Counties Nip, Tuck Budgets

Facing State Shortfall, S. Maryland Finds Cuts

County governments in Southern Maryland are finding ways to trim their budgets, absorbing cuts sent down from the state this summer.

St. Mary's County recently adjusted its budget by cutting more than $4 million in county operations, surpassing the $3.7 million needed. Charles County commissioners voted to reinstate $1.5 million for the Sheriff's Department but are still working with the sheriff and county schools to find additional savings. Calvert County has yet to finalize budget adjustments.

In St. Mary's, the commissioners came up with the funds by enacting a hiring freeze, reworking plans for capital projects and finding savings in insurance policies and elsewhere, said Elaine Kramer, the county's finance chief.

"Virtually everyone that had dollars to spend really contributed in some way, shape or form," Kramer said.

The additional savings will go into a reserve fund to prepare St. Mary's for further state cuts or other shortfalls, Kramer said.

"We've identified items that really didn't look appropriate to cut at this stage, but if revenue reductions come in the future, we already have tagged some items that might be reduced going forward," County Administrator John W. Savich said.

Charles County Commissioners President Wayne Cooper (D-At Large) said most of the departments charged with cutting their budgets by 3 percent to close the $5.5 million gap left from the state reductions have done so.

Commissioners also voted for a 10-day furlough for most county employees. They opted not to touch the budgets for the Health Department, College of Southern Maryland and local nonprofit groups.

The Sheriff's Department had $2.1 million in savings from the previous year, when the number of paid holidays for deputies and employees were reduced. Commissioners gave the department $1.5 million back so its employees would not have to take another furlough this year.

"They had already taken their furlough," Cooper said. "It didn't seem quite fair."

The majority of Calvert's department heads are scouring their budgets to find about $3.5 million in savings, said Timothy Hayden, the county's acting finance director. He said each department is looking to shave about 6 percent of its budget.