Latest news with #WesMoore
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Maryland Institutes Hiring Freeze And Buyouts To Remedy $121 Million Gap
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JUNE 7: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore goes to greet guests during a campaign event ... More 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by) Governor Moore, who advocates for recruiting fired federal workers, now faces the challenge of retaining his state government employees due to Maryland's budget shortfall. In just a few days, beginning July 1, the state of Maryland will institute a state hiring freeze (of sorts) and offer voluntary employee buyouts to employees nearing retirement or otherwise eligible to accept the state government buyout offer. Governor Moore announced the hiring freeze and funding predicament. Moore announced Tuesday that the state will implement a hiring freeze for fiscal year 2026 (from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026) in response to the "historical fiscal challenge' that the current economy and budget present. Governor Moore stated that his administration is 'committed to engaging with our public sector unions as we work through these difficult decisions. We are moving with care and intentionality to minimize impact on current employees and be transparent throughout the process.' A union representative for Maryland's public service workers indicates that the union has remained in communication with the governor's office and will continue to advocate for resources for union workers. Some key tenants for the hiring freeze and buyout plan. State government leaders express that the administration will act with transparency and intentionality so as to limit confusion, minimize disruptions and avoid public service delays and interruptions for taxpayers. Basically, the administration intends to fix the budget shortfall by using a soft-hand approach with hiring, personnel and operational matters. The key tenants of the plan are as follows: Wes Moore's chief of staff clarifies details about the hiring freeze. Moore's chief of staff, Fagan Harris, discussed the plan for moving forward to remedy the budget shortfall while simultaneously recruiting and hiring skilled new workers for priority roles. During the interview with WTOP News on Wednesday, Harris clarified a few key points about the administration's plans. Regarding it being an actual full-blown hiring freeze, Fagan Harris says: Regarding buyouts and collaboration with unions, Harris says: Regarding continuing to recruit and hire federal workers while dealing with a $121 million budget shortfall, Fagan Harris says: The messaging from the Moore administration is that they intend to identify and remedy inefficiencies and eliminate vacant positions where possible so as to limit the negative impact to services and programs as well as current government employees and citizens. Recommended reading: New Federal Hiring Freeze End Date And Hiring Restrictions Nail The Interview: Answer 'Why Should We Hire You' Like A Pro How Long Will The Federal Hiring Freeze Last? Implications For Government Employees
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland Gov. Moore announces plan to redevelop State Center Complex in Baltimore City
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced a plan to redevelop the State Center complex in Baltimore City. The governor's office called the plan a "transit-oriented concept" that includes new housing, retail, and green space strategically situated between the State Center Metro Subway station and the Cultural Center Light Rail station. "This next chapter for State Center will expand our mission to create jobs, build housing that's affordable, and create new pathways to work, wages, and wealth in all corners of the state," Moore said. Background on the development project In November 2024, Maryland's Board of Public Works approved a $58.5 million settlement to resolve litigation over Baltimore's State Center development project. The settlement came after nearly two decades of delays. The settlement stems from a dispute that began in 2006 when former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich's administration proposed redeveloping the State Center through a public-private partnership. Under that partnership, the state would have granted long-term leases or dispositions of property to a private developer, which would have redeveloped the area in phases. A developer was selected, but the project stalled due to lawsuits, and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's administration canceled it in 2016, leading to additional litigation. Maryland prepares for renovations On June 6, the governor's office announced it was closing nine government-owned office buildings and relocating employees who worked in them. Among those buildings was the State Center complex. A new agreement between the Maryland Department of General Services, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation has issued a Request for Proposals to retain a consultant team. The consultant will evaluate the most effective strategy for bringing the State Center site to market and securing a development partner. The deadline to submit proposals is August 7 at 3 p.m. The selected consultant is expected to be announced later this fall. Renovation to fit with Baltimore City's development goals The governor's office said the redevelopment project will fit with the city's broader planning goals. The redevelopment plan will be coordinated with the City-State Workgroup, which includes leaders from both state and city departments. It builds on the State Center Vision and Market Study, a community-based framework approved by Baltimore City's Planning Commission which outlines the vision for the new complex. The plan describes the State Center as an important transportation hub that needs to scale with urban growth. The planning commission plans to build diverse housing, commercial, and office spaces.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Maryland Gov. Moore Grants 7,000 More Pardons In Cannabis Equity Push
