In his announcement, the Co. executive Jack Johnson unveiled this week the $2.6 billion FY2011 county budget with a cut of $7 million from last year. The cut will hit the school and county employees. The county is also facing about $44 million in proposed cutsfrom the state — cuts Johnson has said he hopes to persuade Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) to abandon, at least partially, before the state budget is approved. The county will also furlough all its employees for 8 days in the coming year. The schools will also take a huge hit – with some 800 positions will be gone form the county schools.
The budget cut is the result of the falling revenues from the property taxes, a trend that all counties in the DC metro area have seen over the last year. As a result, other counties in the region are also facing similar cuts.