What is Ballot Question E? Banning Water Privatization in the City of Baltimore

What does Question E mean?

Ballot Question E, if passed, would protect Baltimore's water systems from extreme forms of water privatization. It would make the water systems “inalienable assets” of the city of Baltimore, and prevent privatization or outside ownership and control of these critical systems. It means no corporation can take these assets away from the city.

Vote FOR the charter amendment to completely prevent the city from ever selling or leasing your water system to a for-profit corporation. If Measure E passes, it will keep the water system under public control permanently.

The amendment further prohibits the city from allowing any for-profit corporation to get a franchise or the right to control the public water and sewer system. That completely bans extreme forms of water privatization.  

What does Question E say?

Here’s what it says:

Find the ballot online here.

Why does Question E matter?

Recently, multinational water corporations and Wall Street have been ramping up efforts to take control of our public water system. By voting for Question E, Baltimore would stop these schemes and protect our water system from extreme privatization deals.

Vote YES on Question E to:

• Keep Baltimore's water under public ownership and control permanently.

• Help prevent rate hikes that come with privatization to keep Baltimore's water service more affordable. On average, private companies charge 59 percent more than local governments charge for water service. With a rate hike that large, the average Baltimore household’s annual water and sewer bill would jump from $861 to nearly $1,400. That’s an extra $500 a year.

• Protect public jobs and preserve public control. Communities that have privatized their water systems see higher rates, job losses and worse service.

By voting for Question E, we can work together to ensure that every person in Baltimore has access to safe, affordable water.

How did Question E get on the ballot?

Mayor Catherine Pugh proposed this charter amendment, and city council president Jack Young shepherded it through city council, earning unanimous approval from our city’s elected officials.

Baltimore has the opportunity to be the first major city in the country to take a stand and ban water privatization.

Get out and vote FOR ballot question E to keep Baltimore’s water public

This Thursday, October 25th, is the first day of early voting. You can vote from 10AM to 8PM at these locations across the city. Not registered? You can register and vote at the same time at any of these early voting sites starting this Thursday through November 1.

By Authority: Keep Baltimore’s Water Public, Antoinette Ryan, Treasurer