OCTOBER 09: Governor Wes Moore speaks at an event in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ... More Images for TIME) Recently Gov. Wes Moore announced a series of actions designed to close the racial wealth gap in Maryland's cannabis industry, including nearly 7,000 additional pardons for simple possession. The designations—seeking to right the wrongs of systemic flaws in the state—are set to take effect Tuesday. At a Juneteenth event last week, in front of a congregation at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge, the governor announced new Just Community designations to prioritize up to $400 million in competitive state investments in communities that have been disproportionately impacted through the years by cannabis policies. This follows the governor's clemency order he signed last year to pardon 175,000 convictions for possession. 'We know the racial wealth gap affects all of us. It hurts our economy; it restrains job growth and it limits our potential as a state,' said Gov. Moore. 'If you want a growing economy, you have to make sure it is an inclusive one. We cannot afford to simply 'meet' about the situation before us and delay progress—we need action. Together, we are going to continue the work of repair with action that delivers results.' The pardons will impact 6,938 convictions for simple cannabis possession. It's the largest pardon for misdemeanor cannabis possession charges for any state in the country, the governor's office announced. The additional pardons were coordinated with the Maryland Judiciary to review cases since the first order was signed last June. Maryland Just Communities and Other Actions Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development created recommendations to designate 419 of Maryland's 1,463 census tracts as Just Communities, made up of 17 counties and the City of Baltimore. The five-year designation will 'create priority consideration' for competitive state funding in FY 2026. 'The first-of-its-kind designation of Maryland's Just Communities is a critical step in lifting the barriers that create separate and unequal neighborhoods all across our state,' said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. 'Fostering fairer development and addressing inequity not only creates healthier, more resilient communities, but generates lasting social and economic well-being for all.' Per the governor's Expungement Reform Act, all pardoned cannabis possession offenses will be removed from public view by January 31, 2026. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will also address pardoned convictions on criminal background checks. Beyond cannabis, the governor announced a $1.3 billion investment in Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities designed to help 1,500 Black Marylanders pursue homeownership. It also supports Maryland's Black-owned businesses with over $816 million in state procurement awards and will launch an effort to end concentrated poverty through the ENOUGH initiative. Disparities in cannabis ownership persist: For instance, only 10 percent of investors in Maryland's cannabis industry are people of color, data from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) revealed in 2020. Actions like these seek to close the racial gap, first and foremost in the way cannabis convictions are addressed. Gov. Moore's administration has initiated several other equity-driven initiatives based in action to deliver results, including the launch of the Community Investment Venture Fund to help Maryland entrepreneurs of color secure access to capital to grow their businesses. The fund's first round of funding awards to address inequitable property appraisal values through the UPLIFT initiative and $4 million in funding to strengthen high-skill workforce development through the Roads to Careers program.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Buyout offers, hiring freeze coming for state government amid budget crunch
Gov. Wes Moore hands a pen used to sign the state's $67 billion fiscal 2026 budget to House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) The Moore administration plans to slash about $121 million from the state's personnel budget through a combination of buyouts to state employees, a hiring freeze and elimination of at least 150 vacant positions, officials said Tuesday. The measures were announced in a 'Dear colleagues' letter from Gov. Wes Moore (D) to state employees that was sent at noon Tuesday. 'We are moving with care and intentionality to minimize impact on current employees and be transparent throughout the process,' Moore wrote in the letter. Moore Chief of Staff Fagan Harris said in an interview with Maryland Matters that state officials have been trying for weeks to come up with a plan to get the savings from the state's general fund, in accordance with the fiscal 2026 budget that the governor signed in May. 'It's going to be all of these things that help us get to the number, ultimately,' Harris said. As recently as two weeks ago, the administration was looking at layoffs of current workers as part of the budget-cutting mix, an administration official said at the time. But Harris said Tuesday that they were ultimately able to stop short of actual layoffs. Even so, the measures will hamper Moore's goal of growing the state workforce. When he took office in 2023, Moore pledged to rebuild state government, including by filling 5,000 positions left vacant by his predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan (R). And Moore has recently pushed state agencies to hire former federal workers in search of new jobs amid the Trump administration's cost-cutting measures. Federal layoffs drag down state employment gains for second month, new numbers show As of the end of May, there were about 4,800 vacancies in all state agencies, a 9.3% vacancy rate, according to Raquel Coombs, a spokesperson for the Department of Budget and Management. The administration's plan excludes the University System of Maryland, which previously announced cuts. Also excluded from the hiring freeze are the state's '24/7' facilities, such as prisons, hospitals and juvenile facilities, as well as sworn state