By HANNAH MASSEY

Acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson announced major budget cuts Thursday, Feb. 13, during a virtual budget listening session for fiscal year 2026.

“We are facing significant, unique challenges, and those challenges will impact our budget,” Jackson said.

Jackson, who is serving as acting county executive until the general election in June, addressed attendees alongside Stanley Early, the county’s director of management and budget.

“This year, challenges with the state budget and the federal government are adding to the challenges we have already faced and are impacting the fiscal health of our local government,” Jackson said.

Last month, Gov. Wes Moore opened the legislative session by proposing $2 billion in cuts to balance the state budget amid a nearly $3 billion deficit.

Jackson said she “understands the reasons for his proposal and certainly supports him in his work to balance the state budget.”

“This year, we are facing additional cuts and will need to make difficult choices that may not be desirable or comfortable,” she said.

Prince George’s County firefighter James Jones, a county resident for more than 40 years and a firefighter for over 30, voiced concerns about staffing shortages during his testimony.

“We are severely understaffed,” Jones said. “We have fewer transport units than we had 15 to 20 years ago, and we’re running twice as many calls.”

Jones urged the council to increase funding for firefighter hiring.

District 4 resident and animal shelter volunteer Lea Shuler also raised concerns about funding for animal care services. (District 4 includes Bowie, Glenn Dale, Greenbelt and Upper Marlboro.)

“These shelters face numerous challenges in providing adequate medical care and staffing,” Shuler said. “The current budget allocated for animal medical care appears insufficient to cover the growing needs of our shelter’s population.”

Last year, former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced the FY 2025 budget, which resulted in a hiring freeze for more than 8,000 county positions and major cuts to all county agencies except for public safety agencies and Prince George’s County Public Schools.

During the virtual session, acting County Executive Tara Jackson did not specify which programs would face cuts. However, Jackson stated that education funding would increase by at least $60 million to support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an education funding plan passed by the state legislature in 2021.

“We will prioritize programs that matter to resident safety and the overall well-being of our community,” Jackson said.

The county executive must submit the proposed budget to the county council by March 15 each fiscal year.