Housing Authority Board Meets Today; City Council Hearing Postponed

Housing Authority of Baltimore City Convenes Board Meeting

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet today, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The session will take place at the Benton Building, located at 417 East Fayette Street. As the city continues to grapple with a significant volume of vacant properties, the board is expected to discuss ongoing strategies to modernize public housing and support Mayor Brandon Scott’s multi-billion-dollar initiative to revitalize underserved neighborhoods. The board's agenda typically focuses on procurement approvals and updates on the progress of major capital projects aimed at reducing the city's housing waitlist.

City Council Legislative Hearing Rescheduled

A legislative hearing originally scheduled for 5:15 p.m. today in the Clarence “Du” Burns Council Chamber at City Hall has been officially cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. The hearing was intended to address legislative items LO25-0031 and LO25-0034. While no specific reason was provided for the postponement in the official city calendar, residents and stakeholders interested in these particular ordinances are advised to monitor the City Council’s legislative tracking system for a new date. No other full sessions of the City Council are scheduled for today, as the body typically holds its primary meetings on Monday evenings.

Budget and Legislative Update: The Path to FY2026

Today’s local government activities occur against the backdrop of a critical period for the city’s finances and state-level advocacy. Mayor Brandon Scott is currently navigating the review process for his Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The administration is working to bridge a projected $85 million deficit without resorting to increases in property or income taxes. Key pillars of the budget include a $620 million investment in youth programs and over $1 billion for public safety initiatives, including the citywide expansion of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy.

Simultaneously, the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session is entering its final weeks in Annapolis, with an adjournment date set for April 13. Mayor Scott’s legislative priorities remain a focus for city officials today, specifically bills seeking to broaden the city’s authority to operate speed monitoring systems and a measure to restore the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement's access to juvenile records. These legislative efforts are seen as vital to the administration's long-term public safety and infrastructure goals for the current year.