What does a YES vote on Baltimore City Question A mean?

Baltimore City could borrow up to $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program, including property acquisition, rental and homeownership developments, buyer assistance, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and removing blight.

What does a NO vote on Baltimore City Question A mean?

Baltimore City could not borrow this $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program.

Would this raise my property tax?

The ordinance requires the City, while any of these bonds are outstanding, to levy an annual property tax at a rate sufficient to pay their interest and principal. It does not set a separate rate for this loan, and no official estimate of the cost per household was published.

How long could the City take to repay?

Each bond's principal must be repaid within 40 years of issuance; interest rates are set by the Board of Finance.

What happens if voters say no?

The ordinance does not take effect unless a majority of Baltimore City voters approve it, so the City could not borrow this money under it.

How many votes does Baltimore City Question A need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Baltimore City Question A?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Baltimore City Question A — Bond Issue: Affordable Housing Loan

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: Question A authorizes the City to borrow up to $22,000,000 to be used for the City's Affordable Housing Program. The money may be used to acquire, redevelop, and dispose of property in the City for this purpose, along with related costs. The money may be used to rehabilitate, construct, and operate rental and homeownership developments, including relocation assistance, rental payments, home purchase assistance, housing counseling, project financing, buyer education assistance, activities to support the development of economically diverse housing in the City, and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The money may also be used to eliminate unhealthy and unsafe conditions, including blight, and may be used to improve land, buildings, streets, highways, alleys, utilities, and other structures, including all related costs. Voting for this amendment allows the City to borrow this money. Voting against the amendment means the City is not allowed to borrow this money.
A YES vote means: Baltimore City could borrow up to $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program, including property acquisition, rental and homeownership developments, buyer assistance, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and removing blight.
A NO vote means: Baltimore City could not borrow this $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: A YES vote leans strongly left; a NO vote leans the other way (AI-estimated from the official ballot summary, 74% confidence).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Baltimore City may borrow this money only if voters approve the bond ordinance (Council Bill 26-0179); the ordinance says it will not take effect otherwise.
The City pays back its general obligation bonds from an annual property tax set at a rate sufficient to cover interest and principal.

If it passes

The City could borrow up to $22,000,000 by selling bonds, at one time or over time, through its Board of Finance, for the City's Affordable Housing Program.
Allowed uses include buying and redeveloping property; building, rehabilitating and operating rental and homeownership developments; relocation and rental assistance, home purchase assistance, housing counseling and buyer education; loans or grants for projects; support for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; and removing blight.
Each bond would have to be repaid within 40 years; while bonds are outstanding the City must levy enough property tax each year to pay them.

Who would notice

Baltimore City property taxpayers, who repay the debt, and the residents, organizations and projects that would receive the money.

How it got here

The City Council adopted Council Bill 26-0179 in May 2026 at the request of the Administration (Department of Planning), after the Baltimore City delegation to the General Assembly approved the borrowing by House and Senate resolutions of 2026. The ordinance sends it to voters on November 3, 2026.

Written by SpectrumVote from 3 linked sources (1, 2, 3). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

Ordinance 26-0179, introduced on behalf of the administration, authorizes the $22,000,000 borrowing under General Assembly House Resolution I and Senate Resolution I of 2026, which Baltimore City's state legislators approved.

The City Council's Budget & Appropriations Committee recommended it favorably on May 5, 2026. The Council approved it on May 11, and the Mayor signed it on May 20, 2026, according to the City's legislative record.

Question A is one of four city bond questions on the ballot (A–D), alongside school ($60 million), community and economic development ($50 million) and public infrastructure ($148 million) loans.

Put on the ballot by Baltimore City Council; signed by the Mayor May 20, 2026 (Ordinance 26-0179).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Baltimore City, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

Next elections here

2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Baltimore City ballots

All Baltimore City races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Baltimore City Question A mean?: Baltimore City could borrow up to $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program, including property acquisition, rental and homeownership developments, buyer assistance, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and removing blight.
What does a NO vote on Baltimore City Question A mean?: Baltimore City could not borrow this $22,000,000 for its Affordable Housing Program.
Would this raise my property tax?: The ordinance requires the City, while any of these bonds are outstanding, to levy an annual property tax at a rate sufficient to pay their interest and principal. It does not set a separate rate for this loan, and no official estimate of the cost per household was published.
How long could the City take to repay?: Each bond's principal must be repaid within 40 years of issuance; interest rates are set by the Board of Finance.
What happens if voters say no?: The ordinance does not take effect unless a majority of Baltimore City voters approve it, so the City could not borrow this money under it.
How many votes does Baltimore City Question A need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Baltimore City Question A?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Baltimore City ballot.

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections