Maryland citizens can play governor online by balancing the state’s $2 billion budget shortfall through a new online game produced by a local nonprofit.
The simulation from the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute gives residents budget-slashing power in 10 categories of government, including education, transportation, business and regulation, social services, health care and the environment. Under each category, players can make decisions on spending and cutting by using background information provided by the game or by following the advice of a dozen special interest groups.
All of the game’s legislative decisions are Maryland-specific, such as cutting off funding for the InterCounty Connector and increasing tuition rates at College Park. The state’s total deficit recalculates with each decision.
Neil Bergsman, director of the Institute, said he created the game to give residents an idea of what lawmakers will be grappling with in crafting next fiscal year’s budget.
“We hope people will learn a little more about what is in the state budget and what a difficult challenge the state legislature has in balancing the budget,” he said.
Bergsman is already working on the game’s second version, which he hopes will include more specific information about the short and long-term effect of players’ decisions.
“We want people to know what effect the decisions you make will have on student test scores, on crime reduction, or even nitrogen levels in the Bay,” he said. “We want people to know what their tax dollars are producing in the state and their neighborhoods.”
