[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6166211,"mediaKeyId","5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11","parentId",5415921,"title","Board rejects Comptroller resolution to set citywide health coverage defaults and waiver minimum","audioSeconds",2203,"startMs",3728000,"endMs",5931000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11&start=3728&end=5931","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11/thumbnail_3728000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166211/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Board-rejects-Comptroller-resolution-to-set-citywide-health-coverage-defaults-and-waiver-minimum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166211-58ee8ebd9e328d6f8e748b6c3030df3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213532&Signature=o-CkLdAoPipkqIOoZyVRXL3Du3xrvZQTC9HFTKPg6rqQr5Umg7x2DtkFVSmXfICbqrxEosRms6mSzLSfjtlVG-Dpd0JcjcVyOieE1OUxvjCi4F22W01jLchpI-iV38Y52Le9JUq9UyBl2H4vNIxbE7pmuSVdq2FVkc0uSAVK0d6aci1iADPwb1hlWuaBqNJtngQNxRPxBWdEWyI12mSEyITqt729VBA5sNEDpajL4vodeHOfZCgxlBYOsOS6FhX8o7AFfuJvWOTLJK8N-xlXJND~jb9oH1bHTXInjnFji~9K8O5AwsVyCem9P4swaGxfXNiehDY8wrHyY~O3GMjIBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Baltimore, MD","date","2025-07-18T04:04:07.343Z","article","The Board of Estimates debated and ultimately denied a resolution introduced by the Comptroller's Office on July 16 that would make health-insurance enrollment the default for city employees (opt-out rather than opt-in) and establish a $5,000 floor for the waiver credit given to employees who opt out and verify outside coverage.

Kasey Kelleher, deputy chief of staff for the Comptroller, described the resolution as a response to a 2024 Office of the Inspector General report that identified a significant number of Department of Public Works employees who were working without health insurance. Kelleher said the resolution sets a baseline so that employees who opt out would receive a consistent waiver credit and noted that the measure would not prevent bargaining units from negotiating higher amounts.

Board members, including City Administrator Faith Leach and other administration officials, raised concerns that the measure could interfere with ongoing collective-bargaining negotiations and said the administration preferred to address the issue through direct negotiations with unions. Leach and other administration officials said the city had already taken steps after the OIG report to enroll many DPW employees and to run targeted outreach; the administration also stated that fewer than 5 percent of city employees currently opt out of coverage.

Comptroller Bill Henry moved an amendment to remove the waiver-credit section and leave only the opt-out default; that amendment was seconded but failed in a voice vote. The board then voted on the unamended resolution; several board members voted nay and the item was denied.

During the discussion participants cited several figures from the OIG review and subsequent outreach: the OIG had identified roughly 135 employees not enrolled (the comptroller referenced about 140); city staff said they enrolled 131 of those employees after outreach. Speakers also noted the city employs about 13,500 people. The board did not adopt the comptroller's resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Estimates Meeting; July 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Estimates considered a resolution from the Comptroller's Office proposing default enrollment (opt-out) for city health insurance and a $5,000 minimum health-care waiver credit. After debate and an unsuccessful amendment effort to remove the waiver-credit provision, the board voted to deny the unamended resolution.","taxTitle","Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Maryland","taxId",4816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166216,"Mayor's Office of Homeless Services notes emergency procurement to build WHRC health and wellness center",89,3497000,3586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11&start=3497&end=3586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11/thumbnail_3497000.jpg","/articles/6166216/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Mayors-Office-of-Homeless-Services-notes-emergency-procurement-to-build-WHRC-health-and-wellness-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166216-b3a1edd507a7a41cd0a74656329c4e70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213533&Signature=nJ0L9mBXyo23h-~Qt814ugkJCvrs0jUKKyjm69RwF~lyw5jJLiGraTqVt1aXgEn~zXqqlqiUayJ9SYCScD1I5jYd~1LZ5kA154x3QzGGQgXWkpUTmYXc9gWtRt~~CVmWquoht-vIsk7~qRL3GBgojXZbb9Boz2InkqycUvaqgif8emoWgygx~s5g0SzTLeTVI5bZ4xInr1f9Mps4aKc9~EI6vHlqpsfb9~QKZ9BUWgpgBrUTEM1jS0YLpWgM4YBVaEXxNmjg~jpm3wGZu26caY9lHvDvNTufWdJqMhwALN1V6Z2erQ5CKykixcZhf24dgEGQK5T2q4zYLqLLaupsTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Estimates noted an emergency procurement on July 16 authorizing installation work by MOI Inc. to create a health and wellness center at WHRC, the city's non-congregate shelter space, the mayor's office of homeless services told the board.

Ernestina Simmons, director of the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, said the project will redesign existing space to include acoustically separated offices, multiple \"pods\" for providers to see clients, and a waiting area for residents. The goal is to bring mental-health providers, substance-use providers and other community organizations into a single site to improve access.

