| Page 2 of 3 < > |
Layoffs, Trims In Education, Services Coming
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
In Maryland, O'Malley has deferred consideration of two of the more controversial proposals contained in the memo from budget secretary T. Eloise Foster, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.
One proposal would require six days of unpaid leave from all state workers, a move that the Maryland's labor unions would probably resist.
The other would roll back an initiative that provides additional funding for 13 school systems, including Montgomery and Prince George's counties, where the cost to provide education is more expensive.
The initiative, known as the Geographic Cost of Education Index, was part of Maryland's landmark 2002 Thornton education plan but was never funded until this year. Foster's list of possible cuts takes back half of this year's $75.8 million from the initiative.
O'Malley said the furloughs and rollback of the education funding required more discussion with affected parties. He did not rule out resurrecting the proposals.
In her memo, Foster proposes eliminating 776 state positions, most of them vacant. That is about the same number that O'Malley has cut during his first two years in office, which have been marked by budget turmoil he largely inherited.
Last year, Maryland held a special legislative session in which taxes were raised by almost $1.4 billion annually and the budget was cut by several hundred million dollars. Since taking office, O'Malley says he has cut the budget by $1.8 billion.
The proposed job reductions include 283 vacant correctional officer positions and 22 parole and probation agents.
Under several of Foster's proposals, recent increases in funding would be rolled back. For example, the state would halve funding increases that are going to an array of health-care providers this year, including nursing homes, mental-health providers and physicians.
The proposals also include a $30 million cut to the University System of Maryland and a $16 million cut to community colleges.
P.J. Hogan, a lobbyist for the university system and former Montgomery senator, said that "nothing is off the table" but that university leaders want to avoid a midyear tuition increase. "That's a real disruption in the middle of a year for a student," Hogan said.
In Virginia, Kaine will unveil several hundred million dollars in spending cuts as well as other budget reductions.
