Maryland Briefing

MONTGOMERY FIREFIGHTERS

Union Agrees to Forgo Cost-of-Living Raise

The union representing Montgomery County's career firefighters said yesterday that it has agreed to forgo a 4 percent cost-of-living pay raise as part of an agreement to help close the county's more than $550 million budget shortfall for fiscal 2010. Under the deal reached Monday with County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), firefighters join Montgomery's teachers, police officers and other government workers in giving up cost-of-living raises.

Before Leggett released his budget blueprint in March, firefighters had agreed to defer, but not give up, cost-of-living raises. Leggett was worried that the deferral of one union's raises would unwind the deals struck with other employee unions, and he decided not to fund the raises in his budget.

A labor relations referee sided with Leggett's move after his decision was challenged by the firefighters. Under the new agreement, the two parties will ask the labor relations administrator to vacate his March decision, and if the request is granted, the union will drop its appeal. Another element of the deal requires shared sacrifice. Leggett and his appointed senior managers must also give up pay raises. Leggett's salary would have risen in December by $4,000, to $175,000.

"We believe that the county's elected officials should lead by example," said John Sparks, president of the Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters union. And Leggett does, too. In February, he said that there would be no general raises for senior managers and that he would forgo a raise, spokesman Patrick Lacefield said.

-- Ann E. Marimow

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

Debate on Mall Casino Plan Is Delayed Again

The Anne Arundel County Council has voted to delay debate on whether to allow a casino at Arundel Mills mall.

The council's vote Monday puts off debate until May 18. The bill expires in June, and it's the second time the council has delayed discussion on the zoning bill.

Baltimore-based developer Cordish has proposed a 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex at Arundel Mills to house restaurants, a venue for live entertainment and a casino with 4,750 slot machines.