Simmons told the board the vendor was identified with the assistance of the Department of General Services and will complete the installation. In response to a board question about future emergency procurements, Simmons said she did not anticipate additional emergency procurement requests for the wellness center.","The Board of Estimates noted an emergency procurement authorizing MOI Inc. to design and outfit a health and wellness center inside the WHRC non-congregate shelter; the center will host mental-health, substance-use and other community-based providers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166221,"Board notes funding to start construction of Park Heights branch of Enoch Pratt Free Library",400,349000,749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11&start=349&end=749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11/thumbnail_349000.jpg","/articles/6166221/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Board-notes-funding-to-start-construction-of-Park-Heights-branch-of-Enoch-Pratt-Free-Library","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166221-c4c7cd476bfc8fc2a60669e971a1e824/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213533&Signature=QZDiF4Lhj8lh9mQ2JnVp7NGo6yet7pdagxxFI5Zgvt5MjeQM6jv5pNkS9njB68yPFHL5cL1IwhANgc6S07d8qfXBIzxM8hJ2k5ycApDMiQAjDUjSxl3FXUbcL9bTWVpGxkKpsUx7945MZ-4rJk6MWXqS6DQ3lQdQqb7SXWFXs0bfZojTq101-VEHFAVHN16Afx-9A5ZfTVOxtC99pZ6oVGQSg4S4kXBZL91uQGm~V3g0me3bPwRdZmL0xzBel-tPhTZyfqP6Y5jUj3mjwiZXwOu~i18dAyBFJattXbEp1EEAsy8sesRICAnhd8~iZCHIKZbh1AQnKYOVclWy8FobTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members and local partners marked the Board of Estimates' adoption of routine agenda items that included funding to begin construction of a new Park Heights branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Officials and community representatives in the meeting described the project as a long-delayed resource for the Park Heights neighborhood that will serve residents in the surrounding area and connect with broader neighborhood development efforts. City officials said the capital stack for the project includes multiple partners, a private donor and layering of ARPA and other city resources.

Vice President Sharon Middleton and Comptroller Bill Henry both praised the leadership that advanced the project and noted the library will provide neighborhood programming and learning opportunities. The board also recognized Park Heights Renaissance representatives who were present to support the project.

The library funding was adopted as part of the routine agenda earlier in the meeting; board members took a point of personal privilege to thank the administration, the Enoch Pratt Free Library and community partners for bringing the project to construction-ready status.","Board members celebrated approval of funds to begin construction of a new Park Heights branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library; the project was described as the first new library building in the city in more than a decade and part of a multilayered capital financing plan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166226,"Baltimore Health Department receives $2.7 million notification of grant award for older-adult services; total award about $4.8M",411,2699000,3110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11&start=2699&end=3110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11/thumbnail_2699000.jpg","/articles/6166226/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Baltimore-Health-Department-receives-27-million-notification-of-grant-award-for-older-adult-services-total-award-about-48M","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166226-028f5dbf4eba38488adecea2ada5aff9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213533&Signature=KVXizmwbBcxSkAxTK4~8PeyWwKhiWBM7iiPqM-t5Jr1rCE~9RW3H9CVg6lEZfgo5KP~xpb9KZu0u~RYhg2Kmaw4piasROkpUs6aexQdpcEh43pY70XjdU3Tt-bNeYtILU5oZaoVzlS0Q7a~~80s0gpqi0fdCcjd-hJmrOqg6mFsyLtZuKdlVbN7s34QQx3fDb~JtOXdS8kZ06Ppdkgu6Olzu-XoHsHyZpcLRSh6V9Ek6bzOQI9X9I0R~cGM8sSTVLYMgMJpxUBvAfPD1581oPKZcsgj4X5g7DLG32szuPu9fhmnIQvch9OqM5RGhM6QoTv8dghJUBDXLeG3mXFYjNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Estimates approved a notification of grant award from the Maryland Department of Aging to the Baltimore City Health Department on July 16. Deputy and interim health leadership told the board the award is the second disbursement in a two-part federal/state pass-through totaling approximately $4.8 million to support older-adult services.

Meredith Hather, interim commissioner of health, and Deputy Byron Pugh, division deputy for aging and community services, explained the grant is a pass-through from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living via the Maryland Department of Aging. The department said the first disbursement, roughly $2 million, arrived in March; the second part, described at the meeting as about $2,711,855, arrived on June 5.

City staff outlined programs the funds will support, including information and assistance, advocacy, legal services, meal programs, in-home services, caregiver support, recreational and socialization activities, and health promotion. The presentation included specific budget line items read to the board: administration $420,000; congregate meal programs $1,264,000; caregiver support $485,000; guardianship $126,000; health promotion $64,000; home-delivered meal programs $1,200,000; home sharing $8,500; legal assistance $74,000; long-term care ombudsman $154,700; and senior center programs about $956,420.

