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Ballot question

Baltimore City Question G: franchises and minor privileges (charter amendment)

On the ballot in
Baltimore City
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Question G amends the City Charter language governing how the City allows third parties to use certain City property. It adds the City's stormwater system to the list of City property that cannot be sold or rented out as a franchise. It clarifies that space in the City's conduit system can be rented out as a franchise, but the conduit system itself still cannot be sold. The Amendment also simplifies the general provisions governing franchise agreements and other such grants. The Amendment updates the language for granting minor privileges to use a portion of City property by clarifying the definition of minor privilege, including temporary and permanent varieties, and permitting minor privileges to be further identified and defined by ordinance. It also removes the Board of Estimates' authority to grant minor privileges, along with related processes, and instead allows minor privileges to be granted by an executive agency under a new process to be established by City ordinance. The Amendment also eliminates certain obsolete provisions in the Charter pertaining to street railways and trackless trolleys.

A “Yes” vote means

A yes vote revises Charter rules on franchises and minor privileges on City property and lets an executive agency, not the Board of Estimates, grant minor privileges.

A “No” vote means

A no vote keeps the current Charter language on franchises and minor privileges.

The certified ballot heads Question G "Franchises and Minor Privileges"; the SBE ballot question page repeats Question F's heading ("Legislation, Budget, and Board of Estimates") above it.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.