WTOP: Maintenance of Effort about half of projected $143 million shortfall

WTOP:  Montgomery County council examining layoff possibilities
Kate Ryan

ROCKVILLE, Md. - It's early in the budget process, but Montgomery County already sees a $143 million budget gap. And the county's Director of Budget and Management Joseph Beach tells WTOP layoffs are likely...

...Council members have already made it clear the school systems will be examined for budget solutions. Specifically, they are troubled by the steep cost of Maryland's "Maintenance of Effort," a funding formula that requires counties to maintain spending levels on education.

During Tuesday's hearing, councilmember Marc Elrich quizzed Beach about how much the Maintenance of Effort contributed to the projected $143 million shortfall. Beach told Elrich it made up about half of the deficit.

Last year, Montgomery County asked for a waiver of the Maintenance of Effort by the State Department of Education. That request was denied, and state legislative action reversed that decision.

This year, Montgomery County officials intend to get the law changed permanently...