Prince George's Budget Proposal Prioritizes Schools, Safe Neighborhoods, Environment, Economy

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks this week presented her FY 2023 Proposed Budget, which reflects the County’s strategic policy of building a more robust financial foundation and making critical investments for the future.

This budget prioritizes schools, safe neighborhoods, economic development, and improving the quality of life for County residents. The proposed FY 2023 budget for all funds is $5.0 billion, an increase of $449.7 million or 9.9% over the FY 2022 budget

Some of the major highlights of the FY 2023 proposed budget include:

Education

Board of Education – $2.63 billion
- An increase of $286.3 million or 12.2% over the FY 2022 budget
- County contribution is $847 million
- $15 million in operating funds for the Alternative Construction Finance Program for school construction
Prince George’s Community College – $126.8 million
Memorial Library System – $34.8 million

Reducing Violent Crime

Supporting Police Department recruitment:
- Funding for two new recruit classes for the Police Department – $5 million
- New recruitment incentives for police officers – $640,000
- Develop an efficient and improved recruitment process for public safety – $51,000
Five new positions (Deputy Director of Forensic Sciences, two Chemists, two Crime Scene Investigators)
New equipment investments to support crime-fighting efforts, including license plate readers – $1.5 million
Two new boards as required by the Maryland Police Accountability Act to improve public trust in law enforcement:
- Police Accountability Board – three positions (two existing positions from CCOP and a Community Developer position)
- Administrative Charging Committee – six new positions as well as support for stipends

Beautification

Various litter reduction programs – $3.3 million
- Includes anti-litter public education, surveillance of illegal dumping sites, signage for unlawful dumping sites, and trash and litter removal from local waterways
Increased funding ($500,000) for Clean Lot Program – $2.4 million
- Helps clean properties that are overgrown or have become dumping sites
Solid Waste Management Fund – $126.4 million
- Supports “Clear the Curb” initiative, providing new and improved waste collection services in an environmentally friendly way
  - Includes new curbside bulky trash collection program

Flooding Investments

Local Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund – $20.6 million
- Supports water quality and flood mitigation projects around local watersheds
Increased funding ($4.2 million) for Stormwater Management Fund – $95.9 million
- Supports water quality programs and helps mitigate flooding
Stormwater Management Capital Improvement Program – $149.8 million
- Funds multiple flood protection projects across the County

Economic Development

Economic development agencies – $9.5 million
Funding to Redevelopment Authority to revitalize neighborhoods, particularly within the Beltway, with a focus on transit-oriented, mixed-income, and mixed-use development – $21 million
Support to increase procurement opportunities and technical assistance to small, minority-owned, and County-based businesses – $100,000
Permitting and Inspections:
- Funding for the various IT initiatives, including the Momentum Permitting and Licensing System, permit queuing system, and Project Dox – $4 million
- Increased resources for staff augmentation to support engineering consultants and commercial inspections – $850,000

Affordable Housing

Strengthen the Housing Investment Trust Fund to address housing affordability issues – $10 million
Funding to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing for current low-income residents – $6 million
Create a long-term framework for Housing Opportunities for All Workgroup – $205,000

Health & Human Services

Department of Family Services:
- Reinforce efforts to provide safe housing for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking – $1.5 million
- Increased funding for veteran outreach services through Office of Veterans Affairs – $457,300
Food Distribution Coordinator to better coordinate food distribution programs – $100,000
Expansion of Prince George’s Health Assures Program to cover 50,000 uninsured residents in the County – $13 million (over three years)

Other Notable Investments

Department of Public Works & Transportation
- Funding to further Vision Zero efforts – $63,000
- Enhance bus services in high-need areas – $750,000
Re-entry programs to reduce recidivism – $1.5 million

FY 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program

Board of Education – $1.2 bhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRAku3g1t6cillion
- School construction and other improvements for staff and students
Public Works & Transportation – $591.3 million
- Bridge replacements, pedestrian safety, and road improvements
Stormwater Management – $503 million
- Flood protection and drainage improvements, stream restorations, and restoration of impervious areas
Prince George’s Community College – $267 million
- Building renovations, including renovating the student center