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City budget director outlines FY26 plan: $4.6 billion total, new fees and expanded capital investments
Summary
City Budget Director Laura Larson told the Budget and Appropriations Committee the recommended FY26 spending plan totals about $4.6 billion, with an 11 percent increase in the general fund, proposed fee changes to raise revenue, expanded capital investment and a focus on quality‑of‑life services.
City Budget Director Laura Larson presented the administration’s recommended fiscal 2026 spending plan to the Baltimore City Council Budget and Appropriations Committee, saying the proposed ordinance of estimates would total roughly $4.6 billion with a $3.6 billion operating budget and a $931.9 million capital program.
"The city was faced with an $85,000,000 projected shortfall as we began our work on the fiscal 26 budget," Larson said, describing drivers such as rising wages and benefits, debt service and fleet and building costs. She said the administration approached balancing the budget by focusing on recurring initiatives, cost optimization, and investments in core quality‑of‑life services.
Larson said the general fund recommendation totals about $2.6 billion (an $256 million, or 11 percent, increase over FY25) and that the mayor’s plan pairs revenue…
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