The Maryland General Assembly passed the final version of its fiscal 2011 budget on Saturday.
The $13.2 billion operating budget contains no new taxes or fees, but instead features a mix of cuts, transfers, and federal stimulus money, as well as a compromise involving teacher pensions.
The state’s House of Delegates approved changes agreed upon by a House and Senate conference committee by a vote of 105-34. The Senate had already approved the changes.
The House and Senate compromise was similar to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s original proposal, including a plan to move around almost $1 billion among different accounts for “short-term fixes.”
A major difference between the two chambers’ original budget bills was in the funding of teacher pensions. The Senate’s measure would have required local governments to gradually take on a portion of teacher pension payments by 2012. That move would save the state $63 million in the first year and $330 million by 2015, according to a legislative fiscal analysis.
Last week, a panel voted to create a commission to study how the state should deal with growing pension costs. The eight-member commission is expected to issue its recommendations to the General Assembly before next year’s session.
In other General Assembly business Saturday, the state Senate backed a measure that would place special markers on sex offenders’ driver’s licenses. Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, who sponsored the amendment, says it would alert police to ask more questions if they stop a registered sex offender with a child.
The House also passed a measure Saturday that would require utilities to purchase more of their power from solar energy resources.
Examiner Staff Writer Hayley Peterson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