Department staff said approximately 80 percent of grant expenditures will be delivered through contracts and subgrants to nonprofit organizations (Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Associated Catholic Charities, Forest Park Senior Center, the Bar Association of Baltimore City and others) and about 20 percent by city employees. The department also described coordination with the Mayor's Office of Older Adult Affairs and Advocacy on events, training and referral supports.

A motion to approve the notification of grant award was seconded and approved by the board.","The Board of Estimates approved a notification of grant award from the Maryland Department of Aging to the Baltimore City Health Department for programs that support older adults; the award is part of a two-part disbursement that totals approximately $4.8 million.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166230,"Board approves $10 million opioid-restitution grant for 988 Lifeline awareness campaign",5198,887000,6085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11&start=887&end=6085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415921-1248a433c4ccc4c5131a308a74da6a11/thumbnail_887000.jpg","/articles/6166230/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Board-approves-10-million-opioid-restitution-grant-for-988-Lifeline-awareness-campaign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166230-796ce6bc2cc780897011ad7dc783c504/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213533&Signature=HFAToDJISEV3mWA4H0ee1hz7uDGZRKLq4EHAlb-rc7WIY8tee218MI7M8ndDXiQCK1qMS2il50IIoXt9xWcS~Y-hCA3s9ydEPRh0dpOg2L4H3wE5jaTSX~Wr99XPFMyOvhavZtWMN2SyQITfDEmcGrBXjao5SRUhwTgCsQDCMYhrJXxpP5WITkOvSuO3zvuis-UZK0kL4ikY2pIRrH~UbGWZx0NkSKApzqsjHFqCAMt-yQUvB4JVE~kh7Gxb09yaEimUH7FC6kcbrYcDJc9LO38AeWtQoAcK2Pdk34V9CUWGgQrU5tksTxgL9H1D7Vc0Q~WIVc6oowKcAp2jE0y4dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Estimates on July 16 approved a $10 million grant agreement from the city's Opioid Restitution Fund to Behavioral Health System Baltimore (BHSB) to fund a five-year public awareness and community-engagement campaign for the 988 Lifeline.

The award funds outreach and marketing only; BHSB and city staff told the board the dollars are not intended to underwrite 988's call-center operations. The campaign will pay for a full-time community engagement specialist, an expanded ambassador program, targeted outreach to priority populations and a competitively-bid communications contract.

Elizabeth Tatum, acting director of the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, told the board the grant is focused on \"outreach and marketing\" and is meant to increase public awareness of the range of services available through 988. She said Baltimore City received 15,712 calls to 988 in calendar year 2024, which the presentation described as about 52% of Central Maryland's call volume. Tatum said the five-year budget includes personnel, modest travel and supplies, contracts and an indirect cost line set at 15 percent.

Adrienne Bridal, vice president of policy and communications for Behavioral Health System Baltimore, said BHSB is the local behavioral health authority and does not operate the 988 call centers directly but funds three providers that do. She described routine coordination with the Baltimore Police Department on training and community engagement and said BHSB \"coordinate[s] training for all of the BPD officers on mental health awareness which includes training them on when and how to use 988.\" Bridal also said BHSB provides police with materials and participates in confidential case review processes that generate system recommendations.

Board members asked about whether increased outreach might overwhelm 988 operations. Tatum and Bridal said 988 operations are funded by a 2024 state telecommunications fee, with revenues held in a trust managed by the state comptroller and distributed to BHSB annually. Tatum said there is an opportunity to request midyear budget adjustments if call-volume projections require more operations funding.

Board members also asked about coordination between 911 and 988. Board members were told the city has a 911-diversion program that began in 2021 and that mobile crisis teams and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police are part of the broader response ecosystem. City Administrator Faith Leach said the administration would provide additional data requested by board members and reported an internal figure that 1,778 calls had been diverted from 911 to 988 (the administration said it would confirm and share details after the meeting).

After the presentation and questions, a board member moved to approve the grant agreement, the motion was seconded, and the item was approved.","The Board of Estimates approved a $10 million, five-year grant from the city's Opioid Restitution Fund to Behavioral Health System Baltimore to run a public awareness and community engagement campaign supporting the 988 Lifeline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board rejects Comptroller resolution to set citywide health coverage defaults and waiver minimum

Mayor's Office of Homeless Services notes emergency procurement to build WHRC health and wellness center

Board notes funding to start construction of Park Heights branch of Enoch Pratt Free Library

Baltimore Health Department receives $2.7 million notification of grant award for older-adult services; total award about $4.8M

Board approves $10 million opioid-restitution grant for 988 Lifeline awareness campaign