A Senate budget subcommittee pared Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposed spending increases by about $23 million Monday, a drop in the bucket compared with the $300 million in reductions lawmakers are seeking.
The amount includes about $7 million from the judiciary budget, and 53 positions in the Division of Parole and Probation.
“I?m hoping that we?ve taken enough that we don?t have to go back and revisit” other recommended cuts, said its chairman, Sen. James Ed DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County Democrat.
O?Malley was hopeful legislators would not undermine his new priorities.
“When we have to come up with $100 million, $200 million, $300 million in cuts, it?s going to be a very difficult process,” O?Malley said.
At the recommendation of budget analysts, the subcommittee cut the parole and probation agents because it was thought the agency, which has more than 100 vacancies, could not fill the slots.
“We?re going to prove them wrong,” Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Maynard told The Examiner. “I don?t think we?ll have any problem” filling the 100 current vacancies by June. Maynard pointed out that there had been a hiring freeze in state government.
Although the slots were cut, the subcommittee approved the $2.1 million to fund the positions, allowing the agency to fill more of its current vacancies, analysts said.
The subcommittee also cut more than 50 positions from the judicial system, which had asked for one of the largest percentage increases in new positions in state government. The panel also cut the $345,000 proposed for an attendance incentive program “established to encourage employees to report to work on a regular, dependable basis,” analysts said.
“I can?t recall seeing that before,” DeGrange said.
