Prince George's County Council Unanimously Adopts $2.7 Billion Balanced Budget

The Prince George’s County Council adopted a $2.7 billion balanced budget for fiscal year 2013, including a $1.6 billion education budget that accounts for 62 percent of available county revenue for the year.

The education budget will provide support for technology improvement and classroom upgrades, as well as $19.6 million to account for the teacher pension cost that shifted from the state to the county.

The council also reduced the recordation tax increase for new home purchases by half of what was originally proposed; added 20 county firefighters and increased funding for training, allotted $5 million for pedestrian safety projects, and increased Summer Youth Program funding.

Earlier this year, County Executive Rushern L. Baker . But that shortfall shrunk to as low as $5 million after a special session was called in Annapolis this month that resulted in more funding to jurisdictions like Prince George's County.

“As One Prince George’s County, we made sacrifices, adjusted expectations, and focused sound financial management decisions on the services citizens expect and deserve, and we achieved a FY 2013 County Budget that emphasizes our shared priorities for job creation and a thriving economy, quality education, access to quality, affordable healthcare, and safer communities,” said Council Chair Andrea Harrison (Dist. 5) in a press release.

The budget also included a one-time salary bonuses to county employees and $1 million of support for the Prince George’s African-American Museum and Cultural Center at North Brentwood.

This information was gathered from a press released issued by the Prince George's County Council.