 County Executive Baker speaks with a reporter following a news conference about the FY 2017 budget.
County Executive Rushern L. Baker III’s released his FY 2017 Budget to the County Council on March 10. The proposed operating budget is $3.70 billion, an increase of $160.8 million or 4.5% over the FY 2016 budget. If approved, County employees, for the first time in years, will receive merit increases. The budget earmarks $1 million to integrate domestic violence services into the communities where they are needed most. The budget also calls for the hiring of 150 new police officers, 15 additional school crossing guards, 70 new Fire and EMS personnel and 25 new deputy sheriffs. VIDEO. More..
Must-see interviews with County Executive Baker following the budget release, in which he addresses the County’s FY 2017 proposed budget, developments in the Maryland General Assembly, the new Regional Medical Center, the Purple Line, FBI Headquarters' relocation, as well as the tragic recent incidents of domestic violence related homicides and child sex abuse on:
NewsChannel8’s NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt.
WAMU’s Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood.
With just 5 weeks left in the legislative session, several bills that are important to Prince George's are advancing through the Maryland General Assembly.
Of the highest priority to the County is House Bill 309, Prince George's County Regional Medical Center Act
of 2016, which is poised for passage in the next few days. This legislation will secure the State’s
contribution toward construction of a new Regional Medical Center in the County and will
speed up the process for regulatory approvals that are
needed to get the projects ultimate greenlight. A similar Senate Bill has already passed in that chamber.
Other legislation of interest advanced closer toward
passage this week including SB 322, Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Program -
Eligibility Awareness Campaign. Many
homeowners are unaware that they are eligible for tax reductions on their property if their homes are owner occupied
and they file a certification document with the State. SB 322 will require the State to
provide more outreach to homeowners so that they do not miss taking advantage of
tax breaks that could shave significant amounts of their property tax each
year. SB 322 obtained passage in the
Maryland Senate and now will be considered by the House.
Another bill designed to strengthen the preparation and
training for teachers in our schools also took another step toward
passage. SB 493, the Teacher Induction,
Retention, and Advancement Act of 2016 This bill establishes a Teacher
Induction, Retention, and Advancement Program for first-year teachers. Participants would be afforded at least 20% more time than other
teachers to be spent on mentoring, peer observation, assistance with planning, or
other preparation activities.
 Facepainting at a Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative event in Bladensburg in 2014.
The County's Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative was featured during a recent panel discussion at the Intercultural Management Institute (IMI) conference. Police Chief Hank Stawinski and Linda M. Turner, Manager, Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative, participated in the discussion at American University. IMI promotes cultural understanding through innovative and dynamic intercultural communication training.
In other TNI news, the Glassmanor/Oxon Hill TNI Team recently kicked off a job readiness program called “Skills to Pay the Bills” at Potomac High School. It includes five sessions that run through March 22. For more information about other TNI sites throughout the County, click here.
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