HOW DISTRICT 23 IS AFFECTED

Maryland's Blueprint for Education promises major investments in our schools, but without accountability, taxpayer dollars are being wasted. Teachers in District 23 are underpaid and overworked, leading to high turnover and inconsistent education for our children. Our schools need smart investment, not just more spending.

• Governor Moore's FY 2027 budget, as modified and passed by the General Assembly, increased the share of employer teacher pension costs paid by local governments. While the State continues to administer the teachers' retirement system, counties such as Prince George's must now dedicate more of their local budgets to pension contributions, creating additional pressure alongside the costs of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
• Prince George's County taxpayers deserve responsible financial management. The County's effort to take dedicated Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) funds to help balance its budget led to a lawsuit challenging that action. That history raises a legitimate concern: if the County struggled to manage its existing budget without attempting to use dedicated funds, how can taxpayers be confident it will responsibly manage the enormous long-term cost of teacher pensions? Before shifting billions of dollars in future pension obligations to local governments, we need stronger fiscal accountability, greater transparency, and safeguards that protect taxpayer dollars from being used to solve future budget shortfalls.
• Teacher vacancies remain high due to uncompetitive salaries
• Blueprint funds not always reaching classrooms where they're needed
• Mental health resources for students remain critically underfunded
• School safety concerns persist without adequate resources
• For Legislative District 23 — primarily Bowie and surrounding areas in Prince George's County — the Blueprint's financial impact is indirect but real. It comes through increased state taxes and fees, county budget pressures, and the opportunity cost of directing more public dollars to education rather than other priorities.
• Prince George's County faces a projected $44 million increase (about 5.1%) in its local education appropriation in the first year alone, with additional increases each year — meaning county leaders must find new revenue or cut elsewhere
• Every additional Blueprint dollar required for education is a dollar unavailable for road resurfacing, sidewalks, parks, libraries, police equipment, fire and EMS facilities, senior services, and stormwater projects
• County budget documents show the required Blueprint contribution increased by roughly $45 million in one budget cycle, bringing the County's total local contribution to nearly $1 billion and contributing to projected budget shortfalls
• Possible consequences for District 23 taxpayers include pressure for future property tax increases, higher local income tax rates, greater reliance on fees, and reduced financial flexibility

Data centers proposed for our region consume massive amounts of electricity and water, strain our power grid, and drive up utility costs for residents. They bring few local jobs while imposing enormous environmental costs on our community. District 23 families deserve better than to subsidize corporate infrastructure at the expense of our environment.

• Data centers consume as much power as entire cities, driving up electricity bills for residents
• Massive water usage strains local water supplies and infrastructure
• Noise and light pollution degrades quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods
• Few permanent local jobs created despite enormous public subsidies

Home prices and rents in Prince George's County have surged, pushing working families out of the communities they've built. Predatory lending and deed theft are stripping generational wealth from long-time residents. District 23 needs a delegate who will fight to keep families in their homes.

• Rising rents are displacing long-time Bowie and Buckingham residents
• Predatory lenders and deed theft targeting minority homeowners
• Lack of affordable housing options for seniors on fixed incomes
• New development not required to include affordable units

Families in District 23 deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, schools, and homes. While crime prevention requires both enforcement and community investment, our police and first responders need the tools and training to protect our community effectively.

• Understaffed police departments struggling to respond to rising calls
• Youth crime prevention programs chronically underfunded
• Mental health crisis response training lacking for first responders
• Community violence intervention programs need stronger support

Too many families in District 23 are skipping doctor visits, rationing medications, and going without mental health care because they can't afford it. Federal cuts to Medicaid threaten coverage for our most vulnerable neighbors — seniors, veterans, and children.

• Proposed Medicaid cuts would strip coverage from thousands of District 23 residents
• Prescription drug costs remain unaffordable for seniors and families
• Behavioral health and addiction treatment services are severely limited
• Community health centers are underfunded and understaffed

Prince George's County families are being squeezed from every direction — higher rents, rising grocery bills, stagnant wages, and utility costs that keep climbing. Working people in District 23 need a delegate who understands what it means to stretch a paycheck.

• Wages not keeping pace with Maryland's rising cost of living
• Small businesses struggling with high permitting costs and red tape
• Utility costs rising faster than household incomes
• Working families falling through the cracks of state assistance programs

Maryland lawmakers recently implemented $126 million in state-level cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration — which doubles to $252 million when federal matching funds are factored in. These cuts are gutting community-based care and self-directed services for some of District 23's most vulnerable residents. Families who depend on DDA services are now facing reduced hours, lost providers, and an uncertain future.

• $126 million in state DDA cuts — $252 million total with lost federal matching funds
• Community-based care programs facing major reductions in services
• Self-directed services disrupted, stripping families of their independence and choice
• Caregivers and direct support professionals facing job losses and reduced hours
• District 23 families with loved ones who have developmental disabilities are bearing the brunt of these cuts