Schools, roadways compete for funding

Montgomery County Council members kicked off full-council budget talks Tuesday as they work to fit nearly $55 million in new funding into a $3.9 billion budget for 2007.

Committees got a start on making up the difference by cutting $7.8 million from the county executive’s budget proposal. The final council budget is scheduled to be completed May 18. By then, all additions the council wants to make must be funded by cutting other programs.