This has been a historic legislative session. Our state was up against more than the standard hurdles of policy negotiations and bill amendments. We faced an all-out and escalating assault from our own federal government. What we have endured since Jan. 20 are not glancing blows; they are direct shots. When confronted with this new, harsh reality, our state didn’t flinch. The story of this session can be summed up in a simple phrase: Maryland answered crisis with courage.

While the White House issued one of the largest tax hikes on Americans in history through their tariff policy, we made sure middle-class Marylanders got a tax break. At a time when the federal government is trying to eliminate the Department of Education, we delivered the largest single investment in K-12 schools our state has ever seen. As Elon Musk’s DOGE continues to lay off thousands of public servants, we preserved record funding for local law enforcement and have helped our federal workers find new opportunities in state government and the private sector.

This year’s legislative agenda was anchored by our state budget. Balancing the budget wasn’t easy — and resulted from days, weeks and months of negotiations between our administration and the General Assembly. Since January, my budget priorities have been clear: This year, we needed to modernize the tax code, and not on the backs of the middle class; we needed to secure investments that grow the economy, to break the cycle of low growth in Maryland; and we needed to invest in our people — our greatest source of strength.

I would not accept a final budget that didn’t meet these goals. The result of our negotiations is a common-sense, balanced budget that meets uncertainty from Washington with clarity and innovation from Annapolis.

We’ve turned a $3 billion inherited deficit into a surplus, while still preserving 8% in the Rainy Day Fund — above recommended levels. We’ve made over $2 billion in targeted cuts, the largest amount that has been cut from a Maryland budget in 16 years. As Washington raises prices on everything for everybody, in Maryland, our income tax reform plan will ensure that 94% of Marylanders either get a tax cut or see no change in their taxes.

The keystone of our fiscal strategy is economic growth. The final budget directs new resources to industries of the future that will create good-paying jobs, like cyber and AI. We will also protect incumbent sectors at the heart of our prosperity, from our port to our trade assets. Economic development investments in the budget go hand-in-hand with legislation I’ve introduced and will sign to strengthen the Chesapeake Bay economy, reform the procurement process to make Maryland more business-friendly, and help returning citizens build fulfilling careers.

Most importantly, our budget invests in Marylanders. We’ve preserved record funding for child care. Maryland transportation will get a much-needed boost so more families can get from where they live to where opportunity lies, safely and efficiently. And we will continue to support traditional and non-traditional pathways to success, from community colleges to job training.

In many respects, our final budget breaks political convention. We live in a time of party lines and stark divides, especially on fiscal policy. We often adhere to the myth that if you advocate for cutting spending, you’re a Republican, and if you are willing to raise taxes, you’re a Democrat. But I reject these false choices. We entered session committed to solving problems, not scoring political points. Our decisions don’t fall neatly along red-vs.-blue boundaries.

Yes, we are cutting waste — and we will soon cut tens of millions of dollars in spending through our Government Modernization Initiative. But unlike Elon Musk’s DOGE project, we are tightening our belts in a targeted way that protects essential programs like health care and education.

Yes, we are giving middle class families a tax break — and households making under $200,000 a year won’t pay an extra penny in income taxes. But at the same time, a small fraction of Marylanders who have done very well for themselves and their families will contribute slightly more so we can have the best schools in the country and invest in the things that matter most to our people. Marylanders agree that if someone is making $750,000 a year, it’s reasonable to ask them to give roughly $1,800 more; and we appreciate those who have been financially successful in our state for stepping up to elevate our shared priorities.

As we rang in the New Year, Maryland was confronted with the worst fiscal challenge since the Great Recession. Republican Minority Leader Jason Buckel described our state’s fiscal dilemma as a problem stemming from “economic failures of the last ten [years],” leading to a crisis of historic proportions. And no amount of preparation could have fortified Maryland against a White House that has attacked our economy, our people and our values, while pushing our country toward a nation-wide, self-inflicted recession.

But when struck by these two storms, Marylanders chose to mobilize. The challenges we face aren’t simple, and the solutions aren’t simple either. But by moving in partnership, we have met this moment. And together, we will continue to leave no one behind.

Wes Moore is the governor of Maryland.