US News
Baltimore mayor supports ballot initiative for municipal baby fund
Voters will decide in November whether to amend the city charter to fund support for parents of newborns.
The short version
- Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced support for a November ballot initiative to create a municipal 'Baby Fund'.
- If approved, the city charter would be amended to mandate a tax allocation of 3 cents per $100 of assessed property value into the fund.
- The City Council would later establish specific eligibility rules and payout structures, which could include cash payments, subsidies, or supplies for new parents.
Key facts
- Organizers gathered more than 10,000 required signatures to qualify the Baltimore Baby Fund initiative for the November ballot.[Fox News]
- The proposed charter amendment would allocate 3 cents per $100 of assessed property value into a permanent municipal fund.[Fox News]
- The City Council would hold authority to set specific rules and eligibility criteria for disbursements if the measure passes.[Fox News]
- The proposal draws inspiration from the Rx Kids program in Michigan, which supplies direct payments for prenatal and infant care.[Fox News]
- Mayor Scott previously led a pilot direct-cash program, the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund, from August 2022 to July 2024.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The precise structure of assistance, including whether funds will be distributed as direct cash, subsidies, or physical supplies, depends on future legislation by the City Council.[Fox News]