Maryland Supreme Court Rules on Baltimore Ballot Initiatives

The Maryland Supreme Court has ruled that two proposed ballot questions in Baltimore, one offering a $1,000 'Baby Bonus' to new parents and another to reduce property taxes, will not appear in the November election. The 'Baby Bonus Amendment', aimed at alleviating childhood poverty, was deemed unconstitutional as it would remove discretion from the city council. Similarly, the property tax reduction proposal was found to improperly constrain legislative powers. Despite both initiatives gathering significant support through signatures, the court affirmed that these measures overstepped the bounds of charter amendments. The campaign groups behind these measures expressed disappointment and are considering future actions.