Senate unanimously OKs $44.5B operating budget

In a show of bipartisan unity, the Maryland Senate voted unanimously Thursday to approve the state’s $44.5 billion operating budget and send it to the House of Delegates. The state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 represents a 2.2 percent increase over the current fiscal year. Senators also voted 45-0 for a companion bill that keeps the budget in balance, as required by the state Constitution. Potential divisions over the budget were smoothed over by a generally rosy fiscal picture, aided by this month’s revised estimate of tax revenues showing the state would take in about $400 million more than expected. Republican senators lauded the leadership of Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer, the Howard County Democrat who chairs the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Sen. George Edwards said Kasemeyer, who is retiring after leading the committee for almost a decade, made sure the three GOP members of the committee were included in budget decisions. Edwards, a Garrett County Republican, noted that the budget includes no significant tax increases. “It’s one of the best budgets I’ve seen in the long time that I’ve been here,” Edwards said. Baltimore County Council said they would sponsor a bill requiring the police to handle animal abuse cases and setting clearer standards for when it is too hot or too cold to leave pets outside. The bill was inspired by the case of Oscar, a dog that died this winter in Arbutus. Neighbors had said they reported to Baltimore County Animal Services several times that the dog was left outside in cold weather. The case remains under investigation. “The Oscar situation grabbed the attention of a lot of people in Baltimore County,” said Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican who is sponsoring the bill, to be introduced at Monday’s council meeting, with Councilman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat. The Police Department’s animal abuse unit will be in place by the end of the month, and will include a police sergeant, a police officer and three civilian investigators, Kamenetz’s office said. Reports of animal abuse can be directed to the unit by calling 410-887-5901.