May 4, 2012
Many audits of state agencies find wasted dollars, poor accounting controls, lax purchasing measures and even occasional fraud; so it’s worth pointing out that legislative auditors reviewing $2.6 billion of spending that went through the transportation secretary’s office found absolutely nothing. The good news comes as Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley announced she’s leaving the post July 1, after almost three years in the job. [...more]
May 3, 2012
Despite a strong protest, the Board of Public Works unanimously awarded a $598 million contract to provide health services to 26,000 prison inmates over the next five years to Wexford Health Sources of Pittsburgh. As prison officials advised, it rejected the bid by Corizon Inc. of St. Louis, which has been providing two-thirds of the services to the prisoners for the last seven years.
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March 18, 2012
About 1,800 Maryland seniors have received erroneous notices from the comptroller’s office saying they owe money for improperly overstating pension exclusions or claiming pension exclusions they were not entitled to on their 2008 e-filed tax returns. New letters have been sent out to tell seniors to correct the error and assure them they do not owe the state any additional money. [...more]
March 7, 2012
Because of lower-than-expected income tax revenues, the Board of Revenue Estimates lowered Maryland’s projected revenues for the coming year by $80 million, and Comptroller Peter Franchot warned against any policies that would impact individual taxpayers. [...more]
February 26, 2012
Comptroller Peter Franchot says any increase in the gas tax will have "a direct negative impact on Maryland's very feeble economy." In this video he talks about his relations with Gov. Martin O'Malley and what has turned him into a fiscal conservative. [...more]
February 20, 2012
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot says he can save taxpayers $500,000 in advertising expense next year if he doesn’t have to print and distribute the list of unclaimed property. He proposes saving more by eliminating tax filings on paper. [...more]
February 15, 2012
Comptroller Peter Franchot said, “if I were to run for governor, and if I were fortunate to win,” he would have “a litmus test for any appointment to the state school board” or the local boards of education where the governor still makes the choice. They would have to support a financial literacy course requirement for graduation. [...more]
February 9, 2012
A complex and contentious $2.4 billion contract for state employees’ prescription drugs was awarded to St. Louis-based Express Scripts on Wednesday, over the protests of Comptroller Peter Franchot and the Maryland company holding the old contract. [...more]
February 7, 2012
Calling any gas tax increase a “crushing blow” to families and a “shot to the gut” of businesses, Comptroller Peter Franchot declared his opposition to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to start charging the 6% sales tax on gas. [...more]
Legislative analysts said Friday that $870 million more in revenues for transportation – the amount recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding – is not enough for the state to meet all of its needs. [...more]
