Education comes out a winner in a year of drastic budget cuts
Despite the drastic measures legislators took to balance the budget (cuts reached a total of $1.1 billion), public education funding remained a priority. Here's how education fared at the session's end:
• Governor O'Malley submitted $31.5 billion budget aligned with projections from special session
• Direct State Aid included $127 million increase in education funding for a total state amount of $4.5 billion
• First time Direct State Aid has included GCEI funding
• Included $327 million for school construction
• Total State Aid included $55 million increase in state payment for school employees pension and retirement for a total payment of $622 million
• Grand total FY 2009 Total State Aid funding for education is $5.1 billion
Since August 2007 Cuts to State Budget = $1.1 billion
• July 2007 Governor and Board of Public Works cut budget by $280 million
• November 2007 Special Session cut $550 million
• March 2008 Comptroller's office reports $333 million shortfall in projected revenues due to weakening economy
• April 2008 General Assembly repeals computer sales tax and creates higher tax bracket for millionaires
• April 2008 Governor and General Assembly reach agreement on additional $300 million in budget cuts and pass state budget of $31.2 billion on 88th day of session
