The Prince George’s County Ethics Board, which didn’t investigate a single complaint last year or even have a budget, is getting $166,500 a year under a revised spending plan for fiscal 2012.
The change is tucked into a revision by Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker of his proposed $2.6 billion budget.
The most noticeable changes in his budget are the cuts reflecting that the county will bring in less revenue than expected, including $5 million less in transfer and recordation taxes.
His revised budget includes chopping away at $5.4 million with measures like reducing the number of vehicles to be acquired by the county, cutting funding for a snow removal program with homeowner associations and delaying the start of recruiting classes for public safety officers.
But it also includes additional spending, like on the ethics board.
The money is in response to a new state law requiring the five-member Board of Ethics to meet individually with every elected official yearly as well as designate an executive director to run its day-to-day operations.
