The Prince George’s County Council passed its budget yesterday and restored nonprofit funding that had been in jeopardy (WaPo, 5/27):
The spending plan gives the nine council members $100,000 each to hand out to nonprofit groups based in their districts; the executive branch will allocate other funds.
How and where that money goes is not certain; Baker plans to establish standards that his office hopes to announce in a few weeks. The council, meanwhile, leaves it to each of the council members to set up his or her own system to distribute the money, said the council’s chairman, Ingrid Turner (D-Bowie).
Education spending is down slightly, but the budget will likely allow the county’s school system to avoid previously proposed teacher layoffs.
JUST CONFIRMED: WRAG members, join us on June 30th for a conversation on public education reform in Prince George’s County with County Executive Rushern Baker and Superintendent William Hite.
THE DISTRICT | Last night, the D.C. Council held a meeting about redrawing ward lines based on the latest census data. It didn’t go well. “When a hearing ends with Council member Marion Barry threatening to recite the alphabet, while other members are either trying to ignore him or cut his mic off, you know it’s been a contentious meeting, even by District standards. ” (WAMU, 5/27)
Here’s a video. Watch Jack Evans stick his face in his hands in frustration. What a show.
BRAC | House approves Mark Center changes sought by Virginia (Examiner, 5/27) Delays the transfer of thousands of workers by one year.
TRANSIT | Metro is set to fail locals and tourists alike this weekend as it closes Capitol Hill stations on the Blue/Orange line and has single-tracking on huge portions of the Red line. (WaPo, 5/27)
Hope you all enjoy the long weekend – it’s going to be a hot one! Be sure to take a few moments to remember the men and women who died while serving our country. See you on Tuesday.
