Lawmakers in Maryland’s most populous jurisdiction are set to approve a $5.9 billion budget for fiscal 2021 on Thursday that maintains existing spending levels and tax rates.
In the face of projected revenue shortfalls linked to the coronavirus crisis, the Montgomery County Council trimmed about $70 million from the budget proposed by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) in March, rejecting large spending increases in education and affordable housing.
Unlike in the District or in Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County, where top officials have adapted their budget proposals to address revenue holes, Elrich has not released a savings plan for the projected loss of up to $600 million caused by stringent business shutdowns.
The budget that lawmakers are scheduled to adopt on Thursday maintains “continuity of operations” and does not include major cuts in spending, which are likely to come in the form of amendments in coming months, officials warn.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Rebecca Tan over at the Washington Post