MACo staff has been following the fiscal impact of the economic climate on Maryland local governments fiscal year 2012 budgets. Yesterday, the Frederick Board of County Commissioners released a balanced $448 million budget proposal, that does not include tax increases, but significant cuts in programs and services, and employee layoffs.  The Gazette reports:

The budget proposal calls for significant reductions in the operations of many county departments, including the elimination of 38 staff positions, a $305,069 reduction in the funding for non-profit agencies, as well as the relinquishment of the Frederick County Head Start program, which saves $2.3 million.

The budget recommendation also features a major reorganization of the Division of Fire and Rescue Services, which reduces salaries and benefits and saves $670,000, as well as consolidation for the Planning Permitting and Development Review and the Economic Development Divisions, which saves another $584,000.

In total, the cuts affected 175 county positions — either frozen, eliminated or downgraded — to help put $8.4 million toward what started out as an $11.8 million budget deficit.
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“These budget decisions were very difficult, but tough times … [require] tough decisions,” said Commissioners’ President Blaine R. Young (R), who thanked all county employees who lost their jobs for their hard work and service.
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“Unlike the federal government, we simply cannot print more money to pay our bills,” he said today.

The final budget will be adopted in June by the Commissioners.