Baltimore’s Baby Fund could aid new parents. Here’s how it would work.

It’s been a long road for supporters of the Baltimore Baby Fund: countless hours spent gathering thousands of signatures — twice — and arguing for the idea in front of Maryland courts.

But this fall city voters will finally have the chance to weigh in on a ballot question to create a fund intended to aid city parents raising newborns.

The nuts and bolts of the Baby Fund have changed as organizers have fought to get it on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know about the proposal.

What is a baby fund?

The ballot question, letter I on residents’ ballots, would amend the city’s charter to create a Baltimore Baby Fund dedicated to promoting the economic stability of families with newborns in the city.

Money for the fund would come from existing property taxes — $0.03 for every $100 in taxable property value. The Maryland Child Alliance, the organization behind the proposal, estimates that about $17 million would be required to be set aside in the first year.

The alliance collected signatures from city residents to secure a place on the ballot. It’s the only city ballot question this fall that was the result of a citizen petition drive.

Does this mean everyone with a newborn will get a one-time payment?

Not necessarily.

A previous iteration of the Baby Fund proposed in 2024, called the Baltimore Baby Bonus, would have mandated one-time $1,000 payments to parents upon the birth or adoption of a child. But that language isn’t included this time.

After Mayor Brandon Scott sued to block the question from the ballot, the Maryland Supreme Court found that requiring the city to make payments to parents would have eroded the discretion legislators have to decide how city money is spent.

If voters approve the current ballot question, the mayor and City Council will choose how to spend the money with the requirement that it must “enhance the economic stability of families with newborns.” The ballot question specifies that the money cannot be used to replace funding for newborns that already exists in the city budget.

So what do leaders want to do with the money?

Nate Golden, president of the Maryland Child Alliance, said his group is “aligned” with Scott on the intention to use the fund for direct cash assistance to families.

Scott and the Maryland Child Alliance put out a joint statement in August, saying the mayor would work with organizers to “outline a program that gives Baltimore’s babies and families the strongest possible start.”

While the original Baby Bonus would have been universal, meaning it would have been paid to all families with a newborn regardless of income, Golden said he expects a plan introduced by the mayor to have income requirements.

Tracy King, a spokesperson for Scott, said the mayor will make an announcement about his “vision” for the fund ahead of the election.

King said the mayor views the fund as a “natural evolution” of a guaranteed income pilot conducted by his administration in 2022. That two-year program gave 200 young parents cash payments of $1,000 per month with no restrictions on how it could be spent.

Does Scott get final say in how the money is spent?

No. Whatever his plan is, it must have buy-in from the City Council. That’s where things could get tricky.

The 15-member council, led by President Zeke Cohen, has not been asked to weigh in on guaranteed income programs before, and it’s unclear how the body would vote on such a proposal.

Cohen said he shares a goal with the fund’s organizers to end child poverty. The council will work with the coalition and the mayor to shape legislation related to the fund. Cohen said he was interested in a proposal that would include cash bonuses but also explore ways to support childcare.

“As a young dad, I know the financial cost of having kids is enormous,” said Cohen, who has two children.

Council member Phylicia Porter, chair of the Public Health and Environment Committee, said she supports the Baby Fund “in theory.” However, the council must weigh the desire for direct assistance against the realities of the city budget.

Porter said a successful plan would incorporate support for other factors that impact a newborn’s quality of life, such as housing, livable wages and workforce development for parents.