County budget briefing warns of state shortfall; council approves joint legislative priorities seeking hospital, housing and flood funds

Prince George's County received an overview Jan. 14 of the 2025 state budget outlook and approved a joint letter to its state legislative delegation requesting targeted capital and operating assistance, including hospital expansions, affordable housing preservation funding and flood mitigation projects.

The presentation and ensuing discussion focused on a projected structural shortfall in Maryland’s finances and a set of county priorities to ask state leaders to fund or help fund this year.

Budget outlook presented to council Darryl Barnes and Jimmy Tarlow of Barnes International told the committee the state faces a difficult fiscal picture. Barnes said Maryland’s operating budget is roughly $63 billion and that the state is facing about a $3 billion shortfall in the current cycle; he added that, without intervention, some forecasts project the gap could reach about $6 billion by fiscal 2030. Barnes cited higher‑than‑expected public assistance spending — including Medicaid, child care and disability services — and slower employment recovery since the pandemic as contributing factors.

Barnes outlined options being discussed in Annapolis: new revenue sources such as changes to income tax brackets, sales tax expansions or fee increases; and budget cuts and reserves. He noted the governor has…