Prince George’s County budget grows to $5.9 billion, boosts schools, safety

Prince George’s County’s proposed $5.9 billion budget tries to protect the biggest pressure points in residents’ lives, keeping money flowing to schools, police and utility help even as federal job losses, state cost shifts and the departure of major taxpayers continue to squeeze the tax base.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy unveiled the FY 2027 spending plan on March 12, saying the county had already closed a previously projected $170 million gap without raising taxes or cutting major services. The proposal would lift all-funds spending by $114.1 million, or 2.0%, over FY 2026, while the General Fund would reach $4.97 billion, up $154.3 million, or 3.2%. County officials said the rebound has been driven by stronger property and income tax collections, higher telecommunications tax revenue, improved ambulance-fee collections and early paydown of debt tied to capital projects.

The clearest winner is Prince George’s County Public Schools. The budget would send $2.97 billion to the school system, an increase of $20.8 million. That makes education the single largest slice of the county’s operating plan and a central test of whether county leaders can preserve core services while federal headwinds and other fiscal shocks keep landing.

Public safety would also see a large increase. Spending across public safety agencies would rise by $75.1 million to about $1.1 billion, including $453.5 million for the Prince George’s County Police Department, up $32.1 million. The county has cast that increase as part of a broader effort to keep essential government services intact while directing new dollars where residents will notice them most.

The plan also sets aside $1 million for a new utility assistance fund, a small line item that nonetheless signals where budget writers see immediate need: households struggling with basic bills as the county’s fiscal recovery continues. Council Chair Krystal Oriadha said she welcomed the progress and would review the details. The Prince George’s County Municipal Association said it was encouraged by the proposal’s focus on long-term financial management and continued service delivery.

The County Council had scheduled public hearings for April 28 and May 4, with a goal of completing review of the operating and capital budget by mid-May and adopting a final budget by June 1. For now, the county is claiming a recovery. The harder question is how long it can keep that recovery intact if the outside pressures keep building.