Montgomery County agencies are facing a fourth straight year of cutting back as they prepare their fiscal 2013 budgets, though officials say the cuts likely will be minimal — a relief after three years of major downsizing. County departments have been asked to prepare to cut 2 percent from their operating budgets in the coming fiscal year. Fire and Rescue Services, the Police Department and Health and Human Services have been asked to cut 1 percent. For some departments, the downsizing will mean eliminating services, Chief Administrative Officer Tim Firestine said in a memo.

The requested cutbacks do not include changes made to salaries and employee benefits, which make up 80 percent of the county’s budget and are currently being discussed in contract negotiations with the county unions. They exclude Montgomery County Public Schools, which comprises about half of the county’s operating budget.