Jobs and revenue and taxes. Comptroller Brooke Lierman returns to discuss Maryland’s reliance on the federal government and the impact of terrorizing immigrants in agricultural communities around our state.
Comptroller Brooke Lierman discussed Maryland’s economic reliance on the federal government, which contributes $150 billion annually, representing 10% of wages. She highlighted the impact of federal policies on Maryland’s economy, particularly the potential loss of 1,800 Haitian workers on the Eastern Shore, which could increase chicken prices and reduce the tax base. Lierman emphasized the importance of monitoring revenues, including income and sales taxes, and stressed the need for community support and partnerships to mitigate economic challenges. She also mentioned her involvement with South Baltimore Little League.
- [ ] Provide a public update on Maryland’s revenue and economic outlook at the next Board of Revenue Estimates meeting in September.
- [ ] Collaborate with private partners and community leaders to support Maryland’s residents and businesses through the economic challenges.
- [ ] Continue monitoring monthly revenue and economic data to assess the impact of federal actions on Maryland.
Maryland’s Economic Impact from the Federal Government
- Nestor Aparicio introduces Brooke Lierman, the Comptroller of Maryland, and mentions the focus on Maryland’s economy and federal impact.
- Speaker 1 explains the importance of understanding the federal government’s role in Maryland’s economy, highlighting its historical growth partnership.
- The federal government contributes significantly to Maryland’s economy, with 10% of all wages being federal wages, totaling about $150 billion annually.
- The Comptroller’s office has quantified the federal government’s impact to better understand the economic repercussions of potential federal retrenchment.
Early Economic Impact and Revenue Monitoring
- Nestor Aparicio asks about the early impact of federal policies on Maryland’s economy and expresses concerns about the country’s political climate.
- Speaker 1 emphasizes the importance of monitoring revenues, including income and sales taxes, to track economic changes.
- Immigrants, who make up 17% of Maryland’s population and 20% of the workforce, are crucial to the state’s economy, particularly in industries like poultry on the Eastern Shore.
- The potential loss of immigrant workers could lead to increased costs and a reduced tax base, affecting affordability and economic stability.
Challenges and Strategies for Economic Stability
- Speaker 1 discusses the challenges of building an affordable Maryland amidst federal policies, focusing on housing, education, and overall quality of life.
- The Comptroller’s office is working with private partners and community leaders to mitigate the economic impact of federal policies.
- Nestor Aparicio inquires about the impact of federal layoffs on Maryland’s economy, with Speaker 1 noting the largest single federal layoff in decades in June.
- The Comptroller’s office remains committed to providing accurate and honest financial reports, with the next public meeting scheduled for September.
Community Support and Personal Commitment
- Speaker 1 highlights the importance of community support and resources, such as the earned income tax and unclaimed property assistance.
- Nestor Aparicio humorously mentions owing Speaker 1 a crab cake and asks for a plug for her children’s Little League program.
- Speaker 1 proudly supports South Baltimore Little League, where her children play, and emphasizes the long-standing tradition of the league.
- The conversation concludes with Nestor Aparicio wishing Speaker 1 well and mentioning his own plans to enjoy a crab cake.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
Maryland economy, federal impact, federal wages, revenue monitoring, immigrant workforce, federal layoffs, economic planning, private sector growth, affordable Maryland, community support, earned income tax, unclaimed property, South Baltimore Little League, economic challenges, federal government.
SPEAKERS
8
Brooke Lierman, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:00
Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T, AM, 1570 taps, Baltimore. We are in Ocean City, Maryland, at Mako, doing all things. Well, Fun Beach. I’m not doing any of that. I’m in a convention hall down here talking to politicals, politicians affected people here in Maryland, doing good things. No one I like more than the controller of Maryland, who’s moved from one side of Baltimore the other and serves us in Annapolis, Brooke Lehrman, our defending champion back on the program. I got like five minutes for you, because I went long on baseball with montgomery county executive Marco. I get it. You got numbers? You got that? You I owe you a crab cake for being late. No, what’s going on? But where’s our money going? Are we making money?
Brooke Lierman 00:38
Yeah. Look what we are really focused on in the Office of the Comptroller is making sure that our systems work, but also that, you know, folks like who you just said on Mark elrich, our county leaders, our governor, you know that they know what the what the meaning of what the federal government’s doing right now, how that will impact Maryland, right? Because, you know, well, if I’m giving you six minutes, let’s get on Trump. We have had, I mean, but look, you’ve got to talk about, if you’re talking about Maryland’s economy, you have to talk about the federal government, because that has been our number one growth partner for decades, right? They helped create the middle class in Maryland and across the country. And they are for worker, their workforce, and they’re the, you know, they’re the bigahuna Right, in Maryland employers, and so they’re 10% of all wages in Maryland are federal government wages. So so there are really important concepts. So we, for the first time ever, have now quantified what the federal government’s impact is on Maryland’s economy, to the tune of it is about $150 billion a year, baby with a B and so that’s federal wages, it’s retirement, it’s contracts, it’s direct grants. And we had to know that number so that now we can try to take account of as there’s this federal government retrenchment, layoffs, whatnot, firings, that we can understand what that will mean for our economy, so we can plan and pivot to make sure that we’re really focusing on growing our private sector. So that’s we’re in the thick of it, providing the single source of truth on the numbers, and what that means for our state and our communities.
