BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland voters will decide in November whether to make it harder for state officials to spend money in the state’s Transportation Trust Fund on anything unrelated to transportation.

The question will be on the ballot as a constitutional amendment. The “lockbox” proposal is aimed at limiting the practice of using transportation money to patch other holes in the budget.

Maryland lawmakers passed legislation in 2013 to put the matter on the ballot as they approved a gas tax increase to shore up transportation funding.

If voters approve, money in the Transportation Trust Fund could not be tapped unless the governor declares a fiscal emergency and the House and Senate approve of transferring money with a three-fifths vote in each chamber.

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