Georgians,
Yesterday, the County Council’s Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee passed CR-018-2023, a resolution that expresses support for the creation of a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program in Prince George’s County. This program would involve a monthly cash payment given directly to individuals for a limited period. We understand the need to study a program like this to uplift some of our most vulnerable residents, and we would like to find a way to fund this pilot program in a way that does not put any additional strain on our County budget.
The legislation would create a 24-month pilot program, with a total of 200 proposed recipients and a monthly guaranteed income payment of $800. The proposed recipient groups could include families with children 12-18 years old (particularly single parent caregivers), returning citizens, senior citizens, and people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. I would also like to see this program used to help those who are aging out of the foster care system and need some assistance. A committee would be formed to create and oversee the program.
The total cost for this pilot program is $4 million. We are thankful for the partnership of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which is planning to commit a total of $1 million to help seed the pilot program. In addition, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has secured a commitment from a local foundation to seed an additional $1 million if the County can secure the remaining funding.
As I mentioned last week during my State of the County Budget Address, this year’s budget is tight due to a number of challenges we have to navigate. It would be difficult for us to fund the remaining $2 million for this pilot program from our General Fund. That’s why we are interested in working with community partners and other private entities to secure an additional $2 million in private investments to fund this pilot program.
Other nearby jurisdictions are already exploring or implementing Guaranteed Basic Income programs. Guaranteed Income can enable a person to pay down debt, move into permanent housing, further their education to secure a better job, or stop working a second job and instead be at home spending time with family.
The positive impacts of these programs have been studied for decades, with the most well-known pilot being implemented in Stockton, California, in 2019. The program provided cash payments to 125 people over a 2-year period. It was a well-studied pilot which confirmed that when vulnerable residents receive these payments, their lives improve significantly.
Over the 2-year pilot, there was a control group and a group that received the cash payments. When the program started, only 28% of those receiving cash payments had full-time employment. Within a year, 40% had full-time employment. Meanwhile, 32% of residents not receiving cash payments had full-time employment at the start, and only 37% did after one year.
In addition, 52% of those receiving cash payments were paying off debts at the start of the program. In one year, that number climbed to 62%. Over the same period, the residents not receiving cash payments saw a decrease in those paying off debts, from 48% to 44%. Finally, residents participating in the program reported decreases in anxiety and depression, and expressed more optimism about their futures.
This is just one example of how Guaranteed Basic Income programs can change lives. We have heard from residents who continue to struggle to meet basic needs due to inflation and other factors, and need some additional support. A Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program is a way we can explore how this kind of support could potentially transform the lives of some of our residents who need it most.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
County Executive and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Joint Statement on Commitment to Education Funding
Last week during my State of the County Budget Address, I talked about the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and our commitment to our children’s education. I want to share a joint statement from me and State Delegate Ben Barnes, who is Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, on our shared commitment to education funding:
“The state and county budgets continue to reflect our joint commitment to providing a high-quality education for all of our students. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is providing investments in education that will be transformational for our students and for our workforce for years to come. As we continue to invest in education, we remain committed to making additional investments that will help expand our tax base and grow our state and local economy.”
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