Plan Would Cut $25M From Montgomery County Schools

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- The president of the Montgomery County Council says all nine members have signed off on cuts to employee benefits and to public schools.

Under the plan, the council would cut $25 million from the $1.4 billion it contributed to the public school systems this year. The plan would also give the council more control over the way schools -- and other agencies -- save to cover retiree health insurance.

Council President Valerie Ervin tells the Washington Post that with an overall budget of $2 billion, the school board should be able to find $25 million in cuts "without a whole lot of trouble."

School board president Christopher Barclay says the council is taking state funds meant for the neediest students and using them "to balance their side of the budget."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)