In Md. and Va., Signs Of the Tough Times: A 2.8% Reduction in Spending

Nelson Hernandez & Theresa Vargas:

The Prince George's County Board of Education last night approved a $1.6 billion budget that eliminates almost 800 jobs, while Arlington County's schools chief unveiled the first budget of his 12-year tenure with a reduction in total spending.

The actions showed anew how the economic recession is hitting home for Washington area school systems.

The Prince George's board unanimously endorsed a spending plan for the 128,000-student system that omits cost-of-living raises and some seniority-based salary increases for employees. The budget also rolls back several programs begun during the 2 1/2 year tenure of superintendent John E. Deasy, who left in December for another job.

Among other cuts, the budget developed by Interim Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. eliminates 144 positions for parent liaisons, who act as a bridge between parents and school staff. Two programs to bolster academic performance will be reduced. An initiative to split school administration into nine zones will be modified to five zones, and a program to train 10 resident principals will be eliminated.

Arlington does a nice job of keeping their current and historical budgets on one easy to use page. Madison's budget information page.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 27, 2009 10:36 AM
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