Leggett Plan Seeks $23.6 Million in Cuts
Midyear Trim Addresses Big Deficit in Montgomery
By Miranda S. Spivack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 22, 2007; Page B01
Montgomery County's $4 billion government will need to trim social service programs, cut back on police and firefighter overtime and keep jobs vacant longer if a package of $23.6 million in savings recommended for the current fiscal year by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) wins approval from the County Council.
The popular Kids Ride Free program, which allows people 18 and younger to use the county's Ride-On bus system in the afternoons without paying, would be eliminated April 1. The opening of the Montgomery Cares program's new health clinic in Silver Spring could be delayed.
Caseloads for social service workers would increase, and lines for county services could grow. The new police recruit class, expected to begin training in January, would be reduced by 12, to 35 students.