Facing an estimated $85 million in cuts to state aid, Baltimore County officials are rallying behind Gov. Martin O?Malley?s plan to close Maryland?s $1.7 billion deficit ? even if that means bringing slots to the county, theysaid.

The governor?s “doomsday” budget released this week identifies slashed open-space grants, community college funding, and frozen teacher and librarians? retirements, among other losses, if lawmakers do not approve his tax and slots proposal during a special session next week.