B4

S

KLMNO

Budget proposal comes as boards face big backlog

district from B1

Fenty spokeswoman Mafara

Hobson said, “The proposed 2011 budget allows the administration to maximize efficiency by stream- lining agency operations, control- ling spending and eliminating va- cant and redundant positions.” Fenty said last week that the pro- posed changes are part of his ef- fort to consolidate government while crafting a budget that elimi- nates a projected $500 million budget shortfall. With this year’s mayoral elec- tion shaping up as a major test of organized labor’s influence, Fenty might be taking a big political gamble that he could be reelected without the support of city em- ployees, who have long been ac- tive in local elections. Frustrated with Fenty and lin- ing up behind D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) in the mayor’s race, union lead- ers and council members are ac- cusing Fenty of thumbing his nose at the needs of the employees who form the backbone of the city gov- ernment. “It is sad for the working peo- ple, but his day of reckoning will come,” said Geo T. Johnson, exec- utive director of AFSCME District Council 20, which represents about 8,000 city employees and is vowing to work hard to defeat Fenty in the September Demo- cratic primary. The mayor’s proposal comes as the employee relations board and appeals office are struggling to clear backlogs of cases and as fights between the city and termi- nated employees are often ending up in court. Josh Williams, director of the

Metropolitan Washington AFL- CIO Central Labor Council, said Fenty’s proposal is akin to a decla- ration of war because it could threaten the integrity of collective bargaining agreements. “It is tantamount of Congress

cutting the staff of the U.S Su- preme Court by 90 percent and expecting the court to carry out

its function,” Williams said. “The employee relations board is our Supreme Court. . . . Needless to say, we unions will not accept it.” Since the late 1970s, the Office of Employee Appeals has been available for the city’s 40,000- member workforce to appeal a “removal, reduction in grade, or suspension for 10 days or more,” according to the office’s Web site. The office, whose caseload has risen since Fenty took office, in- cludes a five-member board and about a dozen staff members. The Public Employee Relations Board resolves broader contract and labor disputes between city unions and agency and adminis- tration leaders.

Council member Mary M. Cheh

(D-Ward 3), who chairs the Com- mittee on Government Opera- tions and the Environment, ques-

“It is sad for the working people, but his day of reckoning will come.”

— Geo T. Johnson,

executive director of AFSCME District Council 20

tioned why Fenty would propose consolidating the employee rela- tions board just as it was starting to clear a backlog of 50 cases. According to data assembled by

Cheh’s committee, there also were 527 outstanding cases pending before the Office of Employee Ap- peals as of February. The agency handles 180 cases in a typical year. Merging the offices and cutting

staff members will worsen the backlogs, Cheh said. As union leaders note, fired employees are increasingly winning their ap- peals, which they say backs up their contention that Fenty has been too hasty in dismissing em- ployees. Last month, the Washington Examiner reported that the Office of Employee Appeals reinstated 38 employees in fiscal 2009 and ordered $3.4million in back pay. In fiscal 2007, 20 employees were reinstated.

If the backlog worsens, Cheh and Baumann said, the costs to taxpayers will increase.

craigt@washpost.com

LOTTERIES

April 6

DISTRICT

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850 Montgomery County

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY,MARYLAND

JOHN S.BURSON ET AL

TRUSTEE(S)

Plaintiff(s)

MILTON F. MOLLINEDO AND ELVIA R.TORRES

Defendant(s) Mortgagor(s)

vs. CIVIL NO. 322083V

AMENDED NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THIS

16TH day ofMARCH, 2010 by the

Circuit Court for the COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY, Maryland, and by the authority thereof, that the sale

made by JOHN S. BURSON, WIL- LIAM M.SAVAGE,GREGORYN. BRIT- TO, JASON MURPHY, KRISTINE D. BROWN AND ERIK W. YODER,

Trustees, of the Real Property des-

ignated as 12917 NEOLA ROAD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20906, and

reported in the above entitled cause, will be finally ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or

before the 15TH day ofAPRIL, 2010

next; provided a copy of this order be inserted in THEWASHINGTON POST, 1150 15TH STREET, Wash- ington, D.C. 20071 published in said COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY once a week for three successive weeks before the 15TH day of

APRIL, 2010.

