By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy announced a $5.92 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027 that addresses a $170-million structural deficit while protecting core government services. Braveboy said the FY 2027 budget will address needs that county residents depend on government to provide while positioning the county for strategic economic success.
‘‘By aligning investments with the County’s strategic priorities, we ensure that every dollar contributes to building a stronger and fiscally disciplined Prince George’s County,” Braveboy said on March 12, as the budget was released to the County Council.
Braveboy’s FY 2027 budget represents a 2 percent increase over the previous year and developed after three resident listening sessions throughout the county. Braveboy emphasized investments in six key areas in the $5.92 billion budget that must be adopted by the County Council by June 1 for implementation on July 1 of this year.
Six key budget priorities
The FY 2027 budget prioritizes education, public safety, economic growth and development, environmental services and sustainability, equitable communities and transportation and infrastructure.
Education
Braveboy’s education request for $2.97 billion represents the largest single expenditure in the proposed budget. Education requests include a $968 million direct contribution from the County to meet requirements of the Kirwan Commission, $144 million for Prince George’s County Community College, $42 million for the Alternative Construction Financing Program that will facilitate the delivery of eight new schools, and $1 million for the Summer Youth Enrichment Program.
Public safety
The budget proposes $435.5 million for Prince George’s County Police Department to cover the cost of 150 new recruits, purchase of new body-worn cameras and tasers and increased investments in community policing. Another $325.9 million would go to the Fire and Emergency Management Department, to include the hiring of 100 recruits and 22 new civil service employees. The Department of Corrections is slated to receive $106.2 million, to include the cost of hiring 50 new recruits, while the Office of the Sheriff, is expected to receive $5 million. The budget includes funding for Homeland Security, which is slated to receive $58.3 million for emergency preparedness. There is also $30.6 million allocated for the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Braveboy announced the County’s police department was finally getting the upper hand in public safety with a pool of residents to recruit.
“For the first time in many years, recruitment is outpacing attrition,” she announced at budget meetings with residents. “And the icing on the cake is that nearly 60 percent of our recruits are from right here in Prince George’s County,” a trend she hopes would continue in recruitment across the county’s public safety agencies.
Economic Growth and Development
There is $27.6 million, including $21.2 million for the Housing Investment Trust Fund to support new and existing workforce and affordable housing. In addition, $1.5 million has been allotted for a local business assistance program.
Environmental services and sustainability
The budget slates $204.5 million for the stormwater management fund, which will cover $43 million for the Climate Action Plan, $3 million for tree trimming removal and maintenance, $2.6 million for clean lots waste removal, and $1.8 million for street sweeping and mowing on county right-of-way areas.
Equitable Communities
Roughly $138 million is slated to cover health and human services needs, including $83.8 million capital investments for emergency and transitional shelters, $89.9 million for Public Health, $27.9 million for Department of Social Services, $21.1 million for Department of Family Services (to include veterans’ services).
Transportation and Infrastructure
There is a $25.5 million allotment for road and curb rehabilitation projects in the proposed budget, including $15 million for emergency operations in extreme weather, $4.8 million bus stop improvements and $925,000 for additional bikeshares and maintenance.
County Council Chairperson Krystal Oriadha is ready to lead the legislative body through the budget deliberation process. She noted the work done by the Executive Branch to rein in the county’s initial predictions of an estimated $170 million deficit due in part to the loss of revenue from federal job cuts, and the departure of Six Flags and the Washington Commanders.
“I’m encouraged to see early fiscal progress, including a reduction in our deficit, and I look forward to digging into the details in the weeks ahead,” Oriadha said of the current budget showing a $2 million deficit.
“I am confident that the strong working relationship between the Council and the County Executive will ensure the FY 27 budget keeps the needs of Prince George’s County residents at its center,” Oriadha added.