O’Malley calls for deep cuts after MontCo Dems nix slots

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley directed state agencies Thursday to trim hundreds of millions of dollars from their current budgets, the morning after Montgomery County Democrats rejected his push to use slots to help with future budget problems.

O’Malley told department directors to identify cuts representing up to 5 percent of their current year budgets, saying he will bring the proposed reductions before the Board of Public Works on Oct. 15. Earlier this month, the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates projected 2009 revenues will fall more than $400 million short of estimates.