A Maryland judge heard the case of a $39 million transfer from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to Prince George’s County coffers.
The M-NCPPC claims the transfer is unlawful and asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the transfer, which is supposed to happened July 1.
“The money that they’re taking — and that’s what it is — it’s a raid of our budget,” said Manuel Geraldo of M-NCPPC.
The county defended its actions in court, and the judge declined to make an immediate decision.
Opponents of the transfer say the council is taking commission money to fund pet projects and nonprofits, jeopardizing Park and Planning jobs and services.
County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Councill Chair Krystal Oriadha vowed to fight the lawsuit
“These are really important uses of our county funds that go directly, directly to those who need it,” Braveboy said.
The M-NCPPC Retiree Association demanded an investigation of misconduct by unnamed county elected officials and what it calls a pattern of “self-dealing” that has corrupted the Park and Planning budget adoption.
A letter to the state attorney general and state prosecutor said certain unnamed council members are using M-NCPPC money “to advance their personal and political interests.”
“We would like to have that investigation to find out why they’re using these funds — the $39.3 million — to go to certain organizations without some oversight,” M-NCPPC Retiree Association President Darlene Douglas said.
Oriadha and Councilmember Ed Burroughs have been critical of commission spending and vigorously defended transferring the money to use for county projects and services through nonprofits.
“And it’s not their money,” Burroughs said. “It’s the people’s money.”
Two council members said the process that’s in place — which uses grants and strict oversight through Park and Planning — is being bypassed through the $39 million transfer, so there’s no accountability.
“There’s a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty about these funds,” Councilman Sydney Harrison said.
Councilwoman Jolene Ivey said the grant process could be improved instead of being thrown out.
“We need to fix that process,” she said. “We don’t need to eliminate it by transferring the money from Park and Planning to what essentially becomes a slush fund for the county council,” she said.
The judge said she’d have a decision June 26.
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