The City of Baltimore passed its 2026 budget this week for $4.6 billion in funding in a 13-2 vote by the city council, including money for reducing vacant housing and providing legal services for immigrants.
The budget now sets aside $1 million to increase the Department of Housing and Community Development and $2 million for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. It slashed $1.2 million from the Baltimore Police Department that had been intended to hire more employees.
“We were able to produce a budget that invests in Baltimoreans of every background and age, from youth programs to critical support for older Americans through the HUBS program,” Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen said in a statement.
Cohen said the budget also attempts to boost the quality of life for Baltimore residents.
“We also secured critical commitments that will fund parks, playgrounds and pools in neighborhoods throughout the city, empowering our residents to build community while enjoying the best that our city has to offer,” the statement reads.
The 2026 budget also gives Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates’ Office about $400,000 to help it review body camera footage from police officers. But it denied a request for more money from Bates to launch an investigation into the Department of Public Works.
Council members attempted to address the wave of funding cuts that have been coming from the federal government since the Trump administration took office.
The city will attempt to minimize the effects of those cuts to local programs, Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement.
“In recent weeks, we’ve worked together to make sure this final budget reflects the current and future needs of our residents, and takes into account the harmful and haphazard funding cuts we’re facing from this federal administration,” Scott said.
