911 Diversion: Baltimore advances new agency without final cost estimate

Baltimore City Council members advanced a plan to create a new agency for handling low-risk 911 calls on Monday, moving the legislation closer to final approval despite the absence of a definitive budget. The two votes, which passed with near-unanimous support, authorize the establishment of the Department of Neighborhood Safety. This new body will absorb existing diversion efforts currently managed by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. It will also add dedicated staff to respond to specific types of non-life-threatening calls. The move places the agency outside the mayor’s direct budget, giving council members more financial oversight.

The proposal was introduced last month by Mayor Brandon Scott and Council President Zeke Cohen. The administration has cited a $15 million allocation from opioid manufacturer settlement restitution funds as the initial financing. However, a city finance memo indicates these funds are expected to be depleted by 2032. The memo warns of a potential fiscal cliff where programs would either end abruptly or require a new funding source. The total cost of the new department remains undetermined until staffing levels and call volumes are finalized.

Councilman Mark Conway cast the lone dissenting vote. He argued that the bill was rushed and lacked a clear cost estimate. Conway stated that the administration had not produced a budget for the new office before the vote. “I fear we’ll trip and fall and saddle the city with expectations we’re not fully prepared to meet,” Conway said. He emphasized that while he supported the intent of the legislation, the lack of financial planning was a major concern.

Other council members pushed back on the characterization of the process as rushed. Councilwoman Odette Ramos noted that the council had held multiple hearings on crisis response over the past year. Those discussions followed the deaths of several residents experiencing mental health crises at the hands of police. “I don’t feel this has been rushed,” Ramos said. “This is the cap on all of the work that has been done.” Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton, the longest-serving member, agreed, noting that the council has sought wrap-around services for years.

The new department aims to divert calls that do not involve weapons and occur in safe environments. These cases would be handled by a social worker and a peer specialist, an unlicensed individual with relevant life experience. Teams are expected to work at all hours once fully operational. The plan is modeled partly on systems in Denver and Durham. Durham diverts 5% of its 911 calls from police, whereas Baltimore currently diverts about 1.5%.

Cohen said he wants to hire a director for the office before releasing a public cost estimate. He noted that the city has conducted analyses based on other cities but wants the incoming leader’s input first. “We have done some analyses based on Denver and Durham and some of the other existing systems, but I want to make sure before any number goes out publicly that the person who is going to be tasked with running this entire department is on board first,” Cohen said.

City finance officials vetted the bill before it reached committee. They flagged a potentially large fiscal impact. The deputy director of finance stated in a memo that expenses will depend on staffing and the volume and type of calls handled. Letitia Dzirasa, the deputy mayor for equity, health and human services, expects to send a preliminary budget to the council in the coming weeks.

The city plans to phase in the program, similar to the rollout of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy. Certain call types may be diverted first, and the city may pilot the program in specific areas before expanding. The final passage of the bill is scheduled for early next month.

Conway responded to his colleagues by stating that the council’s duty includes managing the budget, not just generating ideas. The department will eventually incorporate all current crime diversion efforts led by the mayor’s office.