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Comptroller Lierman briefs Prince George's council on federal exposure, EITC outreach and baby-bonds research
Summary
Comptroller Brooke Lierman told council members Maryland's economy remains highly exposed to federal activity — about $150 billion flows into the state annually — and urged the county to boost outreach for the Earned Income Tax Credit while exploring long-term ideas such as 'baby bonds.'
Brooke Lierman, Maryland's comptroller, told Prince George's County council members at the retreat that the state's economy is unusually tied to federal employment and contracting and that the fiscal consequences of federal cutbacks are being felt locally.
"$150,000,000,000 — that's what flows into Maryland's economy every year from the federal government," Lierman said, noting that federal pay, contracts and other direct payments represent a major share of state GDP. She said the comptroller's office produced a report with the University of Maryland analyzing federal impacts and has added county-specific tools, including a BARC (Beltsville Agricultural Research Center) analysis, to help local officials model risks.
Lierman described the comptroller's roles — setting revenue estimates used to frame the state budget, running central payroll and serving on boards such as the Board of Public Works — and said the office is producing economic one-pagers and online tools counties can use.
On anti-poverty programs, Lierman highlighted the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), calling it a high-impact program. "The EITC ... delivers an average of $1,100 to families or individuals who claim it," she said, and urged county leaders to amplify outreach to eligible residents and use the comptroller's new "Earned It" website and toolkit to increase uptake.
Lierman also discussed research into 'baby bonds' — government-funded trust accounts seeded at birth to build longer-term wealth for disadvantaged children — and said the idea is being studied nationally and could be expensive in the short term but yield long-term benefits.
Council members asked about cannabis tax revenues and mortgage or stadium-impact funding that may have shifted to the state during the pandemic; Lierman said cannabis collections have exceeded estimates and that the comptroller's office can help trace payments and provide quarterly revenue reports.
Lierman offered enforcement and compliance tools — including the field enforcement bureau and a whistleblower portal for wage theft or misclassification — and said the comptroller's office and alcohol/tobacco/cannabis commission can support county enforcement of illegal cash businesses.
She closed by offering data tools and briefings to county staff to help the council make data-driven budget and policy decisions.
