Cops: Exec trying to end $4M benefits package

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith is urging lawmakers to delete $4 million for county cops in his proposed budget despite a legally binding obligation to include it, police leaders said.

Police leaders blasted Smith for meeting with council members and asking them to remove from his proposed 2009 budget a benefits package awarded to the county?s police union by an arbitrator. The Democrat included the award in a “contingency account” to avoid exceeding a spending cap and force council members to choose between the award and making spending cuts, they said.