Carroll schools are expected to take the biggest hit as the county loses $8.5 million in state aid.
But Carroll could be facing a larger cut of nearly $15 million, as the General Assembly needs to carve out an additional $220 million to cover the deficit, Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski said at a commissioners? meeting Thursday.
“There?s no way I can sit here and tell you this is good news, but it could be worse,” he said. “It isn?t over yet.”
To accommodate the nearly $5 million loss, the schools system may have to limit teachers? salaries and benefits, which make up about 80 percent of its budget, said Superintendent Chuck Ecker.
“It may be a difficult year in negotiations. I really don?t want to reduce the number of teachers to provide for other things,” he said.
“We?re goingto have to see if the county government can replace things, which I don?t think they can, because they have other areas to worry about.”
Carroll?s reduced portion of Program Open Space, a fund to buy and develop parkland, is not expected to affect the parks? operations, but the park system will not grow, said Jeff Degitz, head of Carroll?s parks and recreation.
The county?s possible loss of nearly $15 million would only be about $2 million short of Gov. Martin O?Malley?s “doomsday” budget, according O?Malley?s cuts proposal in October.
“We can?t simply absorb $15 million, or even $8 1/2 million,” Zaleski said.
