Court sides with M-NCPPC in Prince George’s County budget dispute

A judge froze Prince George’s County’s planned $39 million transfer, keeping the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in control of the disputed money until a September hearing. For now, the county cannot redirect the project-charge revenue into its FY 2027 spending plan.

The dispute escalated after the Prince George’s County Council adopted the FY 2027 budget on May 27, 2026. The commission filed its complaint on June 10, 2026, challenging county actions identified in the lawsuit as Bill CB-057-2026 and Resolution CR-058-2026. A hearing followed on June 17 before Circuit Court Judge Krystal Q. Alves, who announced the ruling on June 26 at 4 p.m.

The temporary restraining order means county leaders cannot yet take control of the money and use it for the purposes written into the budget fight. The county had defended the transfer as a way to support nonprofit and county programs, while critics and retirees warned that shifting the funds could weaken accountability and raise questions about self-dealing. The case centers on the lawful use of taxpayer dollars and the intent of Maryland’s Land Use Article.

The ruling lets the commission continue serving more than 970,000 Prince George’s County residents while the case heads toward a full hearing in September. It remains committed to working with County Executive Aisha Braveboy and the County Council on a lawful framework for project charges.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission was created by the state in 1927 and gained responsibility for public recreation in Prince George’s County in 1970. Its 10 commissioners are split evenly between Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.