LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Sept. 1, 2009)—St. Mary's County Government has instituted a hiring freeze. County officials say the freeze is necessary because of "significant budget cuts at the state level."
Public Safety positions will be exempt from the freeze; Deputy Sheriffs, Correctional Officers and Emergency 911 Communications Specialists. Appointed positions within the State's Attorney's Office and the Circuit Court are also exempt.
Governor Martin O'Malley (D) has outlined more than $450 million in budget reductions and $210 million of these cuts will be passed to local county governments. The reduction to St. Mary's County is approximately $4.3 million.
"This amount is significant, especially because the current budget is already $3.3 million below last year's budget," said John Savich, County Administrator in a statement. "Our County already sustained cuts of $4 million from the state; this new reduction brings the total decrease to the County's FY10 budget from the State to over $8 million."
Savich said his office is reviewing all county government spending to see what other items might be deferred, reduced or eliminated.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the FY10 budget in May 2009; the budget book is available for review at the Public Information Office and is posted to the website at www.stmarysmd.com. Click on Finance under the Government box.