Council President Nick Mosby (left) and Mayor Brandon Scott attend a Baltimore City Board of Estimates meeting at City Hall on October 5, 2022. Img source: Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner
June 05, 2024 Story by: Editor
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott expressed strong concerns on Wednesday regarding a proposed piece of legislation that aims to remove the mayor’s authority over the city’s spending board.
Last week, 11 News Investigates was the first to report on the proposal by Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby. The proposal seeks to reduce the Board of Estimates from five to three members, effectively eliminating the two mayoral appointees and leaving the mayor, City Council president, and comptroller with equal authority on the board.
The Board of Estimates is responsible for overseeing city spending and approving millions in taxpayer-funded contracts during each meeting. Notably, Scott had introduced a similar charter amendment in 2020 while he was the City Council president, arguing back then that the mayor held too much control over the board.
When questioned by 11 News Investigates at a separate news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Scott suggested that powerful individuals in Baltimore County, such as the chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, are attempting to reduce Black political influence in Baltimore. Here’s the complete charter amendment.
“These efforts are being funded by people who are not from Baltimore, who don’t live in the city, and are trying to diminish political power here. They are attacking the structure of Baltimore’s government. If we’re honest about who’s influencing these actions, we saw this during the primary election. We must consider all these factors,” Scott stated.
Following the report on 11 News, the mayor’s office issued a statement to 11 News Investigates, which read:
“We can’t view charter amendments in isolation. When individuals push for charter amendments to reduce the City Council, enforce term limits, or fund super PACs, they are driving Baltimore in a different direction. We must understand how these efforts are interconnected and recognize the irresponsible attempts to reduce property taxes in Baltimore, despite responsible alternatives on the table.” Source: WBAL TV
City Comptroller Bill Henry, who supports Mosby’s proposed amendment to remove the city solicitor and the director of the Department of Public Works from the board, countered the mayor’s perspective.
“I agree with the mayor that there are those who may wish to decrease Black political power in Baltimore City,” Henry told 11 News Investigates. “However, if all three officials on the board are elected by a predominantly Black electorate, I don’t see how this amendment would reduce Black political power.”
Mosby’s charter amendment requires approval from the City Council and, if not vetoed by the mayor, will be decided by voters on the ballot in the November general election.
