Maryland
News briefs: O's agreement up for votes Monday, revised fiscal projections deepen state's budget woes – Maryland Matters
Maryland’s Board of Public Works will embark on a road trip Monday — for a special meeting at Camden Yards.
Late Thursday, the state’s spending oversight board and the Maryland Stadium Authority, which has been negotiating a long-term lease with the Baltimore Orioles, scheduled last-minute meetings for Monday.
Gov. Wes Moore’s office confirmed shortly after 9:30 p.m. that the boards planned to vote Monday on “a long-term agreement” with the team.
“This historic agreement embodies the three core principles I laid out at the beginning of this process: this is a long term deal that will keep baseball in Baltimore for all to enjoy, that puts all Maryland taxpayers at the top of mind, and that benefits the entire City of Baltimore,” Moore (D) said in a statement. “I know for many this process has been long, and the team that worked on securing this deal has done so diligently with the best interests of the taxpayer in mind. The Orioles are a treasured part of the Baltimore community and I know I speak for all Marylanders when I say we are so excited to see the impact they will make on the City of Baltimore and across the state for years to come.”
The Maryland Stadium Authority is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. at its offices, the Warehouse at Camden Yards.
The Board of Public Works plans to meet at 3:15 p.m. at the same location.
Negotiators from Moore’s administration and the Maryland Stadium Authority appeared to have reached an agreement with the team for a 30-year lease renewal late last week, but according to published reports, it fell apart at the last minute in part due to objections from Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) over granting the team a 99-year lease for development rights near the stadium. Ferguson’s district includes Camden Yards and the surrounding area.
The Stadium Authority’s Monday agenda indicates the board will consider a contract that “generally, extends existing Ballpark lease; and includes: Time for feasibility studies and governmental approvals to create a development plan; Time for approvals of a Ground Lease agreement and a Master Development Plan; Options if a Ground Lease agreement and a Master Development Plan are not approved by a certain date, to include entering into a new Facility Use Agreement with a 30-year term.”
The board will separately consider a 30-year lease agreement to take effect upon approval of a ground lease agreement and master development plan, according to the agenda.
Revenue estimates down
Maryland’s governor and legislature should expect less money to work with in the coming fiscal year when they return to Annapolis next month.
The Board of Revenue Estimates approved revisions to state revenues Thursday. And while there was some improvement in the current year estimates, the panel’s latest projection writes down revenues for fiscal 2025 by nearly $163 million compared to projections made in September.
Much of the projected decrease is related to continued declines in expected sales tax collections.
“This appears, in part, to be another post-pandemic behavior as consumers have generally spent pandemic savings or stimulus funds and are now looking to spend less and rebuild savings, for those who can,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said.
The news deepens the state’s budget concerns both in the short- and long-term.
Hours after the Board of Revenue Estimates met, the legislative Spending Affordability Committee met to finalize budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year.
The revised forecast is part of a growing gap between projected spending and revenue.
Over the next five years, revenues are expected to grow 3.5% annually. Those are outpaced by expected spending growth of 5% annually over the same period.
What lawmakers heard was a budget picture that includes a $761 million structural gap for fiscal 2025. That figure is more than double the projections given to the same committee in September.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and lawmakers will have to resort to one-time budget actions, some cuts coupled with dipping into the state’s rainy day fund, to erase the fiscal 2025 deficit.
The gap continues to widen in fiscal years 2026-2029.
Analysts now project a gap of $917 million in 2026 — more than double September’s estimate. In fiscal 2027, the gap increases again to nearly $1.2 billion or three times the September estimate.
In fiscal 2028 and 2029, the deficits balloon to $2.4 billion and $2.7 billion respectively, according to projections released Thursday.
Driving much of the gap in those last two fiscal years are large increases in spending related to implementing the Blueprint education reforms.
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3 Takeaways from the Spartans’ Victory over Maryland
The Michigan State Spartans under head coach Jonathan Smith are 2-0 thanks to a road win against a tough Maryland team, 27-24.
Resilience might be the word to describe this squad so far. The Spartans made some big blunders against the Terrapins and still found a way to battle back. The gritty performance might have been enough to get the Spartans into a bowl game.
Here are three takeaways from the Spartans’ win.
Aidan Chiles: Very Young, Very Talented
Chiles looked vastly improved from the home opener against Florida Atlantic. Again, he looked like an 18-year-old quarterback.
Chiles got not just his first passing touchdown as a Spartan, but three passing touchdowns to go with 24 of 39 passing and 363 yards. He also had three interceptions, which very nearly cost the Spartans the game.
Chiles has about as strong an arm as any quarterback to wear the green and white in recent memory. He is dangerous when he is on the move.
Perhaps a critique is that he should try to make more plays with his legs, he has seemed cautious to these first two games. The first pass rusher to get to Chiles likely won’t bring him down — Chiles has a great feel for the pocket and he is quite slippery.
Chiles overcame some poor mistakes and throwing mechanics (his feet tend to get wide and it factors into his overthrows) to lead the Spartans in the most critical of situations against a sturdy Maryland defense.
Huge game for Chiles, who showed why the hype was so promising.
Can the Spartans Stay Healthy on Defense?
Already, this Spartans squad is beaten up. Dillon Tatum, a key defensive back, lost for the season. Wide receiver Alante Brown, whose injury allowed for Nick Marsh to announce himself to the world, lost for the foreseeable future. Kristian Phillips at guard was huge.
During the Maryland game, several Spartans were beat up. Few even had to go into the tent on the sideline. It will be crucial for the Spartans to remain healthy, especially on defense. Most especially in the defensive backfield.
The Spartans are very confident in their young defensive backs — Justin Denson Jr., Andrew Brinson IV, and Jaylen Thompson can all be very good players, but they need more time to develop.
If more Spartans fall to injury, the defensive backfield could get very young.
Nick Marsh is the Real Deal
Marsh was the recruiting gem of 2024, the best player in a class with plenty of good talent. A highly-rated four-star, Marsh was the No. 107-ranked player in the class by 247Sports. Marsh, of course, stood out in fall camp like the high-profile recruit he was.
6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Marsh already had a man’s body. At just 18 years old.
“Possesses the size, athleticism, and multi-sport profile that projects very well in the long term,” 247Sports’ Gabe Brooks wrote. “Traitsy mismatch wideout with high-major impact potential and the ceiling to develop into an NFL Draft candidate.”
With the loss of Brown, Marsh was asked to step up. Step up he did — eight receptions for 194 receiving yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins might have his next in the line of Jalen Nailor, Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman.
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