Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has thrown his full support behind a city‑wide ballot measure that would establish the Baltimore Baby Fund (BBF). The proposal seeks to amend the city charter to create a permanent line‑item in the municipal budget, directing a modest levy of three cents per $100 of assessed property value into a fund that would deliver direct cash payments, subsidies, or essential supplies to families with newborns.
How the measure would work
Voters will decide in the November election whether to approve the charter amendment. If passed, the City Council would retain authority to set eligibility criteria and disbursement rules through future enabling legislation. The fund is modeled after the successful Rx Kids program launched in Flint, Michigan, which provides $1,500 to expectant mothers during pregnancy and $500 per month for up to a year after birth.
Local backing and broader context
Mayor Scott and the BBF campaign issued a joint statement on Instagram, saying they look forward to working together to earn voter support and, if successful, to “give Baltimore’s babies and families the strongest possible start.” The initiative already gathered more than the 10,000 signatures required to qualify for the ballot, and structural revisions have secured its place on the November ticket.
Scott, who serves as National Co‑Chair of Mayors for Guaranteed Income, previously oversaw the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund, a pilot that ran from August 2022 to July 2024. That program provided unconditional cash assistance to low‑income parents and guardians ages 18 to 24 earning at or below 300 % of the federal poverty level. Participants reported fewer missed work days, reduced food insecurity, lower stress, and used the money to continue education, pay down debt, save for emergencies, and invest in their children.
Why the fund matters for families
Supporters argue that a guaranteed‑income style program can help families navigate the rising cost of living, especially in a city where many households struggle to afford basic necessities for newborns. By providing cash directly to parents, the fund aims to give families the flexibility to address their most pressing needs—whether that means purchasing diapers, covering medical co‑pays, or building an emergency savings cushion.
The BBF initiative aligns with a growing coalition of more than 150 U.S. mayors who advocate for direct cash distributions as a tool to strengthen local economies and support family stability. Similar programs have been adopted in Cook County, Illinois, and elsewhere, often receiving local funding to become permanent fixtures.
Next steps
With the ballot measure now certified, the city will hold public hearings and informational sessions in the coming months. Mayor Scott has indicated he will continue to promote the measure as a natural evolution of his administration’s efforts to help Baltimore’s most vulnerable families.
Neither the mayor’s office nor representatives of the BBF campaign responded to requests for additional comment.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
