Automatic spending increases fuel state deficit

The state is facing a $1.5 billion deficit next year partly because two-thirds of the budget is driven by funding mandates, entitlements and spending formulas that increase automatically due to legislation, enrollments and inflation, analysts told lawmakers Thursday.

“We?re going to have to take a long hard look at mandates and formulas,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Norman Conway, D-Wicomico. “We cannot let the spending line continue out of control.”