In the News

The hidden costs of 'tax-free' week

MB&TPI Director, Neil Bergman provides commentary on Maryland's upcoming tax free week in The Baltimore Sun. Bergsman states "The tax holiday is expected to cost the state treasury about $9 million in lost revenues. That's enough to provide 1,000 families with emergency housing assistance, or state college scholarships for 4,500 students. And it comes as the state is about to grapple with how to fill an expected $1.5 billion revenue hole resulting from lower revenues brought on by the recession." The Baltimore Sun 7/22/10

Higher flush tax, state property taxes are seen as options

MB&TPI Director, Neil Bergsman provides commentary on the option to raise the annual $30 per household “flush tax” by 80% to $54, which is one of the options being considered to make up for a $660 million shortfall in the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund to clean up Maryland’s wastewater treatment plants. MarylandReporter.com 7/21/10

New fiscal year for state budget. A report by the Gazette quotes MB&TPI director Neil Bergsman. "The good news is it appears the freefall may have ended," Bergsman said. "But we are stuck at a point where we have this year's needs and the level of revenues we had four years ago." 7/2/10

The U.S. Senate's Failure to Move the Jobs Bill That Would Have ...

Press Release: The U.S. Senate’s failure to move the jobs bill that would have provided $273 million to  Maryland for fiscal relief through an extension in Medical Assistance. “The president, the House and the Senate all endorsed previous versions of this crucial assistance. As a result, Maryland, acting in good faith, counted on the funding to balance its budget for the fiscal year that begins next week. What is more important, though, is the hardship this withdrawal of funds will cause to unemployed and low-income Marylanders. These individuals and families will use the money day-to-day necessities. It will immediately recycle into local businesses, helping to fuel the economic recovery,” said Neil Bergsman, director of the MBTPI. DigitalJournal.com 6/25/10

Maryland nonprofits worry about budget cuts next year

Maryland Nonprofits, Maryland Budget & Tax Policy Institute and Maryland CASH (Creating, Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign hosted a Legislative Wrap-Up in Annapolis, MD. Advocates for Children and Youth, Job Opportunities Task Force and Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition also participated. MarylandReporter.com writes "Nonprofit organizations in the state are already worried about potential cuts to programs in the following year's spending for fiscal 2012." Neil Bergsman offers revenue solutions to address budget shortfalls. MarylandReporter.com 6/1/10

Report: State should spend faster on efficiency
Joely Yesley, Researcher, MB&TPI and author of Recovery Watch Maryland's Monthly Monitor comments on Maryland's spending of federal stimulus dollars put aside for weatherization  saying, “As I pointed out in my report, they need [the money] up front in order to get off the ground in order to get these startup companies moving. That’s a serious problem of insufficient finance. The state has within its power the ability to immediately lessen this problem by distributing the funds more freely, but they’re taking a very conservative approach.” MarylandReporter.Com 5/12/10

Mastering Maryland's Budget

Neil Bergsman, Director of MB&TPI is one of two guests on Maryland Morning with Sheila Kast to discuss the FY 2011 budget. WYPR Maryland Morning 3/30/10

Maryland group releases Sims for state budget

“The Maryland and Budget Tax Policy Institute, in conjunction with the University of Baltimore, have unveiled an on-line Government version of Sims. By using budget proposals outlined by Governor Martin O’Malley and alternatives suggested by Republic lawmakers, the ‘Maryland Budget Game’ illustrates options the state has to close its $1.7 billion budget gap for fiscal 2011. ” Civic Source Online 3/23/10

How Would You Like to Balance the State's Budget?

MBTPI and University of Baltimore's "Maryland Budget Game" has been updated! "The budget options available to players in the Maryland Budget Game now include proposals actually made by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley in his proposed budget, and alternatives suggested by GOP legislators." Southern Maryland Online 3/18/10

Cuts will put more Marylanders at risk of Homelessness

MB&TPI Associate Director and Chair of Maryland Alliance for the Poor (MAP), Branden McLeod writes about the importance of the Service Linked Housing Program (SLHP) and the impact that state cuts to the program will have. The Baltimore Sun 3/15/10

Talking with the Tax Man About Cinematography

It’s probably fair to say that white papers and symposia have failed to get young people excited about tax policy and higher education funding. Last year, several local non-profits launched “My Two Cents,” a contest to make films about income tax, sales tax, and student loans. Tom Hall talks to one of the winners, filmmaker Ricky Johnson; Wide Angle Youth Media’s Gin Ferrara, and Branden McLeod of the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute. Maryland Morning 1/26/2010

The $2 Billion Game

The Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute, along with students from University of Baltimore’s Applied Information Technology Program, have built a computer game that puts you in the Maryland governor’s seat, and charges players with balancing the budget. The Director of the Budget and Tax Policy Institute, Neil Bergsman, stops by the Maryland Morning offices to walk Sheilah through the game. Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast 1/26/2010

Recovery Watch Maryland - Initiative Formed to Monitor Maryland Federal Stimulus Money

Group of advocacy organizations are banding together to form Recovery Watch Maryland. It's a two-year initiative that will monitor Maryland's allotment of federal stimulus money. Organizers will also fight to change the state's unemployment insurance system for the thousands of residents still trying to find a job. News Channel 8 Arlington, VA 1/19/2010

Video Game Lets You Balance MD's Budget

WTTG Fox 5 Washington, DC covers the Maryland Budget Simulation 1/19/2010

Game allows residents to take charge of state budget

“I thought that doing something that was a little bit like a video game would be able to inform, educate and entertain some people who wouldn’t otherwise come to our site and read about the state budget,” Bergsman said.  Carroll County Times 1/18/2010

In Annapolis, talk of deep cuts and higher taxes

MB&TPI Director, Neil Bergsman and Maryland Nonprofits' Managing Director of Public Policy Henry Bogdan offer their expertise on the 2010 state fiscal crisis. The Baltimore Sun 1/17/2010

Md. lawmakers brace for budget fights

There's nothing left to cut in the state budget except "The services that citizens expect and depend on," says Neil Bergsman in an interview with WTOP Radio 1/5/2010

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