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The Montgomery County Council voted Tuesday to cut $69 million from the current, fiscal 2010 budget — but restored $515,000 that was to be cut from Ride On services.

The council vote to restore Ride On funding was 7-2, with council President Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park and Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) opposed.

The vote to cut the fiscal 2010 budget by about $69 million was unanimous.

The council voted to move $415,000 from the county's cable fund to pay for Ride On services through June 30. The remaining $100,000 comes from other budget cuts the council approved Tuesday.

The cable fund, which has a balance of $23.6 million, includes franchise and other fees paid to the county by cable and telecommunication companies.

The cuts include $22 million to Montgomery County Public Schools and $3.5 million to Montgomery College.

However, it's possible the council will be deliberating over cuts to Ride On services again as soon as March.

Joseph Beach, director of the county's Office of Management and Budget, advised the council against its decision, saying that money was needed to balance the fiscal 2011 budget.

Art Holmes, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, said it is likely that Ride On services would be up again for cuts in the fiscal 2011 budget. The Department of Transportation has been asked to cut its budget by 7 percent, he said, as County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) prepares his proposed budget, which is due March 15.

In January, Leggett proposed $70 million in midyear budget cuts to help close a $608 million budget hole in fiscal 2011.

Beach said Tuesday that a loss of tax revenue and revenue from the county's speed cameras, as well as the cost of responding to several large snowstorms, could mean the county is facing a $690 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2011, which begins July 1.

Leggett's proposal included about $1 million in Ride On reductions, and called for the elimination of 70 positions — 44 of which are filled. The majority of those positions, 52, belong to bus drivers.

The council voted late last year to cut an additional $30 million from the fiscal 2010 budget.

The council's Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee recommended maintaining the Ride On cuts, but Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) proposed restoring all funding for Ride On.

"I believe it's a core government service," Berliner said of the bus operation. "It's what we are called on to preserve at this moment in time ... not luxury items."

Andrews said he voted against Berliner's proposal to restore Ride On funding because nothing in the county budgets can be considered off-limits for cuts.

It was time for the council to start making difficult choices, he said.

Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) questioned whether the council should ask the Department of Transportation to consider other ways to cut Ride On costs without eliminating routes.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) said he and his fellow council members had to consider good fiscal policy, good policy and good politics when casting their votes Tuesday.

"I don't know if elected officials in an election year are able to cut programs that people depend on," he said. "I'm up for election this year, too. Let's tone down the rhetoric, people. Let's try to work through this together. Nobody wants to make any of these cuts."