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The Prince George's County division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission wants a new $46 million headquarters – but officials are wisely waiting to do so.

At the County Council meeting last week, commission chairman Samuel J. Parker announced that consolidating offices currently scattered in the county into one location would save money. In addition the possibility that the headquarters may be located near a county Metro station may help provide an anchor for development, Parker said.

For the council, it was déj‡ vu all over again.

Only days before the announcement, the county school board was forced to break an office complex lease in Upper Marlboro, where it had hoped to consolidate its offices. It cost $4.8 million to end the contract, and $6.2 million had already been spent on the new facility.

State legislators forced the school board to cancel its plans after residents criticized the decision to spend $36 million over 10 years when the recession was forcing cutbacks and layoffs. The county was forced to make $113 million in cuts.

Parker said the commission learned a lesson from the school board's debacle and therefore is not yet requesting funding for the project.

County Councilman Thomas Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel painted an even bleaker picture. According to documents cited by Dernoga, the commission may have a high debt by 2015, limiting its ability to perform other major projects without raising taxes or laying off employees. The commission's long-term budget is based on homeowners' assessments — and the outlook for that revenue isn't optimistic.

However, Parker seems to understand the lesson that the school board seemed to fail to understand: Any unnecessary spending during hard times is unacceptable.

The reasoning for the park and planning move, like the school board consolidation, is understandable. During better times, it would be a sensible – if not applauded – decision. But for now, it should remain on a wish list.