Smoke And Mirrors, Or Hard Reality?

Budget wonks start picking over O'Malley's budget

County Budget Director John Hammond sat in his office late Thursday excavating through Gov. Martin O'Malley's budget.

Hammond didn't like what he was finding.

He questioned the governor's plan to transfer to the counties the burden of paying about half of teachers' pensions.

Will the $17 million count toward the county obligation for school funding?

He challenged the state's plan to help Anne Arundel pay for pensions, calling $3.4 million in one part of the budget a "shell game," and $4.5 million in another part of a "smoke and mirrors" budget.

O'Malley is aware of the criticism.

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