Baltimore, Maryland
 B
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Contents |
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Maryland city websites
This website was most recently evaluated April 20, 2012.
[edit] The good
- Vendor payments are provided.[1]
- Posts information about audits and the current budget.[2]
- City council members and their contact information are listed.[3]
- Meeting minutes for 2010 are posted.[4]
- Permits application and fees are listed on the website.[5]
- Zoning information is available.[6]
- Offers information and online payment for taxes.[7]
- Information about lobbyist registration is posted on the website.[8]
[edit] The bad
- Does not list specific contact information for filing for a public records request.
- Does not disclose lobbying activities or membership to a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.
[edit] Website upgrade
Mayor Sheila Dixon sponsored an initiative that will post a website where the citizen of Baltimore will have access to payments made to vendors by 51 city agencies and offices.[9] Monthly payment data will be updated every 45 days and was modeled after Maryland's transparency website.
Usability of the site will include searching by City agency to view payments authorized by that agency; searching by vendor for payments issued to that vendor; and searching by zip code to view all payments issued to vendors in a particular zip code.[9]
[edit] Public employee salaries
According to a recent report published at Northwestern University, Baltimore is one of the ten municipalities with the largest amount of unfunded pension liabilities. Nationwide there is $574 billion in unfunded pension liabilities for local pension plans, and this is in addition to the $3 trillion in debt facing state-sponsored pension plans.[10] The report states that the pension plans could be out of money as early at 2025.[10]
| Municipality (number of plans) | Liabilities, Stated Basis, June ’09 ($B) | Liabilities (ABO), Treasury Rate | Net Pension Assets ($B) | Unfunded Liability ($B) | Unfunded Liability / Revenue | Unfunded Liability per Household ($) |
| Baltimore (2) | 4,4 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 260% | 15,420 |
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article:Maryland taxpayer-funded lobbying
Baltimore has reported $1,096,000 spent lobbying since 2000 (see table).
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2009 | $20,000 |
| 2008 | $126,000 |
| 2007 | $140,000 |
| 2006 | $120,000 |
| 2005 | $140,000 |
| 2004 | $140,000 |
| 2003 | $130,000 |
| 2002 | $120,000 |
| 2001 | $120,000 |
| 2000 | $40,000 |
[edit] News
[edit] Mayor Dixon sentenced
The mayor of Baltimore, Sheila Dixon was faced with five counts, was acquitted of three (the jury was split on a fourth) and was found guilty of embezzlement after taking $630 worth of gift cards intended for the cities poor in late 2009.
By law, Dixon will no longer serve as mayor after she is sentenced. If the conviction is reversed before her term expires, she can be restored.
Gov. Martin O'Malley issued a statement on the conviction:
"This is a sad day for the people of Baltimore and Mayor Dixon personally. It is more important than ever, during this difficult time, that everyone who cares about Baltimore stays focused on reducing crime in our neighborhoods, improving our schools, creating jobs and otherwise serving the people who live and work in Baltimore," O'Malley said.[12]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ Vendor payments
- ↑ Finance Department
- ↑ City Council
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ Baltimore Housing
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Taxes
- ↑ http://www.baltimorecity.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=VUt%2F3xc8Y4U%3D&tabid=600&mid=1199 Lobbyist Registration Ordinance]
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wbal, Dixon: Increased Transparency For City BOE, February 1, 2010
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 MacIver Institute, City of Milwaukee Pension a Ticking Time Bomb According to Northwestern Study, Oct. 12, 2010
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ BALTIMORE MAYOR DIXON GUILTY ON ONE COUNT, Maryland Reporter, December 1, 2009
