Politics
Baltimore Question 1 would create $1,000 newborn payment and expanded aid for low-income families
A ballot measure set for a vote in 13 days would establish a citywide newborn payment and additional monthly support for eligible low-income families. Mayor Brandon Scott has created an advisory board to oversee the program if voters approve it.
BALTIMORE — Voters will decide in 13 days whether the city should launch a baby bonus program providing a one-time $1,000 payment for every newborn, with additional support for qualifying low-income families.
Question 1 would build on a two-year pilot in which 200 families were selected to receive $1,000 a month after a child’s birth. The proposed program would also offer eligible families monthly cash assistance and contributions to a college savings account administered by T. Rowe Price.
Mayor Brandon Scott signed an executive order Wednesday establishing an advisory board to oversee the program if voters approve the measure. The available proposal details do not specify the program’s total cost or the eligibility rules for the additional benefits.
Scott said pilot participants used the money for basic needs, including food, housing and transportation. One participant said the support helped them secure a first apartment, find a new job and begin saving for emergencies.
Supporters say the program would also connect families with other services. If approved, it would extend direct financial assistance beyond the pilot participants to newborns across Baltimore, while reserving monthly payments and college-savings contributions for families that meet income requirements.