The Board of Public Works met Wednesday, and their finalized agenda included a pared-down list of proposed budget cuts. The largest item missing was a $6 million reduction to county "disparity grants" proposed last week. Following arguing against the cut, Governor Hogan and his budget staff withdrew that item from the slate of reductions, which then passed. MACo raised concerns that a legislative directive for counties to spend these funds on extra public school funding would result in an unfair outcome - counties funded the schools with the state aid, but would have to cut county programs if the mid-year reduction were effected.
MACo thanks the Governor and Board members for recognizing this difficulty, and adjusting the plans accordingly.
