Counties, School Boards Try To Fend Off More State Budget Cuts

With targets on their backs for more cuts in state aid, Maryland counties and school boards are trying to show legislators that they’ve trimmed their own operations to the bone as state deficits continue and federal stimulus dollars dry up.

Like the state government, counties and school boards have foregone most raises, furloughed employees, cut back expenses and entered into joint procurement agreements for everything from electricity and copy paper to cars and tracks.

In exchange for their efforts, representatives of local governments and school system told state lawmakers Thursday they want to avoid further cuts in state aid and asked to change some requirements in state law that unnecessarily cost them money.

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