Governor Larry Hogan’s proposal for a 2 percent across the board cut for state agencies without any mention as to what should be slashed is being criticized by a top Maryland budget analyst.
Warren Deschenaux, director of the Office of Policy Analysis for the Department of Legislative Services, told a panel of lawmakers that he believes the lawmakers should know details.
He called the new governor’s approach “very dangerous.”
But, David Brinkley, Hogan Budget Secretary, said the idea was similar to one used by former Governor Martin O’Malley earlier this month when he brought 2 percent cuts to the Board of Public Works.
He said the secretaries of the various departments will be able to identify what areas of spending should and could be reduced.
The state is facing a $750 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.