Maryland industry aims to stop transport fund raids

A coalition seeks to close the ability of Maryland lawmakers to siphon money off the state’s transportation trust fund.

   A coalition of businesses is seeking to finally close the ability of Maryland lawmakers to siphon money off the state’s transportation trust fund during the Nov. 4 general election. 
   On Aug. 18, Maryland State Secretary John McDonough certified ballot language for two constitutional amendments to appear on the general election ballot. One of the amendments seeks to protect Maryland’s transportation trust fund from being used for non-transportation purposes. So-called “Question 1,” if approved, will provide constitutional protections by requiring the governor to issue an executive order declaring a fiscal emergency and a three-fifths majority vote in both Maryland General Assembly houses before funds can be transferred.
   “Current law does not provide any barrier to such transfers, which have happened repeatedly diverting hundreds of millions of dollars from state and local transportation improvements. While some has been paid back to the trust fund, over $1 billion was diverted from local transportation projects and never refunded,” said the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Transportation Funds in a recent fact sheet.
   The coalition has 17 group members, including state and local chambers of commerce, and the Maryland Motor Truck Association and Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association.
   The coalition said, “Maryland has some of the worst traffic conditions in the United States, a long list of roads and bridges in poor or substandard condition, and a long list of state and local transit and road improvements that would help reduce congestion, improve safety and reliability, create jobs, and boost our economy.”