May 28, 2010

Budget cuts: main-line items

County officials cut total spending for the first time in more than 40 years. Here's a breakdown of the $4.27 billion budget after the council altered County Executive Isiah Leggett's proposals: Total budget, FY2011, which starts July 1:

County government: $1.52 billion (-$106 million/-6.5 percent)
Public schools: $2.10 billion (-$17 million/-0.8 percent)*
Montgomery College: $266 million ($260,000/0.1 percent)
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission: $114 million (-$14 million/-11.3 percent)
Debt service: $262 million ($13 million/5.4 percent)
* Figure for 2010 excludes one-time debt payment of $79.5 million

Cuts for selected government departments*
Health and Human Services: $178 million ($-16 million/-8.4 percent)
Police: $230 million (-$16 million/-6.5 percent)
Fire and rescue: $182 million (-$11 million/-5.6 percent)
* Tax-supported budget only

Key revenue increases:
Energy tax increase: $110 million
Cellphone tax increase: $2 to $3.50 per line
Ambulance fee: $400 for basic emergency life support

How they voted:

Yes: Nancy Floreen (D-At Large); Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda); Marc Elrich (D-At Large); Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring); George L. Leventhal (D-At Large); Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County); Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large)

No: Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville); Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty)

Related actions:
-- The council created a commission on restructuring government. The Leggett administration has been working on a similar initiative, and both branches say they are developing ideas for cutting spending long term.
-- The council passed a $5 per ton tax on carbon dioxide emissions that would affect the Mirant Corp. SOURCE: Washington Post

No comments: