With votes counted from early voting, Election Day and a portion of mail-in ballots, unofficial results showed city voters gave the go-ahead to questions that would end local control of the Police Department of the city, would authorize the borrowing of money for schools and infrastructure and create a fund to receive money generated by the state tax on recreational marijuana.

A measure that would reduce the size of Baltimore City Hall seemed headed for defeat and a measure that would allow residential buildings to be built in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. seemed to be heading towards approval at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, although most ballots remain uncounted.

Here’s a summary of how votes were cast on some of those rejected questions.

Question G

As with alcohol, Maryland has been charge a 9% tax on cannabis sales – raising around $73 million in the first year of sales. About a third of that money will be set aside for a new Community Reparation and Reinvestment Fund, intended to benefit communities with a disproportionate number of cannabis-related arrests. baltimore He is expected to receive around 30% of the pot.

Question G asked voters to establish a fund so that money flows. Voters overwhelmingly approved that plan Tuesday, with 75% of votes counted so far voting in favor. The results were not yet official Tuesday.

Through separate legislation, the Baltimore City Council created a commission of 17 members who will make decisions about how the money will be spent. Most commission members are appointed by council members and approved by Mayor Brandon Scott.

Question E

Question E is the city’s second attempt to give local officials control of the city’s Police Department.

Since the 1850s, when state legislators took the reins of the Baltimore City Police Department in response to control by the violent Know Nothing Party, Baltimore has been the only jurisdiction in the state without the ability to make decisions about its police force. .

That began to change in 2022, when voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question that made the department a city agency. City attorneys initially believed that would be enough to transfer power to local lawmakers, but later recommended that the council submit another question for voters to consider.

Question E asked voters to establish powers for the police commissioner, as well as duties for the department as a whole, similar to those granted by state law. City attorneys believe the transfer of powers will give the City Council legal protection to pass police-related legislation.

While the results are not official and are still being counted, 78% of voters supported the measure as of 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Questions ANNOUNCEMENT

The first four questions on Baltimore’s ballot authorized borrowing or issuing bonds to finance various city projects. Question A, which will authorize the city to borrow $20 million for affordable housing, was headed toward approval with 83% of the vote. Question B, which authorizes a $55 million loan to build new schools and sports fields, was headed toward approval with 87% of the vote.

Question C, a question that would allow lawmakers to issue up to $50 million in community development bonds, looked like it would pass with 82% of the vote. And Question D, which authorizes a $50 million bond issue for infrastructure, appeared headed toward approval with 86% of the vote.

Vote totals are not official.