ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's $16.4 billion budget plan includes cuts to close a shortfall, but he says it fully funds school construction.
Hogan, a Republican, gave a basic outline of his budget proposal Thursday at a news conference. The actual budget plan won't be made public until Friday.
The plan addresses a gap of about $750 million for the next fiscal year.
The plan saves substantial money by cutting funds dedicated for parts of the state where education costs more. The Geographical Cost of Education Index is being cut in half to save roughly $68 million.
Hogan says the budget increases spending for higher education by 1.3 percent. It also includes funding for the proposed Purple Line and Red Line. But the two light-rail projects will undergo further review.
Environment
The Maryland Republican would spend $66 million less in capital funding for environmental programs and land preservation than former Governor Martin O’Malley’s last budget.
Majority of the cuts come from water quality improvement project which would see $279 million in capital funding.
That’s $58 million less than in 2015.
The cuts follow the decision by Hogan to pull the new phosphorus regulations have drawn sharp opposition from agriculture and the poultry industry.
Environmentalists said they were disappointed in his decision.
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