County Exec Hopes To Reduce School Cuts


Prince George’s County executive Jack B. Johnson hopes to reduce school cuts and furloughs, but needs $44 million from Gov. O’Malley to make it happen.

In his last budget before leaving office, Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) wants to cancel employee furloughs and provide as much education funding as possible, the executive said at a public hearing Wednesday.

But Johnson’s hopes for his $2.6 billion spending plan rest on whether Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) restores more than $44 million in county cuts already proposed in the state budget.

“He’s really working with us. I understand it’s a political thing,” said Johnson. “We are absolutely convinced that some of that money is coming back.”…

…Johnson described the county’s fiscal picture as “a little better” than last year, when department funding was slashed, county workers were forced to take 10 days of unpaid leave and 55 employees were laid off to balance the budget. Last year, Johnson tried to raise property taxes through the General Assembly to bring more revenue to county coffers, which brought a flood of protestors to last year’s budget hearing.



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