Maryland residents would pay more when they purchase cars, order personalized license plates and file land records after property changes hands under a budget blueprint debated Wednesday in the House of Delegates that would partially restore funding for public schools and require state employees to contribute more to their retirement plans.

Democratic lawmakers, who control the House, portrayed the $14.6 billion spending plan as a fiscally prudent and socially responsible approach to closing an estimated $1.6 billion shortfall. Republicans characterized the proposal as not going far enough to address Maryland's budget mismatch between spending and revenue.

"It's time for us to be fiscally responsible and to make some tough decisions," said Republican Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-Talbot), pointing to general-fund spending that would rise by $1.4 billion, or 10.6 percent, in fiscal 2012.

But Democratic budget writers attributed the increase to efforts to make up for the loss of federal stimulus dollars and to protect the state's investment in public education. The House budget plan shrinks the so-called structural deficit by about 40 percent, according to legislative analysts.

Filed Under : K-12 Education, Pensions