The Prince George’s County Council has received the Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for FY 2013 from County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.  The County Council maintains that successfully addressing the County’s budget priorities in Fiscal Year 2013 demands creative and careful management of the County’s finances, and we value the great vision and focus, hard work and dedication of County Executive Baker and his budget staff in the assembly of the proposed spending plan.

Fiscal Year 2013 is shaping up to be yet another challenging budget season, and critical budget decisions in the General Assembly, which could significantly impact the fiscal picture in Prince George’s County, are still pending.  As One Prince George’s County, however, we will continue to make sacrifices, adjust expectations, and focus sound fiscal management decisions on the services citizens expect and deserve.

As the County’s Fiscal Authority, we are working together with the County Executive and all stakeholders to achieve a FY 2013 fiscal plan that emphasizes our shared priorities for job creation and a thriving economy, quality education, access to quality, affordable healthcare, and safer communities; maintains our commitment to a conservative fiscal approach; and expands the County’s commercial tax base.

The County Council considers our role in the budget process, as outlined in the County Charter, to be among the most important duties of the Legislative Branch.  Over the next few months, Council Members will engage in a page-by-page review of the proposed FY 2013 Budget before final adoption on or before June 1, as mandated by the County Charter.  In addition to the Council’s committee work and staff review of the budget, public engagement is a critical component of our budget review process.  County residents are invited to participate in the Council’s offsite Budget Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 26, 2012, at Prince George’s Community College, Rennie Forum, 7-9 p.m., in Largo.   Several public hearings and meetings are also planned.  The major hearing dates are as follows:

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Budget - April 10, 2012, 1:30 p.m.

Community Development Block Grant - April 16, 2012, 7:00 p.m.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Budget - April 24, 2012,   7:00 p.m.

County FY 2013 Budget and Capital Improvement Budget - May 1 and May 7, 2012,  7:00 p.m.

Budget Adoption (Tentative) - May 24, 2012

All budget public hearings are held in the Council Hearing Room, First Floor, County Administration Building, 14741 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro.   To testify, contact the Clerk of the Council at 301.952.3600, TDD 301, 925.5167.   Budget work sessions and public hearings are taped and aired on Prince George’s Community Television.  Meeting dates and times are subject to change.  For updates, visit   http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/LegislativeBranch/budget_fy2013.asp
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