Prince George’s County residents will get one last chance tonight to ask questions about the county’s proposed $2.3 billion operating budget for 2007.
Residents can speak out and ask questions about the spending plan during a County Council public hearing at 7 p.m. at the county administrative building in Upper Marlboro. The council has scheduled a May 25 vote on the budget.
John Erzen, a spokesman for the office of County Executive Jack Johnson, said this year’s proposed budget includes almost $179 million in new expenditures, which is 8.2 percent more than last year’s budget. Erzen said other differences are:
» $1.5 billion allotted to education, which represents the first time in 20 years the Board of Education’s budget has been fully funded.
» Reduction of income tax to 3.1 percent from 3.2 percent.
» Funds to purchase 240 police Ford Crown Victorias to replace smaller Chevrolet Luminas and Impalas.
The hearing also includes proposed budgets from the county Board of Education, the six-year capital program, the Redevelopment Authority, Revenue Authority and Industrial Development Authority of Prince George’s County.
To speak up
To comment on the proposed 2007 budget for Prince George’s County, speaking reservations are recommended. Call 301-952-3600 to reserve a time. To submit written comment, fax 301-952-5178 and follow up with a signed, original copy of the comments mailed to the Clerk of the County Council, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, County Administration Building, Room 2198, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.
