Montgomery County’s top elected official gave up 15 years of opposition to slots Thursday, announcing he will support a state ballot measure that would bring thousands of the machines to Maryland because he believes they will help budget problems.

County Executive Ike Leggett said in a written statement that he would vote for the measure “due to a lack of other viable options.” He said he worries that absent slots, the state would make budget cuts that would fall disproportionately on Montgomery County residents, specifically the poorest and most vulnerable. Maryland is facing a potential $1 billion budget shortfall in the next fiscal year, and Montgomery County’s top elected official gave up 15 years of opposition to slots Thursday, announcing he will support a state ballot measure that would bring thousands of the machines to Maryland because he believes they will help budget problems.