By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 31, 2008 3:39 PM

Prince George's County has withdrawn a proposal to trim salary increases for employees this year, in a reversal that came as public safety unions prepared to file labor grievances over the issue.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) had previously asked the unions to reopen their two-year contracts and renegotiate pay to help close a $48 million budget gap. He threatened that layoffs or forced furloughs might be necessary if the unions did not agree to trim their pay increases.

A coalition of union leaders gathered this morning to blast that proposal, accusing the county of widespread financial mismanagement and of looking to salary increases instead of wasteful spending for savings.

In an interview shortly afterward, Johnson reiterated his hope that pay raises could be adjusted.

"What we're saying is we want to give them half of their raises -- that's all we're saying," he said. "If they don't accept that, then I'm going to have to furlough."

Even as Johnson spoke, county union leaders received a letter from the county's chief administrative officer, indicating that the pay raises will be honored and a revised fiscal plan had been developed to close the looming budget shortfall.

James P. Keary, Johnson's spokesman, would not release details of the plan.

He said it will be put into a formal resolution and submitted to the County Council, which will not meet again until September. Though the letter to employees indicated the plan has been developed, Keary insisted it could still change and it will not be released until it is formally sent to the council.

He noted that county officials have said that if they could not trim pay increases, they would have to consider layoffs or furloughs.

"We're glad they're honoring the collective bargaining agreement," said Doug "Bart" Bartholomew, president of the county Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association. "We're disappointed it took them this long to do it, and we'll have to see down the road what alternatives they hand us."

Bartholomew said he has been told the fire department is putting together plans for furloughs.

The contract for police officers calls for a 3 percent cost-of-living increase and 3.5 percent merit raises this year. Other contracts for employees include 2.5 percent cost-of-living increases and 3.5 percent merit raises.