Maryland's $$$ Problem: For a third straight year, Annapolis is facing a BILLION-dollar budget deficit (Source: DLS). In 2027, the shortfall is estimated to be $3BILLION. Education spending is most of that - $1.8BILLION. Are public schools getting better?

Second WORST Baltimore City Schools is named the SECOND WORST school district in America in Daily Rank Dept.’s “50 Worst” report. The ranking compares academic performance, graduation rates, college readiness. Baltimore schools get $24,705 per student. The MOST in Maryland.

The LIST now includes ANOTHER Maryland tax I just learned about: Maryland added a NEW 3.5% excise tax on rental cars that started July 1, 2025. I’ll add this to the 2025 portion of the list. UPDATED LIST of what has happened to Maryland residents in 2026 (followed by 2025). 2026: -Maryland has longest hospital ER wait times in nation, at 4:17 (FindEMR) -Moody’s downgrades Baltimore City’s credit rating -Baltimore ranked 2nd WORST real estate market in America by WalletHub -Maryland’s first-in-nation digital advertising tax struck down by court -Maryland lost the Triple Crown. The Preakness is no longer included in the Thoroughbred Championship Series. -U.S. DOJ sues Maryland over recently passed policies that interfered with federal immigration laws -CNBC ranks Maryland’s economy 2nd worst nationally -S&P lowers Maryland’s outlook for existing debt from stable to negative -WalletHub ranks Baltimore as 5th worst city in U.S. to raise a family - Maryland reissues 400,000 mail-in primary ballots after errors reported -Declining water quality at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor becomes “growing crisis“ (Blue Water Baltimore) -USDA plans to relocate Agricultural Research Services out of Maryland (~1,000 jobs) -Key Bridge builder contract cancelled. No new timeline given for rebuild -Potomac River ranked nation’s “most endangered river” (American Rivers) -2nd most expensive state to raise a child (lendingtree) -Paint fee enacted/$2.25 up to 5 gallons -Unemployment rate jumps to 4.3% -$1.4 Billion budget defect -Massive Sheraton Hotel closes in downtown Baltimore -WalletHub names Maryland 2nd worst U.S. state to start a business in 2026 -Proposed U.S. Congressional map introduced to eliminate bipartisan state representation -High School graduation rate falls 1.2% to 86.4%, despite massive funding spike -12,127 residents lost to domestic migration (6th most in US, per Census) -Maryland named 6th worst state for tax competitiveness (per: Tax Foundation) 2025: -$3 Billion budget deficit -$1.6 Billion tax/fee hike -Moody’s credit downgrade -vehicle emissions/registration fee spike -state hiring freeze/job cuts -soaring utility prices (highest in America according to Doxo) -New 3.5% excise tax on rental cars -Lost IonQ’s quantum computing hub -Lost FBI headquarters -Lost Washington Commanders -Six Flags America closed -New 3% IT tax -Vending machine tax 6% -Vehicle excise tax up to 6.5% -$5 tire purchase fee -Sports betting tax hike (15% to 20%) -Cannabis tax increase (9% to 12%) -Car title fee increase ($100 to $200) -3.5% car rental tax -Fishing license increase ($25.50 to $52) -Boating and Title Registration Fee ($24 to $70) -Speed Camera Ticket increases -Historic car registration changed from 20 years to model year 1999 or older -Public school enrollment falls 11,322 students (1.3%)