Prince George's County published “difficult” budget proposal of USD 5.7 billion

The only word in which the budget proposal of the 2026 financial year was published by the reigning County Executive by Prince George, Tara Jackson, when the word “challenge” was “difficult”.

During a budget announcement on Thursday afternoon, Jackson made it clear that things will probably change again thanks to “uncertainty” at both a state and federal level.

The proposal for the general fund budget of 4.78 billion US dollars corresponds to an increase in just more than 4% compared to the previous year – $ 193.1 million – and more than 80% of them are spent on covering education and public security. The rest of the district's agencies are confronted with budget cuts from last year, but this will not provide any layoffs or jobs at this point.

“This year is difficult,” said Jackson. “We know that we have to be extremely careful because of the unexpected. The unexpected additional costs, the unexpected loss of grants and the unexpected income loss – loss of income, which is probably due to the elimination of federal jobs. “

The budget does not contain any real estate or income tax increases. In fact, the only change in taxes includes telephone lines – both mobile radio lines and landline.

The residents currently pay a certain percentage of their entire telephone plan, similar to sales tax. It is a dollar a month for the average resident, although some inhabitants could pay less than one dollar, while others pay more.

The district council is currently under pressure to change this into a flat -rate consumption tax of USD 3.50 instead. This is expected to increase the sales of the district by 37 million US dollars and cost each resident around $ 42 a year.

Jackson also asks the council to delay the implementation of a new tax credit for seniors.

All of this is associated with impending uncertainty with regard to the effects of federal tasks and budget cuts on the district's income.

Jackson said it was still too early to determine the potential Fallout and these estimates have varied. In addition to possible loss of work and agency closures, there are also considerable federal granting that the district receives.

“At that moment we cannot know what this means in terms of loss of sales if people lose their work, but what we know is that there is uncertainty,” said Jackson. “And so if there is uncertainty, we have to be conservative.”

“We had to make difficult decisions”

In addition, the legislators of the state – including Maryland Governor Wes Moore – want to connect a budget to Annapolis by shifting the commissioned government spending on the back of the counties to the melody of $ 10 million.

At the same time, Jackson said that the governor's proposal to double the standard deduction and eliminate detailed state taxes will have negative effects on the district.

Sent in a letter to the governor at the beginning of this monthJackson argued when Moore's tax plan goes through, only Charles County would pay more residents in the next financial year. However, Prince George's County would have the slightest number of residents who received a tax increase.

“This imbalance lays an unfair burden for residents of the district,” she wrote.

During her announcement, Jackson said that she sympathized with the legislators of the state and the bond in which they are also located.

“We assume that our budget has a certain amount of displacements, but we said:” Look when you go beyond, it will really hurt us, “she said.

In particular, she pointed to the educational plan known as a blueprint for the financial suffering, which was faced with both state and local governments based on the prescribed expenditure.

“You have an educational plan that is expensive,” she said. “And we say it is expensive, but it is also expensive for the state.”

After the announcement, the deputy chairwoman Ed Burroughs, who often stood together with the administration of the former County Executive Angela, said, said Financial binding has the council and the district manager's office more than in the past.

“This is one of the most difficult budget in the recent history of our district” he said. “And it is expected to deteriorate every year after this budget.” How much worse will depend on what happens in Annapolis.

As soon as the legislator is refused to meet the meeting in the next month, Jackson must change the budget proposal to meet the numbers that legislators pass financially.

“Despite historical uncertainty, we had to make difficult decisions,” said Jackson. “We have made continued investments in education and public security and made necessary cuts in other areas. The residents will feel these cuts, but they will help us to maintain fiscal responsibility that is necessary to protect our community. “

Other budget notes

The budget proposal increases the education expenditure by almost 119 million US dollars up to 3.1 billion US dollars. The majority of this money goes to the district's public school system.

More than more than $ 200 million is assigned for the new school building, including several new high schools. Prince George's community and the district's library system are also increased.

Jackson's budget also includes a thrust of just over 29 million US dollars for Prince George's police department, with more than 100 new police officers being assigned money. The PGCPD would receive a total of around 424.3 million dollars in the budget.

Prince George's County Fire and Ems should receive almost 315 million US dollars, including money for 95 new recruits.

Get Breaking News and daily headlines that are delivered to your e -mail mailbox by registering here.

© 2025 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users in the European Economic Area.