Leggett Draws Up $49 Million In Fast Cuts

County Hiring, Bus Service, Schools Among the Targets

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett recommended $49 million in midyear budget trims yesterday that would affect nearly all aspects of government service -- from a dozen Ride On bus routes to senior centers to after-school activities for teenagers to ambulance transport.

Leggett's proposal, which would require the approval of the County Council, is a first step in trying to close a projected $250 million shortfall for fiscal 2010. He urged council members to act quickly.

"If you don't start making savings now, the options become much more limited," said Leggett (D).

The package would affect county residents of all ages. A program that provides in-home help to about 48 elderly residents would be eliminated by March; public libraries would have about 12 percent less money to purchase books, magazines and other materials; three senior centers would close for three additional days a year; and teenagers would have fewer county-sponsored recreation options.

Council member Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) said she was most alarmed by a $250,000 trim that would result in 75 fewer households receiving rental assistance during a time when foreclosures are on the rise.

"A lot of these reductions can give you heartburn," she said. "The reality is, we need to tighten our belt."

The proposed cuts come as Leggett talks with local union leaders about rolling back planned raises for employees and asks county workers to stay home without pay for at least two days. But even if union leaders agree to shave about $120 million in salaries, Leggett and the council would still have a way to go to close the budget gap. The options are more limited this year because Leggett has said he will not recommend that the council exceed Montgomery's limit on property tax revenue as it did last spring.

Much of the savings in Leggett's plan would come from delays in filling vacant government jobs, postponing the purchase of new equipment and cutting back on travel expenses. The changes are expected to increase workloads for employees and in some cases increase response times to service requests.

About 40 percent of the cuts, or $19.4 million, would come from the public school system, which accounts for more than half of the county's $4.3 billion budget. But school officials said they are unlikely to reach Leggett's target, in part because of higher-than-expected student enrollment. The system has enacted a strict hiring and spending freeze to help save about $3 million.

"Just like last year, we're going to try," Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said. "But it doesn't look like it will be anywhere close to $20 million."

Montgomery residents who ride county buses would be affected by the proposed changes starting in April. Ride On would eliminate weekend service on some routes in addition to some midday service between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Council members are likely to resist parts of the almost $2 million in proposed cuts to fire and emergency services and $2.4 million in planned reductions to the police department. Leggett would redeploy staff at various fire stations, reducing the number of people assigned to Laytonsville, removing an ambulance in Silver Spring and significantly scaling back service in Hyattstown and Glen Echo.

The police department would reduce from 20 to 15 the number of police officer candidates in the January recruit class, increasing the number of vacant spots.

Council member Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), who chairs the public safety committee, said he wants more information about whether reductions would require additional overtime, eliminating the potential savings.