Facing the tightest Maryland budget in years, Gov. Martin O’Malley handed the bulk of the responsibility for school improvements back to the counties Monday, hinting locales rich or poor will need to step up where state funding falls short.
In a speech at the newly completed Bladensburg High School in Prince George’s County, the governor highlighted the $20.2 million allotted to the county’s schools in the most recent handout of capital improvement funds. However, that amount was far less than the county had hoped for. Similarly, neighboring Montgomery County received $20.3 million but faced the same disappointment.
In response, O’Malley cited solutions brought on by a tight budget several years ago: “As the state withdrew from its commitment then, the county started stepping up.”
But counties today have troubles of their own. In recent months, both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties have announced budget shortfalls and hiring freezes.
Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson was with the governor. In an interview with The Examiner, Johnson warned of future taxes in order to raise money for education.
“We can’t do education on the cheap,” Johnson said.
In addition Johnson said budget shortfalls beyond the $60 million announced earlier this month would be detailed in early March. The initial shortage, he said, “will carry into next year, and we’ll have some revenue shortfalls as well.”
Montgomery County, the sixth-wealthiest in the nation based on the most recent census data, received $20.3 million from the state for school construction funding.
Council President Mike Knapp said given the disparity between what the county requested and what it received, it may need to consider “creative” forms of local funding.
Knapp said one alternative could be using public-private partnerships in which developers could be offered enticements if they agreed to help build new schools.
Examiner Staff Writer Kathleen Miller contributed to this story.
A matter of perspective
Maryland school building funds are doled out to counties after local governments make their requests to lawmakers. County governments then set their expectations for state cash lower as they make their own budgets. This year those expectations weren’t low enough.
Montgomery County:
» Requested: $132.8 million
» Initially budgeted by county: about $55 million
» Received: $20.3 million
Prince George’s County:
» Requested: $152.6 million
» Initially budgeted by county: about $30 million
» Received: $20.2 million
