The Calvert County Recorder, on SouthernMd.com, reports on the early budget process in Calvert County, as the county government and school systems debate appropriate funding levels.

In order to make up for new costs and decreased revenue from declining property assessments, the county is proposing to use $6.2 million from last year’s fund balance in order to balance the fiscal ‘13 budget, Finance and Budget Director Tim Hayden said. The last time the county relied on that fund to balance the budget was in 2004, he said, adding, “We expect this to be a one-time event. … If nothing changed, we could do this for three years and the fourth year we couldn’t.”

In addition, departments are decreasing spending by 2 percent and no employees will receive a salary increase.

For more information about the schools’ budget request click here.