County budget cuts could hit fire department, bus service

Residents would pay more and get less under county government cost-savings recommendations suggested in a memo released Friday evening from Montgomery’s top elected official to council members.

Montgomery Council President Mike Knapp said he plans a quick response to County Executive Ike Leggett’s proposal, which would reduce the size of the next class of police recruits by 25 percent and delay opening a Silver Spring clinic for the uninsured while increasing fees for county bus service and towed cars. The county is facing a $401 million budget gap for the fiscal year that begins in July.