Published October 15, 2026 at 10:36 AM EDT

When Baltimore residents head to the polls next month, they’ll decide whether to establish a fund to support families with newborns. The measure would require the city set three cents aside for every $100 in taxable property value for the Baltimore Baby Fund.

Nate Golden, president of the Maryland Child Alliance, estimates the fund would generate about $15 million. The high school math teacher said he’s seen how financial hardship affects students’ ability to learn.

“Many of the issues we see in our schools are really economic issues,” Golden said. “It is an issue of child poverty and students not having enough resources outside of the school building. As teachers, we want to fight for our kids in any way that we can.”

Golden said the measure would not raise property taxes. Instead, tying the fund to taxable property values would help it keep pace with inflation.

If voters approve the measure, city lawmakers would decide who qualifies and how the money is distributed. The campaign supports direct cash payments, giving parents the flexibility to decide how best to meet their newborns’ needs.

Earlier versions of the proposal called for $1,000 payments to parents of newborns. Those efforts failed after the Maryland Supreme Court ruled the original amendment constrained the city’s legislative authority.

Mayor Brandon Scott, whose administration challenged the original proposal, has since endorsed the revised measure, which gives city officials more discretion over how the fund operates.

But the campaign still faces opposition, including arguments from those who say people shouldn’t have kids if they can’t afford them. Organizers respond by emphasizing the needs of children already born and continue outreach at farmers markets and festivals.

Golden isn’t calculating a projected margin of victory. But he hopes the numbers add up to a strong show of support for investing in Baltimore’s children.

“We want people to be informed about what they're voting on,” he said, adding that strong support could signal to city and state officials that residents want more investment in eliminating child poverty.