BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, June 20, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott released the following statement on the announcement that “Renew Baltimore,” a political effort aiming to dramatically reduce the City of Baltimore’s revenue, has submitted signatures for the ballot initiative to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. 

“This dramatically short-sighted and naive proposal would bankrupt the City of Baltimore and rob its residents of necessary city services that so many of our families rely on. Just last month, Baltimore’s Bureau of the Budget and Management Research released a comprehensive report that outlined the devastating impact that this misguided ballot initiative would have on Baltimoreans, and why a number of the effort’s claims are dubious at best. 

“This proposal does not grapple with the financial reality of our city, or have a real understanding of the impact of our status as an independent city that does not receive a share of state sales tax – like most of our peer cities. But for those pushing this amendment, the cuts to city services and negative consequences are a feature, not a bug. They are the same political forces that are misusing the ballot initiative process to institute term limits, attempted to implement a recall system, and are now attempting to shrink the City Council.

“This proposal would be bad for all Baltimoreans, and worst of all for Baltimore’s working families that rely on our city services the most. Everything from trash and recycling pickup, adequate fire and EMS response, Recreation & Parks facilities and programming, our beloved public library system, and thousands of city employees’ jobs will be on the line.”