But, he cautioned, the economic crisis should force governments to look for efficiency in operations. "There is always room to cut in the budget," he said.
Roy G. Meyers, a professor of political science at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, pointed to the county's cash reserves, diverse economy and its relative wealth as factors in its ability to avoid cutbacks.
"Baltimore County ... has a strong bond rating and low debt service," said Meyers, who served on the county's spending affordability committee this year.
In Baltimore, Mayor Sheila Dixon has proposed laying off as many as 153 workers, closing recreation centers and swimming pools, and reducing library hours. Other proposed cost savings include a switch to once-weekly trash collection and an end to a Police Athletic League program designed to foster relationships between youngsters and officers.
In Harford County, Executive David R. Craig submitted a budget proposal that calls for many county employees to take five unpaid furlough days. The spending plan includes no pay increases for county workers.
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold said his county is set to eliminate more than 100 vacant jobs, as well as dip into its $46 million rainy day fund for the first time as it tries to avoid layoffs.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said he expects that his budget will call for 12 or fewer layoffs and that he is considering furloughs for employees starting in July. He said there could also be reductions in services.
Baltimore County will stay well within its spending affordability limits and can proceed with planned capital projects, despite the loss of almost $37 million in state funding that the General Assembly announced last week, said Smith, a Democrat.
"We based this budget in light of those cuts and the revenues anticipated, all of which are lower than in the past," he said, noting a marked decline in revenue from the real estate title and recordation fees and the transfer tax, all tied to the slumping housing market. But he stressed that past revenue from those sources was used for one-time projects, not continuing expenses.
The proposed budget contains $33 million from those sources for capital projects, compared with $138 million in this year's budget.
The county has also set aside about $13 million to augment its pension fund and to mitigate losses from the underperforming investments in this fiscal year.