The report states the amount of the sale to be $280,000.00

Clerk of the Circuit Court For County of Montgomery

Loretta E. Knight

Trustee Sale Notices

850 Montgomery County

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY,MARYLAND

JOHN S.BURSON ET AL

TRUSTEE(S)

Plaintiff(s)

DAVID G. FERRUFINO AND GERTUDIS OBANDO DE FERRUFINO

Defendant(s) Mortgagor(s)

vs. CIVIL NO. 314003V

AMENDED NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THIS

16TH day ofMARCH, 2010 by the

Circuit Court for the COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY, Maryland, and by the authority thereof, that the sale

made by JOHN S. BURSON, WIL- LIAM M.SAVAGE,GREGORYN. BRIT- TO, JASON MURPHY, KRISTINE D. BROWN AND ERIK W. YODER,

Trustees, of the Real Property des-

ignated as 14206 OAKVALE ST,

ROCKVILLE,MD 20853, and report- ed in the above entitled cause, will be finally ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before

the 15TH day ofAPRIL, 2010 next;

provided a copy of this order be inserted in THEWASHINGTON POST, 1150 15TH STREET, Wash- ington, D.C. 20071 published in said COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY once a week for three successive weeks before the 15TH day of

APRIL, 2010.

The report states the amount of the sale to be $230,750.00

Clerk of the Circuit Court For County of Montgomery

Loretta E. Knight

JOHN S.BURSON ET AL

TRUSTEE(S)

Plaintiff(s)

GREGORYW. BEYRENT

Defendant(s) Mortgagor(s)

vs. CIVIL NO. 319465V

AMENDED NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THIS

16TH day ofMARCH, 2010 by the

Circuit Court for the COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY, Maryland, and by the authority thereof, that the sale

made by JOHN S. BURSON, WIL- LIAM M.SAVAGE,GREGORYN. BRIT- TO, JASON MURPHY, KRISTINE D. BROWN AND ERIK W. YODER,

Trustees, of the Real Property des-

ignated as 26034 RIDGE MANOR DR, DAMSCUS, MD 20872, and

reported in the above entitled cause, will be finally ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or

before the 15TH day ofAPRIL, 2010

next; provided a copy of this order be inserted in THEWASHINGTON POST, 1150 15TH STREET, Wash- ington, D.C. 20071 published in said COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY once a week for three successive weeks before the 15TH day of

APRIL, 2010.

The report states the amount of the sale to be $215,500.00

Clerk of the Circuit Court For County of Montgomery

Loretta E. Knight

GERALD MARTINEAU FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Finding words for a broken-hearted soldier’s mom

At Arlington National Cemetery, Brig. Gen. James Boozer comforts Victoria Walz, mother of Army Pfc. Christopher I. Walz, who died last year when his vehicle was hit with a homemade bomb in Afghanistan.

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MULTI-STATE GAMES

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5-6-15-22-24 5-3-1 N/A

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All winning lottery numbers are official only when validated at a lottery ticket location or a lottery claims office. Because of late drawings, some results do not appear in early editions. For late lottery results, check www.washingtonpost.com/lottery.

SUSAN BIDDLE FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The union representing government workers led a rally on a parking-lot roof to protest budget cuts.

‘Phantom’ pension contributions at risk

budget from B1

because of the extremely difficult fiscal year,” Andrews said. “The county needs the money.” Meanwhile, council member

Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring), a former labor organizer, joined three council colleagues at the rooftop rally and led employees in chants of “No Justice, No Peace!” “Look around you and see

who’s had your back,” Ervin said. County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) made the deal for the phan- tom retirement increases last year as a consolation for unions that agreed to give up part of their ne- gotiated raises, and Andrews was the sole vote against it. Several council members said Tuesday that they would consider undoing the arrangement. But other mem- bers joined Leggett in voicing concern that the move could put too much of a burden on county employees who are facing deeper proposed cuts. Leggett’s $4.3 billion budget proposal includes 10 days of fur- loughs for many government workers, which amounts to a 3.8 percent reduction in pay. It also cuts more than 230 filled posi- tions and eliminates raises and cost-of-living adjustments for po- lice, firefighters and general gov- ernment employees. Several council members

voiced support for those moves. “They know very well we don’t have any options in this budget,” said council President Nancy Flo- reen (D-At Large), though she voiced concern about the lowest- paid workers. The latest discussions come as

the Moody’s bond rating agency put the county on a watch list for a possible downgrade from its high- est Aaa rating because revenue is down more than anticipated and officials are relying on the coun- ty’s reserve fund. Top ratings are key to borrow- ing cheaply for county projects and are seen as an important en- dorsement of a jurisdiction’s over- all fiscal health. The decision “reflects deterio-

ration of the county’s financial po- sition driven primarily by income tax revenue shortfalls” as well as county plans for a “significant” drawdown of its reserves, accord- ing to a Moody’s analysis that Leg- gett discussed with the council Tuesday. Leggett also said that a March income tax distribution from the state was $24.5 million below county estimates, which will mean more budget cuts this year. It was the second time since

Leggett proposed his budget on March 15 that officials have had to do last-minute improvising to counter a dimming fiscal picture.