Nestor Aparicio 02:07
Well, I mean, it’s just the effect of all of this. And I told Mark ours just, I mean, I sort of knew there were federal workers and obviously Baltimore, no social security workers on the west side of town. What has, what is the early impact of this been what is your biggest fear through all of this? And obviously, you know, we’re we’re this close to a civil war, at least economically. And certainly, you know you’re white, I’m Hispanic, we’re all in our own little things now, because of this felon creep that’s running the country that I typically he’s meeting with that right now, as you and I are meeting so is, which is pretty
8Brooke Lierman 02:41
incredible crazy, but any American disturbing, I know no American. I mean, you know, dictator and taking war criminal, yes. So we are, you know, look, I think what we’re keeping our eye on is revenues, like we’re following income. Every month I see what’s being paid. We’re following our sales taxes to see if there’s impact. Look, we all we also know, because of the reporting and the research we’ve done, what an important source of to our economy. Immigrants are, right? Our immigrants in Maryland, they’re almost 17% of our population, but they’re 20% of our workforce, you know? And it’s everything from work we’re on the Eastern Shore our poultry industry, 1800 Haitians who work at, you know, one of our poultry companies on the Eastern Shore might lose their status as of January. So overnight, that’s 1000s of spots that these, you know, farms would have to fill while we send these. You know, Haitian Americans who have been here for decades off. I mean, chicken more expensive. It makes it more expensive for everybody,
Nestor Aparicio 03:44
less tax base, more expensive chicken. Let’s talk.
Brooke Lierman 03:47
That’s how it is. I mean, that’s what’s happening. And so I think, you know, we’re really worried about that, because what I want to do is focus on building a more affordable Maryland, right, a place where folks can buy a house, can send their kids to great public schools. Can, you know, live here with dignity and safety, and that is just, you know. And I know, I know, you know, our government is trying to do that, but the federal level is making it really hard. So it’s, we’re it’s going to be challenging, but we are determined to work with our private partners, to work with our community leaders, to make sure that we get through this.
Nestor Aparicio 04:18
8Has there been an impact? You say we’re following numbers every month, up, down, is it? You don’t want to be the controller reporting down numbers real? Nope, we are going to be. You don’t want to be like this guy. You’re fired, broke. I don’t like your numbers. Make my own number.
Brooke Lierman 04:33
That is not who I am exactly. We will be very honest all the time. So our next, our next public meeting of the numbers, is in September, when the board of revenue estimates will make a public announcement on where our revenues are and what we expect to come in the future. So, but you know, things we’re holding steady, we’ll see as the as additional, I haven’t gotten a report in a month, so we’ll see where we are. But we had a big you know, in June, we had the largest single fed. Federal layoff in decades. So, you know, it’s, it’s concerning. These are our neighbors and our friends. You know, it’s really hard to my relatives, exactly my sister in law, yeah, she worked for a great refugee advocacy company and her agency, and it’s really sad to watch so but yeah, we are determined to make sure we’re working with Marylanders. We’re out in the community, knowing what assets we have to support them, whether it’s the earned income tax or making sure if they owe taxes, they can set up a payment plan, getting them their unclaimed property. We’re out and about really trying to be a resource for everyone.
Nestor Aparicio 05:33
Well, I’m not going to be the one to hold you longer because I brought you in later, but I owe you crab cake and Greg susmaniac will be very upset with me if I don’t allow you to plug your kids Little League program, because he’s the Little League I’ve had them on, and he said, you get Brooke learman on, you better mention it. She’s a member of the South Baltimore little
Brooke Lierman 05:52
I am a fan. I am a mom of two South Baltimore Little League players. I’ve got a I’ve got a baseball player and a softball player, and boy do we love it. That is a really special spot. You know, 70 plus years of families playing South Baltimore, Little League
8Nestor Aparicio 06:08
happy dad or hitting fun goes next. I love it. I love it. It’s great. All right, come get a crab cake somewhere between downtown Baltimore in Annapolis or somewhere between clear ministry controller in the state of Maryland. I am controlling her time right now, so I’m gonna let her go and take her podcast schedule elsewhere, but I’ll see you back in Baltimore. We’ll see you soon Brooklyn. Joining us here. She will be heading back to Annapolis. We’ll be heading back to Baltimore. It is our 27th anniversary featuring my 27 favorite things to eat. One of them in Salisbury. You should get the ugly pie. Get that death by coconut on the way home. Give you a bite of mine right now. If you’re back for more, we’re in Ocean City, Maryland. Stay with us.
