Governor Wes Moore released highlights of his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget on January 8, outlining major funding priorities in two areas of high interest to stakeholders: law enforcement and public education. The proposals come amid ongoing discussions around crime reduction strategies, Blueprint implementation, school construction, and statewide workforce needs.
Public Safety & Law Enforcement Funding
The FY 2027 proposal includes $124.1 million in the State Aid for Police Protection Program, described by the administration as the highest level of state support for law enforcement in recent years. The funding is intended to support local law enforcement agencies, including equipment, overtime needs, data coordination efforts, and state–local collaboration. The Governor’s press release notes that “working together across jurisdictional boundaries is critical to the public safety services we provide throughout the state,” according to Maryland State Police Acting Superintendent Colonel Michael A. Jackson.
Public safety data included with the announcement indicates continued declines in violent crime. Preliminary 2025 statewide data show homicides down 25%, non-fatal shootings down 28%, and robberies down more than 25%. Local officials, including Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, described the state–local coordination as important to sustaining those trends, stating that “public safety and economic development are intertwined.”
The administration also highlighted investments tied to community-based intervention, behavioral and mental health support, and re-entry programming designed to address recidivism. These proposals are positioned as part of a broader public safety approach that combines law enforcement resources with community services.
Education Funding & Blueprint Implementation
On the education side, the FY 2027 budget proposes a record $10.2 billion investment in Maryland’s K-12 public schools, an increase of $373.8 million over FY 2026. The proposal includes continued implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, with per-pupil funding projected to rise to $11,811. According to the administration, the total represents a nearly 17% increase in K-12 funding since the start of the term.
Several program areas are emphasized within the education budget: K-12 aid to offset a statutory lapse affecting compensatory education calculations; $10.9 million for a new Academic Excellence Program focused on math and literacy coaching; $19.4 million for the “Grow Your Own” teacher pipeline program; and expanded apprenticeship and certification pathways to reduce teacher vacancies. School construction remains a major component, with $480.5 million in capital funding statewide, including targeted support for jurisdictions experiencing rapid growth or overcrowding.
Community schools continue to be a significant share of Blueprint-related investment. The FY 2027 proposal includes $572 million for Concentration of Poverty grants, supporting wraparound services, staffing, family engagement, and coordination of non-academic supports. State Superintendent Dr. Carey M. Wright described these investments as “laying the foundation for academic excellence and equity across the state.”
Frederick County was used as an example of how these dollars are being directed locally. As Maryland’s fastest-growing jurisdiction, Frederick is projected to receive $28 million in state capital dollars in FY 2027 to address school capacity constraints. Senator Karen Lewis Young noted that, despite budget pressures heading into the 2027 session, increases in K-12 and per-pupil funding remain aligned with statewide priorities to “secure a promising future for our children and our economy.”