troopers, Harris said. Administration officials said they're still crafting the buy-out plan and choosing which vacant positions to eliminate, but those same positions are likely to be excluded. As part of Tuesday's announcement, the administration is also pushing state agencies to come up with 'creative' cost-cutting solutions, Harris said. That includes 'in-sourcing' contracted jobs and consolidating physical facilities, to the extent possible, he said. Harris said that non-union employees, including those in the governor's office, will not receive planned salary increases, such as merit raises and step increases. But they will receive a 1% cost-of-living increase in July. Patrick Moran, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 — which represents more than 26,000 state employees — said the state's ongoing issues with 'chronic understaffing, dangerous working conditions, and unsustainable workloads' must be taken into account as the final decisions are made on cuts. 'While it's clear our state must navigate tough and volatile times, any solutions cannot come at the cost of providing quality state services,' Moran said in a statement Tuesday. He said the union will push for cost-saving measures that 'prioritize our state services and the workers who make them happen.' 'That includes eliminating costly contracts, in-sourcing services where needed, addressing other inefficiencies, and closing corporate tax loopholes to raise much-needed state revenue,' Moran wrote. Del. Ben Barnes (D- Anne Arundel and Prince George's), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was pleased to see the governor take a path that did not include cuts of current staff. 'I'm very happy to see that there will not be furloughs or layoffs, as they're not warranted or necessary given our current fiscal picture,' Barnes said. Sen. Guy Guzzone (D- Howard), chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, hailed the governor's move as 'very reasonable and logical.' It should achieve the $121 million in needed cuts, but Guzzone warned that further cuts at the federal level could force state officials back to the drawing board. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'We don't know what else may come along — what other shoe might drop,' Guzzone said. 'But I think it's important to keep a level head and make reasonable decisions along the way. And I think this was a reasonable decision by the governor.' Barnes said that, based on data from the Department of Legislative Services, he believes the $121 million in savings could be achieved solely by slashing vacant positions. 'Anything beyond that would be additional actions the governor was taking,' Barnes said. Barnes said the state has reached a solid fiscal position, citing the state's triple-A bond ratings this year from Fitch and Standard & Poor's. Critically, though, Maryland lost its treasured triple-A bond rating this year from Moody's, the third major bond rating agency, which also downgraded half a dozen other state borrowing programs. Republican legislative leaders criticized the Moore administration for not enacting the hiring freeze sooner, even as the state's financial woes became clear. 'Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you're in a hole, you need to stop digging,' wrote Sen. J.B. Jennings (Baltimore and Harford) in a statement. 'The decision to finally enact a hiring freeze and reduce vacant positions is the right one — but it should have happened months ago, before the situation became more urgent.' Jennings and other Republicans called for the freeze as early as February, in response to Moore's budget proposal. But Moore administration officials had balked at taking such a step. 'Let's be honest: this is the Moore Administration quietly admitting that Senate Republicans were right,' said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Frederick and Carroll) in a statement. Moore's 'Dear colleagues' letter said the hiring freeze will begin July 1. Harris said it is likely to last at least through the fiscal year. The precise terms for voluntary separation agreements are likely to be released in the coming weeks, Harris said, adding that the administration does not yet have a goal for a number of buyouts. 'We want to drive as much adoption as we can, but there's no specific target,' Harris said. The administration is planning to bring a list of vacant positions to the Board of Public Works for elimination around September. 'We want to make it so that the public does not feel these changes,' Harris said. 'We certainly are aware of a large universe of savings there, but we're going to be really careful and intentional this summer, as we work through this to achieve as many savings as we can responsibly.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to offer buyouts, implement hiring freeze for state employees
BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will offer a voluntary buyout program and implement a hiring freeze for state employees, according to an internal letter from the governor obtained by The Baltimore Sun Tuesday. In the letter, Moore said the passage of his fiscal year 2026 budget will require the executive branch to make '$121 million in General Fund personnel cost reductions.' To make these cuts, Moore said he will launch a 'Voluntary Separation Program' for state employees, assess opportunities to eliminate vacant positions and implement a hiring freeze as of July 1. 'Our action positions Maryland to more effectively navigate the extreme uncertainty caused by federal actions,' the letter reads. Republican lawmakers criticized the decision in a series of statements, noting Moore is now calling for the elimination of vacant positions — a plan state Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Republican who represents Baltimore and Harford counties, called for earlier this year. 'Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you're in a hole, you need to stop digging,' Jennings said. 'The decision to finally enact a hiring freeze and reduce vacant positions is the right one — but it should have happened months ago, before the situation became more urgent.' ----------------
