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

Baltimore City would create a Department of Water and Wastewater, led by a Director, to take over the water supply and wastewater systems from Public Works, effective January 1, 2029.

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

The current charter rules on the water and wastewater systems would stay in place.

When would the new department start?

The Charter changes would take effect January 1, 2029.

Would trash and recycling move too?

No. The City says the Bureau of Solid Waste remains part of the Department of Public Works.

Does this change my water bill?

The amendment does not set rates. It gives the new department responsibility for operating the system that charges for water and sewer use.

How many votes does Baltimore City Question H 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 H?

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 H — Charter Amendment: Department of Water and Wastewater

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

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: Question H establishes in the City Charter a new Department of Water and Wastewater, which will be supervised and directed by a Director. It transfers from the Department of Public Works to this new Department the responsibility to oversee the City's water supply system and its wastewater system, along with related duties. The Amendment also removes from the Charter the requirement that bureaus within the Department of Public Works must be established or abolished by City ordinance. Voting for this amendment brings about the changes described above, which will become effective January 1, 2029. Voting against the amendment leaves the current Charter language governing water and wastewater systems in place.
A YES vote means: Baltimore City would create a Department of Water and Wastewater, led by a Director, to take over the water supply and wastewater systems from Public Works, effective January 1, 2029.
A NO vote means: The current charter rules on the water and wastewater systems would stay in place.
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: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

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's water and wastewater systems are run by the Bureau of Water and Wastewater inside the Department of Public Works (DPW). The bureau has been part of DPW since 1925; before that it was an independent Water Department.
The system supplies water to about 1.8 million customers in the Baltimore region, including surrounding counties. The bureau's FY2027 budget is $677 million for operations and $473 million for capital projects, funded by ratepayers.
The Charter currently requires that DPW bureaus be established or abolished only by an ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimates, passed by the City Council and approved by the Mayor.

If it passes

The Charter would create a Department of Water and Wastewater, led by a Director appointed and confirmed like other department heads, who must have substantial experience in building and maintaining public utilities.
The new department would take over the water supply, sewers and wastewater treatment, and the system for charging customers for water and sewer use, including authority to shut off water for non-payment and set up alternative payment methods.
DPW would keep solid waste and street cleaning. The requirement that DPW bureaus be created or abolished by ordinance would be removed.
The changes would take effect January 1, 2029.

Who would notice

Baltimore City residents and businesses, and water customers in surrounding counties served by the City's system, plus DPW and water-utility employees. The amendment does not itself change water or sewer rates.

How it got here

A state-created Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force recommended in January 2024 that the City move water and wastewater into a standalone City agency. Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council President Zeke Cohen and Comptroller Bill Henry announced the amendment on May 29, 2026, sponsored by Councilmembers Odette Ramos and Ryan Dorsey; it appears on the ballot as Question H (Resolution 26-07).

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

Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council President Zeke Cohen and Comptroller Bill Henry announced this charter amendment on May 29, 2026, sponsored by Councilmembers Odette Ramos and Ryan Dorsey, according to the Mayor's Office.

The Mayor's Office says the Bureau of Water and Wastewater serves about 1.8 million customers across the region, with a FY 2027 operating budget of $677 million and capital budget of $473 million, and that a state-created Baltimore Regional Water Governance Taskforce recommended a standalone City agency in a January 2024 report.

According to the release, officials say a separate department would provide dedicated leadership, more consistent revenue collection and independent financial systems; if approved, the City would set up the standalone agency by the end of 2028.

Put on the ballot by Baltimore City Council (charter amendment resolution; final vote date and count not found in a public record reviewed).

From official source.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Baltimore City Question H mean?: Baltimore City would create a Department of Water and Wastewater, led by a Director, to take over the water supply and wastewater systems from Public Works, effective January 1, 2029.
What does a NO vote on Baltimore City Question H mean?: The current charter rules on the water and wastewater systems would stay in place.
When would the new department start?: The Charter changes would take effect January 1, 2029.
Would trash and recycling move too?: No. The City says the Bureau of Solid Waste remains part of the Department of Public Works.
Does this change my water bill?: The amendment does not set rates. It gives the new department responsibility for operating the system that charges for water and sewer use.
How many votes does Baltimore City Question H 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 H?: 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.

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