County Budgets
Charles County Commissioners Propose Flat Tax Rate, Slight Increase in Expenditures

During a hearing on Charles County's $307 million operating budget, commissioners proposed keeping property tax rates flat, which due to declining assessments, means that residents could see declines in their property tax bills.  As reported by Southern Maryland Newspapers Online: Tax bills for individual property owners depend on the assessed value of their properties, but falling assessments in most of the county mean taxes will fall by an average of 3.8 percent, according to county…

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May 31, 2011
County Budgets
Prince George’s County Council Approves FY 2012 Budget

The Prince George's County Council approved a $2.7 billion budget that slightly reduces funding to education but maintains funding for key school programs.  As reported by the Washington Post: With the new budget, council members also allocated funds for an economic development fund and for road repairs, new police and fire recruits, and a one-time $750 bonus for county employees.The public school system receives the single largest share of the county budget: Spending on the…

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May 27, 2011
County Budgets
Montgomery County Council Approves Budget, Increases Property Tax

The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a $4.37 billion budget, which increases spending by 2.2 percent.  As reported by the Washington Post: Funding for schools is down slightly, employees face cuts to health and retirement benefits and spending on recreation, fire and rescue and some social service and other programs is being reduced. The council upped the property tax rate by 4.2 cents, but also included a credit that moderates the increase for homeowners, officials…

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May 27, 2011
County Budgets
Howard County Approves FY 2012 Budget

The Howard County Council approved a $1.56 billion operating budget and $179.3 million for capital improvements.  The Baltimore Sun reports: The overall operating budget will increase 8.8 percent, but the locally funded portion of the budget is rising 5.6 percent. County officials said that increase primarily reflects built-in cost increases for things like fuel, health insurance and interest on debt.Ulman used small amounts of new funding to pay for a new stormwater czar to help…

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May 26, 2011
County Budgets
Prince George’s County Rejects Raises, May Provide One-Time Bonus

As reported by the Washington Post,  Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker and the County Council may have struck a deal to provide one-time bonuses to approximately 6,000 employees instead of a 2% raise that would benefit 1,500 employees. In a 5 to 3 vote Tuesday, the council voted down a 2 percent raise for about 1,500 county employees who are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. But in private…

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May 18, 2011
County Budgets
Montgomery County to Cut Employee Benefits and School System

As reported by the Washington Post, the Montgomery County Council, led by Council President Valerie Ervin, has agreed on a package of cuts to employee benefits and the public school system.  The  Council is scheduled to vote on these key parts of the budget Thursday. Under the plan, the council would cut $25 million from the $1.4 billion it contributed to the public school system this year. It would also take more control over the…

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May 17, 2011
County Budgets / Employee Benefits and Relations
Tax Increase and Furloughs to Headline Wicomico County Budget Proposal for FY 12

On Tuesday, April 19, County Executive Rick Pollitt is outlining his FY 12 budget proposal to the County Council.  The plan is reported by the Daily Times to include an increase in the property tax as well as cuts to education and public safety.  A third straight year of furloughs is also part of the proposal.    Although the county has a tax cap, Pollitt stated in a  council meeting last week, that.."the county's "revenue cap"…

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April 18, 2011
County Budgets
Anne Arundel County Budget Proposal to Include Property Tax Increase and Employee Pay Reductions

As reported in the Capital, County Executive Leopold will be presenting his budget to the Anne Arundel County Council this Friday, which will include recommendations for employee pay cuts as well as funding reductions for schools and libraries.   The budget also includes  a property tax increase that according the the county's budget officer, enables the county to recapture revenues lost due to declining home values.  Members of the school board, library system and employee unions…

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April 13, 2011
County Budgets
Queen Anne’s County Task Force to Recommend Actions to Resolve $11.3 Million Deficit for FY 12

In a memo dated April 12 to the Queen Anne's County Commissioners and made public on the County blog, the County Administrator outlined a projected $11.3 million deficit for FY 12.  The deficit numbers were revised downward from previous estimates. This new estimate may impact the recommendations of the Task Force on Government Sustainability set to be released this week.  The Task Force appointed by the County Commissioners and facilitated by past House of Delegates…

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April 13, 2011