Montgomery County Council members are pledging to scale back spending in coming years, two weeks removed from the most dramatic budget fix in the county’s history.
Council members Monday began studying budget plans through fiscal 2016, hoping to develop a blueprint that will keep them from using one-time money to fill county coffers.
They also want to replenish reserves as they await word about a potential downgrade of the county’s bond rating. They are considering raising reserves to 10 percent of tax-supported revenue during the next decade.
The political leaders concede it will require sacrifices across county agencies, many of which are already fuming over cuts.
“What we have been doing is unsustainable,” said Duchy Trachtenberg, D-at large.
“It’s something we’ve never had to get our arms around before,” said Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, D-Silver Spring, of padding reserves. “It will completely change the way we construct the budget in this county.”
County officials hope to submit a budget plan to the council by the end of the month.
