Mayor Scott Commits $16.5M for 8,500 Youth Jobs Amid Budget Gap | The Locally Times
Baltimore's preliminary FY27 budget allocates $16.5 million to YouthWorks, creating 8,500 summer jobs despite a $12 million funding gap.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 budget on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, that commits $16.5 million to fund 8,500 youth summer jobs through the YouthWorks program — even as the city faces a $12 million funding gap. The budget prioritizes closing this gap while strengthening core services and making strategic community investments. Mayor Scott's preliminary budget focuses on strengthening core services for residents, making investments in youth, and improving government efficiency. The financial plan aims to ensure accessible opportunities and collective well-being, fostering thriving neighborhoods across Baltimore. ## Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Priorities The preliminary FY27 budget allocates a total of $645.3 million across all funds for youth, older adults, and vulnerable communities. This investment supports a broader strategy focused on enhancing public safety, fostering clean and sustainable communities, promoting equitable economic development, ensuring responsible resource stewardship, and modernizing public infrastructure. These priorities, adopted during a recent refresh process, aim to improve safety, opportunity, and quality of life for residents. Beyond YouthWorks, the budget directs an additional $300,000 to the Mayor's early childhood initiative, a multi-year strategy to boost Pre-K enrollment and help childcare providers meet licensing requirements. It also allocates $3.2 million for PreK programs delivered by Baltimore City Public Schools, aligning with the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. These investments support young people from early childhood through summer employment. ## YouthWorks Program Details and Information Gaps The $16.5 million allocated to YouthWorks is earmarked to create 8,500 summer jobs for Baltimore youth. This funding, a key highlight in the preliminary budget announced April 1, 2026, represents a substantial investment in the city's young population for the upcoming fiscal year. While the preliminary budget clearly outlines the $16.5 million commitment and the 8,500 jobs, it lacks specific details regarding the program's implementation. The announcement does not specify exact start and end dates for the summer jobs, nor does it detail the types of positions available or the eligibility requirements for youth participants. Furthermore, the budget document does not break down how the $16.5 million will be distributed among the 8,500 jobs, or how many older adults and vulnerable individuals will directly benefit from the broader $645.3 million allocation. ## Unanswered Questions and Next Steps Several critical operational details for the YouthWorks program remain unaddressed in the preliminary budget. Residents and prospective participants currently lack information on the exact start and end dates for the 8,500 summer jobs, the types of positions available, and the eligibility requirements for youth. Further clarity is also needed on how the $16.5 million will be distributed among the jobs, and the specific beneficiaries within the broader $645.3 million allocation for older adults and vulnerable communities. The Mayor's office or the YouthWorks program are expected to release these key operational details in future announcements.