As local spending required by Maryland’s landmark education law climbs, Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) is asking state legislators for more discretion over how the county pays for schools.
Citing financial pressure, Alsobrooks is taking aim at a law that funnels most money generated by the local telecommunications and energy taxes to county schools under rules set long before the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future law — and its mandates — took effect.
“We need flexibility to plan for the future of our county,” Alsobrooks said at a virtual hearing last Friday with the Prince George’s delegation, as she lobbied for two bills that would roll back the earmarks. She pledged to continue supporting the school system, including with money for the next phase of a public-private effort to build schools.
A state House committee held a hearing on the bills Wednesday.
The school board opposes the change.
