Stylish Wish List in Pr. George's

County Council Planning For Updated Offices, SUVs

The Prince George's County Council has been scrutinizing County Executive Jack B. Johnson's proposed $2.15 billion budget over the past few weeks, discussing what might be trimmed and what should be fattened.

One item, however, has remained untouched: the council's own budget request of $11.5 million -- a 37 percent increase over last year.

The council plans to spend about $1 million to renovate members' offices and staff workspace. And $177,400 has been earmarked for replacing a county car and five sport-utility vehicles assigned to council members.

Prince George's council members, who are paid $73,114 a year, are the only local lawmakers in the region who receive county cars. Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors are paid $59,000 annually and receive no car allowance. Council members in Montgomery County, whose salaries are $76,654, are reimbursed for mileage on their own cars.

Karen Campbell, a spokeswoman for the council, said in an e-mail that the county's "administrative procedure" calls for vehicles to be "retired at 70,000 miles or more for department heads."

According to the plan, the council expects to replace a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer with 56,281 miles; a 2002 Chevy Impala with 53,244 miles; two 2003 Chevy TrailBlazers, one with 61,172 miles and the other with 55,162 miles; and two 2003 Ford Explorers, one with 45,692 miles and one with 53,244 miles.

Campbell said the vehicles are expected to exceed the 70,000-mile mark during fiscal 2006, which begins July 1.

The funding increase also would allow the council to add two people to its public relations staff and one to its audits and investigations unit.

Theresa Dudley, head of the county League of Women Voters, said the additional expense is cause for concern.

"It does raise my eyebrows a bit," said Dudley, who ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2002. "I think we should be in line with what other jurisdictions this size do."

The 37 percent increase the council is requesting is the biggest jump by any county department or agency this year. Although the council's budget is nominally part of the budget developed and proposed by Johnson, he is required by the county charter to incorporate into his spending plan whatever the council requests.

Council Chairman Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville) said the proposed increase is "not as large as it's purported to be."

He said the council opted this year to include some expenses in its budget that could have gone into the executive branch's fiscal plan. But the council, which has been intent on signaling its independence from Johnson since he took office in 2002, decided to place the funds in its own budget.

"We're an independent [branch]; therefore, we pulled those types of funding into the council," Dean said.

In a letter to Johnson outlining the change, Dean wrote that the county charter anticipated a balance of power between the branches of government.

"The legislative branch should not be dependent on other agencies for funding," Dean wrote. "In the past, funds for these purposes were subject to availability."

Last year, for example, the council paid DeJong Inc., a consulting firm, about $75,000 to help determine how the school district should handle the nearly 9,000 additional students expected by 2006. The school system wanted to expand six high schools instead of building new ones. But the council pushed for building more schools and expanding only DuVal High School.