In her State of the County Budget Address Wednesday, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks presented her proposed FY24 budget for the county.
Alsobrooks spoke in a ballroom to a crowd of invited guests, offering a reality check that hard choices are ahead, largely because of mandatory increases in spending on schools.
Alsobrooks said the budget is designed to grow the local economy and to upgrade critical government services for county residents with people-centered investments.
“The investments we’re making in the FY 2024 budget create a financial foundation that will allow us to meet the immediate needs of residents and ensure our County can prosper in the future,” Alsobrooks said.
On March 2, Alsobrooks joined 7News live on air to preview the budget, which includes funding for several of Alsobrooks' key goals like education, youth development, and fighting violent crime.
Alsobrooks took much of her speech Wednesday to say she disagrees with those who want to cut services or raise taxes. She’s increasing the police budget, for instance, by 6.2%.
Instead she is hoping to grow the commercial tax base primarily in the so called blue line corridor.
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The budget is tight due to several challenges, Alsobrooks said, and includes a 6.6% increase over the FY 2023 budget.
Of note, 82% of the proposed budget would go to public safety and schools. Alsobrooks said $2.79 billion was set aside for Prince George's County Public Schools.
Nearly half of all new spending will meet the obligations legally mandated by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, known as the Kirwan plan.
“We fully support the core tenets of Kirwan that promise to propel Maryland’s children to the top, including early childhood education, high quality diverse teachers and leaders, a focus on college and career readiness, more resources for students, and greater accountability,” Alsobrooks said. “However, the legally mandated funding requirements charge communities that have more vulnerable children like ours extra.”
You can see the FY 2024 Proposed Budget in Brief on the County Office of Management and Budget’s website.
Here are the highlights of Alsobrooks’ FY 2024 proposed budget:
Education/Youth Development
- Board of Education - $2.79 billion
- Increase of $161.9 million, or 6.2%, over FY 2023
- County contribution is $953.4 million, an increase of $88.4 million, or 10.4%, over FY 2023
- Includes $15 million for the Alternative Construction Finance program
- Prince George’s Community College - $131.6 million
- Prince George’s County Memorial Library System - $37.6 million
- Youth development programs like Summer Youth Enrichment Program - $2.5 million
Safe Neighborhoods
- Prince George’s County Police Department - $394.7 million
- Increase of 6.2% over last year
- Includes four new recruit classes for a total of 120 officers
- Continued funding of $640,000 for recruitment incentives for new officers
- Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department - $259.7 million
- Includes three new recruit classes for a total of 80 firefighters
- Vision Zero Prince George’s - $41 million
- Supports outreach and various road safety improvements/projects
Environment/Beautification
- Stormwater Management Fund - $113.2 million
- Increase of $16 million over FY 2023
- Programs help combat climate change and mitigate flooding
- Stormwater Management Capital Improvement Program - $141.5 million
- Funds multiple flood protection projects
- Clear the Curb - $135.5 million
- Includes continued rollout of countywide curbside composting program, reaching all households with County trash and recycling by end of 2023
- Includes improved curbside bulky trash program
- Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund - $20.7 million
- 13 new hires in Department of the Environment - $1.2 million
- Litter reduction/beautification programs - $9.9 million
- Includes enhanced street sweeping and litter removal services in the Department of Public Works & Transportation
Affordable Housing
- Preserving and creating affordable housing - $45.25 million
- Includes $22.6 million to fund new affordable housing for families and seniors
- Includes funding to shelter those experiencing homelessness
Economic Development
- Economic development agencies funding - $15.4 million
- Procurement and assistance programs for businesses - $17.8 million
- Increases procurement opportunities and assistance programs across multiple agencies for local, small, and minority-owned businesses
- Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement - $3.9 million
- Supports new hires and IT initiatives to improve permitting services
Health & Human Services
- Health Department - $35.3 million
- Includes 3 new positions
- Behavioral Health Programs - $23.2 million
- Supports mental health and addiction care programs for residents
- Office of Veterans Affairs - $548,700
- Increased funding from FY 2023 to better serve County veterans