Dear Governor Moore, President Ferguson, Speaker Jones and members of the Maryland General Assembly,

Maryland Nonprofits and the undersigned, committed to serving Maryland's communities, urgently call upon you to address the revenue crisis threatening the positive outcomes achieved during the 2024 General Assembly Session.

We commend the strategic investments in Maryland’s future outlined in the Governor's FY2025 budget. These include provisions for state employee wages and benefits, the Child-Care Scholarship program, and investments in housing, community development, environment, and healthcare.

Fully funded, these programs would bolster the capacity of nonprofits and government agencies to tackle systemic inequities, particularly in addressing child poverty, promoting equitable economic growth, and improving healthcare access. However, our state’s revenue system cannot support this.

We face worsening structural budget deficits, while a significant portion of large corporations operating in Maryland pay no income taxes, and the wealthiest 1% of Marylanders contribute proportionately less in taxes than the rest of us. Polling indicates widespread dissatisfaction with this system among Marylanders.

We must act swiftly to put Maryland on a sustainable path while upholding principles of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a part of a long-term solution, the Fair Share for Maryland plan (SB766/HB1007 in the 2024 Regular Session) offers vital reforms to sustain our state’s budget and ensure a fairer distribution of the tax burden.

Shortchanging staffing and technology, shifting burdens to local governments, and delaying crucial program expansions are not viable long-term solutions. Over the past decade, these approaches have eroded the efficiency and responsiveness of state government.

We urge you to join your colleagues in the House of Delegates, recognize the reality of Maryland's budget crisis and take bold steps now to secure the state's future.

Thank you,