What's in Baltimore's $4.9 billion 2027 budget proposal? A breakdown of safety, infrastructure, economic development plans

Baltimore's 2027 budget proposal totals $4.98 billion and includes hefty investments into public safety, economic growth and infrastructure upgrades. 

The spending plan is a 7.6% increase from the city's $4.6 billion budget adopted for 2026, according to the mayor's office. 

"This year's budget builds on the foundation we've built together by making smart investments, centering our youth, and strengthening the core services Baltimore residents rely on," Mayor Brandon Scott said. "It reflects our shared values: putting our people first, making the local government more efficient, and ensuring every neighborhood not only sees the benefit of our growth but reaps the benefits."

According to the mayor, the proposal closes a $12 million funding gap and allows for increased funding in early childhood education and high-impact programs that lost federal funding. 

"Our budget includes targeted strategic actions to strengthen core services and deploy city resources more responsibly and effectively," Mayor Scott said. 

The proposed budget is broken down into six pillars: 

• $645.3 million would go to prioritizing youth, older adults and vulnerable communities 
• $1.3 billion would be used to enhance public safety
• $1.1 billion would be used to support clean, healthy and sustainable communities
• $380.6 million would be used to support equitable economic development
• $239.3 million would be used to support the responsible stewardship of resources
• $1 billion would be used to modernize public infrastructure

Investments in youth, seniors and vulnerable residents

Some of the major investments into youth, seniors and vulnerable communities include $16.5 million for YouthWorks, a program that supports summer jobs for minors. The investment would fund 8,5000 job opportunities. 

Another $3.4 million would be used to support Baltimore's immigrant communities through the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. 

Nearly $1.2 million in funding would allow for two newly renovated recreation centers to open: The Gardenville and Elijah Cummings locations.

Another $300,000 would be used for the mayor's early childhood initiative, and $3.2 would be used for pre-K programs under the statewide Blueprint for Maryland's Future.

Investments in public safety 

The budget proposal includes $1.3 billion to strengthen public safety, including $4.35 million for violence prevention efforts under the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) and the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). 

The mayor had credited both programs for helping to bring violent crime in the city to a 50-year low.

Another $35 million from the proposed budget would be used to replace the Northeast Police District Station. 

Supporting healthy, sustainable communities 

The budget plan includes $80 million to acquire two facilities as permanent homeless shelters. Another $2.3 million would be used to support the city's network of shelters. 

Nearly $2 million would be used to reopen a second Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic, and another $3 million would be used to support six teams that provide proactive neighborhood cleaning services. 

Funding would also support the creation of five new jobs to improve the city's graffiti removal response. 

Investing in economic development 

The proposed budget includes $380.6 million in funds to support economic development across the city. 

Nearly $1.34 million would be allocated to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Law Department to support strategies to end the vacant housing crisis within 15 years. 

Another $8.5 million would be used for housing initiatives like the "Buy Back the Block" program.

Under the proposed budget, a $15 million revolving fund would be launched to attract and retain businesses. 

Promoting responsible use of resources 

The budget proposal includes $239.3 million to ensure city resources are being used responsibly. The funding would be allocated to relaunching the city's Innovation Fund, which supports Recreation and Parks and General Services projects. 

Funding would also be used to improve IT infrastructure and fund the newly established Office of Business Licensing and Consumer Protection. 

Modernizing Baltimore's infrastructure 

Nearly $300 million would be used for transportation improvements under the proposal, including for traffic calming, resurfacing, ADA compliance, traffic signals and more. 

More than $45 million would be allocated to the Recreation and Parks Department, inlcuding $20 million for a new youth sports complex, $12.4 million to replace the city's problematic Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, and $60 million for Public Works facility upgrades.