Published: October 10, 2008 09:15 am         

Outlook bleak

County freezes all hiring as state outlines potential cuts

Allegany County government’s decision to freeze hiring and curtail other spending may be just the first step in what could prove to be a painful journey.

Acting upon the recommendation of County Administrator Vance Ishler, the commissioners on Thursday said they would stop new hires, promotions and contractual upgrades unless they gave “special approval.”

The announcement came on the same day that The Baltimore Sun reported on a state memo outlining potential budget cuts by Gov. Martin O’Malley.

Among options and potential savings being weighed by the state are:

• Six-day unpaid leave for state employees, $48 million.

• Reduction in K-12 education premium for high-cost areas, $37.9 million.

• Freeze funding for community colleges, $16.3 million.

• 25 percent cut for local jails, $6 million.

• Freeze child-care subsidies for working poor, $5.3 million.

• 25 percent cut in monthly temporary disability assistance, $4.8 million.

• State police trooper hiring freeze, $4.5 million.

• 1 percent cut in community mental health services, $3.6 million.

• Eliminate 283 vacant correctional officer positions, $2.9 million.

Last month, Gov. O’Malley said the state faces a $432 million revenue shortfall that could rise to nearly $1 billion in the next fiscal year.

If those projections hold true, the possible budget cuts being mentioned now will be only the beginning.