This November, Baltimore residents will vote on a proposal to reduce the size of the City Council from its current 15 members to 9.

Current Structure:

• 14 council members elected from individual districts
• 1 council president elected citywide

Proposed Change:

• Reduction to 8 district council members
• Council president position unchanged

Comparative Analysis:

• Baltimore’s current 15-member council is larger than those of similarly sized cities:
  • Washington D.C. and Boston: 13 members
  • Detroit and Sacramento: 9 members
• Los Angeles has 15 council members but a population over six times larger than Baltimore’s

Arguments for Reduction:

1. Potential cost savings
2. Increased efficiency in decision-making
3. Alignment with Baltimore’s declining population

Arguments Against Reduction:

1. Larger constituent base for each council member
2. Possible increase in council staff to manage workload
3. Minimal overall cost savings

Expert Opinions:

• David Williams, taxpayer advocate, suggests other cities function well with fewer council members and emphasizes the need to address Baltimore’s ongoing challenges.
• Walter Olson, Cato Institute senior fellow, argues larger councils can be more expensive, less decisive, and more politically oriented.

The ballot measure comes as Baltimore faces various challenges, including education, public safety, and fiscal issues. Voters will need to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of a smaller city council when casting their ballots.