Baltimore Residents Voice Budget Priorities to City Leaders

Community forum highlights concerns over public safety, vacant homes, and access to fresh food

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:37am

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A group of Baltimore residents gathered at a community budget forum on Wednesday to share their priorities and concerns with city leaders as the budget process continues. Residents covered a wide range of issues, from public safety and vacant homes to the lack of access to fresh food in some neighborhoods. Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the need to balance different community needs, stating that 'those people are the why' behind the budget decisions.

Why it matters

This community forum provides an important opportunity for Baltimore residents to directly engage with city leaders and advocate for their neighborhoods' most pressing needs. As the budget process moves forward, incorporating this grassroots feedback can help ensure the final budget reflects the priorities of diverse communities across the city.

The details

During the forum at the Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center, residents like Brandon Dismel and Janice Samuel spoke up about issues in their neighborhoods. Dismel shared concerns about public safety and vacant homes, while Samuel noted the lack of access to fresh food in the Cherry Hill community. Mayor Scott acknowledged these concerns, highlighting investments in the preliminary $5 billion budget to address public safety, infrastructure, and programming for youth and vulnerable populations.

  • The community budget forum was held on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The Board of Estimates will vote on the mayor's proposed budget before it goes to the Baltimore City Council.
  • Taxpayers' Night with the Board of Estimates, where the public can weigh in, is scheduled for April 22, 2026.
  • The Baltimore City Council will hold a series of public hearings to amend the budget before sending it to the Mayor for approval.
  • The new city budget will go into effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Brandon Scott

The Mayor of Baltimore who is overseeing the city's budget process and seeking public input.

Brandon Dismel

A Baltimore resident who attended the forum to advocate for improvements in his northwest Baltimore neighborhood, where his family lives.

Janice Samuel

A resident of the Cherry Hill neighborhood who highlighted the lack of access to fresh food in her community.

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What they’re saying

“It's bad when your grandmother doesn't feel safe with you walking up the street and there's a police station right behind you. I just had a cousin I lost about two months ago that was found in one of those vacant homes.”

— Brandon Dismel, Baltimore Resident

“[The things proposed in the budget] are important and imperative, however, we have a fitness center, but we don't have fresh foods. Many people in this community are unable to drive.”

— Janice Samuel, Cherry Hill Resident

“You balance it all by understanding that those people are the why. Many of those folks are seniors. They are the ones that helped the city stay afloat for all those years. Now it's my job to make sure that we're serving them better.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore

What’s next

The Board of Estimates will vote on the mayor's proposed budget before it goes to the Baltimore City Council. The public will be able to weigh in on the preliminary budget at Taxpayers' Night with the Board of Estimates on April 22. Once the budget is in the hands of the Baltimore City Council, a series of public hearings will be scheduled as the body amends the budget and sends it to the Mayor for approval.

The takeaway

This community forum highlights the importance of incorporating grassroots feedback from Baltimore residents into the city's budget process. By listening to the concerns of diverse communities, from public safety and vacant homes to access to fresh food, city leaders can work to ensure the final budget reflects the priorities of all Baltimoreans.