On March 25, Leggett called for upping an energy tax increase he proposed for next fiscal year and imposing the tax in the current year to help county finances im- mediately. His original proposal called for increasing the tax by al- most $3 a month for the average family. His follow-up proposal raised that to $5 a month. Now, Leggett said he is devel- oping a “revised savings target” to further bolster county reserves. Among the possibilities are cuts in capital projects and existing contracts and possible changes in major purchases, he said. The union representing general

county workers, the Municipal and County Government Employ- ees Organization, launched what it called its “budget battle” Tues- day with its rooftop rally and ap- peals to the council. Union lead- ers say their members are being asked to make unfair sacrifices, and they placed the blame on county managers. “During the good times, Mont-

gomery County developed some bad habits — including the devel- opment of a large, highly compen- sated management contingent that adds very little to the quality or quantity of services for resi- dents, taxpayers and voters,” MCGEO President Gino Renne testified at the hearing.

larism@washpost.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010

Md. budget puts Metro funding in question

State defers 2010 payment; no word on aid to prevent cuts

by Ann Scott Tyson

Metro’s budget shortfall has fueled some squabbling between local jurisdictions struggling to fund the transit agency. Maryland recently decided to

defer payment for two years of $28 million in capital funding to Metro due in fiscal year 2010. That generated complaints from Metro board member Jim Gra- ham of the District, who has pushed to use some capital funds to fill a projected $189 million gap in the Metro operating budget for 2011.

At the same time, Maryland’s

action signals that it is less likely to be able to provide its share of an additional $74million that Metro needs to ease its operating shortfall and prevent proposed service cuts. Maryland, the Dis- trict and Northern Virginia juris- dictions must all agree to provide a proportional share of the addi- tional funds for such an increase to take place. “I am skeptical that Maryland will come up with anything” given the deferral of the $28 million, said Graham, who is also a D.C. Council member. “If one [juris- diction] doesn’t agree, then no one can do it.” Maryland informed Metro of

the deferral in a Jan. 28 letter, but Metro did not inform the board until March 30, a delay that con- cerned Graham and other board members. “The board should have been told,” he said. The de- ferral was first written about in the blog Greater Greater Wash- ington on April 2. Maryland Transportation Sec-

retary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley defended the deferral, saying that Metro was behind schedule in spending the capital dollars and that it did not need the funds now. “Given they are not ready to spend the money, we don’t see the need to take the money out of the trust fund,” she said. “If they need- ed the funding or advanced their capital schedule, we would make sure the money is provided.” She added that Maryland plans to provide $367 million to Metro as the state’s share of the 2010 to 2015 capital program known as Metro Matters. The economic downturn has caused revenue in Maryland’s Transportation Trust Fund to de- cline 13 percent since 2007, re- quiring the state transportation department to cut more than $2 billion in projects, Swaim-Staley said. Nevertheless, she said Mary-

850 Montgomery County

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY,MARYLAND

I WANT THE BEST PRICE.

NTS A NEWGAME.

IF THERE’S A SALE OUT THERE, IT’S IN HERE.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

SF612 1x3

land’s 2011 budget includes a 3 percent increase for Metro com- pared with 2010, although this does not include the $30 million in additional funding sought as Maryland’s portion of the $74mil- lion needed to prevent service cuts. Asked whether Maryland in- tended to provide that extra fund- ing, Swaim-Staley said it is “too early to tell” and will depend on public hearings and Metro’s budg- et deliberations this month. The District, for its part, is seek- ing to pull together its approxi- mately $27 million share of the $74million, Graham said. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) did not in- clude the additional funds for Metro in his budget, so Graham (D-Ward 1), chairman of the D.C. Council’s Public Works and Trans- portation Committee, is looking to trim other spending. “I am trying to locate some monies to increase our subsidies and decrease the impact on the fare hikes and service reductions,” he said. “It means something else will not be paid.” In Virginia, jurisdictions have voted to set property tax rates at a level that would allow them to provide Metro with their portion of the $74million, said Christo- pher Zimmerman, a Metro board member from Arlington County. “Arlington, Fairfax and Alexan- dria are all in the position to take care of the need,” he said, “so if Maryland and D.C. step up, Vir- ginia will do its share.”

Zimmerman (D), a County Board member, said it would be irresponsible for the jurisdictions not to supply the money to pre- vent service cuts, which he said would prove counterproductive and cost the region vital revenue. “An awful lot of tax revenue

generation in this region is de- pendent upon transit,” he said. “It would be fiscally foolish to not find that comparatively small amount of money.”

tysona@washpost.com

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