My “Specimen Ballot” for the 2026 General Election was delivered by the U.S.P.S. to me recently, from the Baltimore City Board of Elections. Homework time for the scheduled Nov. 3 elections. Open the ballot and see it is going to take some effort. Procrastinate.
Suddenly today my friend, who usually is Mr. Right on most stuff, texts to me out of the blue, saying Question F on the ballot might be “part of what appears to be a continuing power grab by the mayor.”
So I pick up the ballot again.
“Question F: Charter Amendment,” the ballot says. And then, on the subsequent line: “Legislation, Budget, and Board of Estimates,” with no further explanation.
That’s pretty broad: changes to the City Charter in areas affecting the City Council, executive agencies, and the Board of Estimates, the mayor-controlled five-member spending board. A trifecta of the city’s levers of city power!
If approved, it will:
Give the mayor more power by eliminating steps in the budgetary process and transferring to the mayor what has been the Board of Estimates’ responsibility to prepare the proposed annual budget.
Give the mayor more power by shortening the timetables for resolving legislative disagreements over the mayor’s proposed annual budget, including vetos and overrides.
Give the mayor more power by removing the $1 million cap on money “used as a contingent fund” to help manage unexpected problems that may come up in the course of governance.
Give the mayor more power over the budget process by transferring to the Finance Director and the mayor-controlled Planning Commission advisory roles in budget discussions.
Give the mayor more power over spending by relieving the Board of Estimates – already controlled by the mayor, but with a two-member independent minority – of a whole host of responsibilities over the city’s fiscal practices, and transferring them to executive departments.
To answer Mr. Right’s question, having consulted the convoluted clauses that comprise Question F: Yes, it’s a crystal-clear “power grab” by the mayor.
Hope that helps!
