INTERIM COUNTY EXECUTIVE PRESENTS FIRST DRAFT OF FY 2026 BUDGET TO COUNCIL
 On Thursday, March 13, Acting County Executive Tara Jackson presented her proposed draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the County Council.
The $5.8 billion proposed operating budget comes at a turbulent time, with a myriad of challenges and economic uncertainties. The county remains focused on prioritizing education, public safety, economic development, and core services residents depend on.
“The unprecedented actions at the federal level, including mass layoffs and funding cuts, pose a significant threat to our county and state,” said Council Chair Jolene Ivey (At-Large). “This is one of the most difficult budget years in recent history and there are some tough decisions to make, but we are committed to finding solutions and protecting essential services for our residents.”
Vice Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) spoke to reporters after the budget announcement.
 The Council will thoroughly analyze the budget, solicit input from the community, make necessary adjustments, and approve a final budget by June 1, 2025, as mandated by the County Charter. Fiscal Year 2026 begins on July 1, 2025.
To view the County Executive’s proposed budget, click here.
For updated information on the Council budget process, committee work sessions, and public hearings, visit the Council’s FY 26 Budget Portal.
BILL INTRODUCED TO REDUCE SPEEDING, IMPROVE SAFETY ON COUNTY ROADS
 On Tuesday, March 11, Council Vice Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Council Member Krystal Oriadha (District 7) introduced a bill aiming to streamline the process for traffic studies and safety measure implementations. If a Council Member alerts the Department of Public Works and Transportation to a stretch of road they deem to be dangerous, CB-19-2025 would require the department to study that road and respond to the Council Member within six months with a decision on whether to add traffic calming measures, like speed humps, or speed monitoring cameras. The department would also have to submit a plan and timeline for the installation of any necessary measures. Vice Chair Burroughs says Allentown Road in District 8 is the inspiration for this bill. He says multiple people have died on that road due to speeding and previous complaints from residents to DPW&T have gone unaddressed. The bill now heads to the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee for further discussion.
COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION AMENDING EMERGENCY ROOM WAIT TIMES TASK FORCE
Additionally on Tuesday, the Council adopted a resolution extending the timeline for the Emergency Wait Times Task Force’s final report. CR-006-2025, introduced by Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6), gives the task force until November 14, 2025, to present its final report. According to Council Member Blegay, the group has toured and received presentations from all nine emergency rooms in the county, compiling a large amount of data, and needs additional time to prepare its final report. The resolution also adds two new members to the task force, one from the County Police Department and one from the County Sheriff’s Office.
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COUNCIL AWARDS TWO PROCLAMATIONS IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
 In celebration of Women’s History Month, the County Council awarded proclamations to two outstanding community members on Tuesday. The first was presented to Modupe Olafunmiloye, a teacher at Kenmoor Middle School in Landover. The proclamation celebrates Ms. Olafunmiloye for earning the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
 The Council also awarded a proclamation to Shanay Wiggs, the owner of Topcurl Beauty Academy and Topcurl Salon in Mitchellville. Her training academy and employment practices fully embody the National Women’s History Alliance’s 2025 Women’s History Month theme of “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Congratulations to both on their incredible achievements!
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCISE TAX BILL MOVES FAVORABLY THROUGH COMMITTEE
 On Thursday, the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee moved favorably on CB-18-2025, a bill that would replace the county’s current 9% telecommunications sales and use tax with a flat excise tax of $3.50 per month, per phone line. Due to shifts in technology use over the last two decades, the annual revenue generated by the county’s telecommunications sales and use tax has declined by around $35 million. Montgomery County currently employs a similar excise tax of $3.50 and Baltimore City’s is $4. The new excise tax would generate a projected $51 million for the county in Fiscal Year 2026. 90% of the money generated is earmarked for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
PGCPS LEADERS UPDATE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
 On Monday, March 10, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Superintendent Millard House II and his leadership team briefed the Council’s Education and Workforce Development Committee. They highlighted the school district’s recent success in improving graduation rates and reducing chronic absenteeism. According to House, last year’s graduation rate among PGCPS students improved 6% over the previous year, the largest increase in the state of Maryland. The graduation rate grew more than 10% among Hispanic students and rose nearly 15% among all English as a second language (ESL) students.
Superintendent House also addressed recent challenges faced by the district, including a recent flu outbreak and concerns about federal immigration enforcement. With an uptick in flu cases and the passing of two PGCPS students, Superintendent House stressed the concerted effort of school officials to increase outreach, prevention, and promotion of the county’s flu shot distribution and flu vaccination clinics, offered through the Prince George’s County Health Department.
PGCPS Chief Financial Officer Lisa Howell also briefed the Committee on federal education funding and how changes could impact the district.
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