Franchot defends salaries of 2 deputy comptrollers

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot on Monday defended his need for two deputy comptrollers who earn significantly more than top assistants in other state departments as lawmakers consider $700,000 in budget cuts to his office.

A House of Delegates committee reviewed seven recommended cuts on Monday, including $400,000 for a private tax-collection agency, but do not appear poised to eliminate Franchot?s deputies, as the comptroller predicted last week. Franchot on Thursday accused Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller of planning “draconian cuts” to his office in retaliation for his opposition to slot machines.