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Board of Estimates approves $67.9 million in FY24 year‑end supplements; officials discuss curbing fire/EMS overtime
Summary
The Baltimore Board of Estimates on Feb. 5 approved a retroactive fiscal 2024 supplemental appropriation and transfers totaling $67.9 million. City officials said the largest single pressure is overtime in emergency medical services and outlined bargaining, operational and diversion strategies to reduce costs.
The Baltimore Board of Estimates voted Feb. 5 to approve a fiscal 2024 year‑end supplemental appropriation and transfers with a total impact of $67.9 million, the city’s budget director said. The measure now goes to the City Council for consideration.
City Budget Director Laura Larson told the board the action moves surplus revenue and fund balance to cover agency deficits from the prior fiscal year. "The total impact would be $67,900,000. That's correct," Larson said, summarizing transfers and appropriations driven by a mix of revenue surplus and agency shortfalls.
Larson described the main elements: a $9.8 million transfer from debt service to support the Finance Department, the sheriff's office and transit; $1.5 million shifted from the Department of General Services to the Law Department; $5.2 million appropriated to the Health Department related to unbudgeted COVID‑19 response costs; $17.9 million in surplus income tax revenue allocated across the Board of Elections, the Civil Service/License Board, the Police Department, Public Works and Recreation & Parks; and $33.3 million from surplus investment earnings proposed for the Fire Department.
The proposal drew extended discussion about overtime and staffing in the Fire Department and emergency medical services (EMS). Faith Leach, chief administrative officer, said the city is negotiating with unions and exploring operational changes to reduce overtime. "We are actively at the table with our union partners trying to work together to come up with a shift model that reduces the overtime costs for the city but that also supports our fire and EMS staff," Leach said, and described a multi‑year strategy in the city's 10‑year financial plan.
Mayor Brandon Scott told the board the city must also continue public conversations about appropriate use of 911 and EMS resources and expand alternatives to ambulance transport to reduce unnecessary EMS runs. "This is gonna require us to have a real long and deep conversation in public about what our EMS is actually supposed to be for," the mayor said, urging partnerships with hospitals and community outreach on alternatives.
Board members and staff discussed other operational options being studied, including expanded 911 diversion programs and use of private nonemergency transport providers, and a so‑called "chase car" model for advanced life support response. Leach said those items are under study and that the administration will present elements of the 10‑year plan in the spring.
For the record, Board President Zeke Cohen abstained from the vote because, he said, the item will appear before the City Council; the Board otherwise approved the supplemental.
Votes at a glance (nonroutine items discussed Feb. 5): SB251036 — FY24 year‑end supplemental appropriation and transfers: approved; Board President Zeke Cohen recorded an abstention. SB2510233 — payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) pilot agreement, Towns at the Terrace LLC (800 W. Saratoga): approved; Mayor Brandon Scott abstained. SB2414684 — emergency procurement extension for Calmi/Commie Electrical Company (DGS): noted (extension reported; no additional contract authority requested). SB2510213 — settlement agreement and release re: Dennis Freeman (Law Department): approved, $720,000. SB2414627 and SB2414636 — Parking Authority garage management emergency procurement extensions: noted (extensions to June 30, 2025). SB2415135 — unauthorized procurement payment to Women's Civic League (historic building repairs): approved, $48,963.77. SB24143306 (DPW/Wilmot modular structures): approved, $66,477.99. SB24148605 (DPW/United Site Services porta‑potties): approved, $11,594.44.
Why it matters: The supplemental reassigns one‑time surplus and fund‑balance resources to cover prior‑year deficits. The administration and board described the measure as retroactive closeout work for FY24; several board members pressed for faster closeout and for long‑term operational changes to prevent recurring deficits, especially large overtime costs in EMS.
The Board of Estimates approved the item by voice vote after motions from the floor; President Zeke Cohen recorded his abstention and the Board forwarded the supplemental to City Council for final action.
