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County Executive Isiah Leggett's hard stance last week against the state transferring teacher pensions payments to the county resurfaced Tuesday in Annapolis, with legislative leaders warning of dire budget actions next year.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis said the pension contributions could be trimmed, as lawmakers try to close a projected $1.5 billion state budget gap.

At a Committee for Montgomery breakfast last week, Leggett (D) week said he was "drawing a line in the sand" to protect teacher pensions.

"My good friend Ike Leggett said that he's going to draw a line in the sand," Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach said yesterday in the state capital. "You never want to draw a line in the sand. Believe me, because I've had to rub out many of them in my lifetime, and I'm going to help him rub that one out as well."

Regardless, Leggett is committed to his goal.

"I look forward to working with my good friend Mike Miller to do what's right for Montgomery County and for the state of Maryland," Leggett responded to Miller's comments.

Union negotiations ongoing

The back-and-forth saga between the county's employee unions and Leggett continues, with employee raises and help for the county's budget hanging in the balance.

An agreement is expected by the end of this week, said Leggett spokesman Patrick Lacefield and Gino Renne, president of UFCW 1994 MCGEO, the county's largest union.

Union officials were frustrated that the negotiations dragged on for so long until Leggett intervened, Renne said, estimating that the negotiations included 15 meetings over three days.

Contrary to an end-of-week announcement, firefighter union President John Sparks does not expect an agreement until after the holidays.

"I don't know what the rush is anyway," Sparks said. "[Leggett] doesn't have to have his budget submitted to the council until March."

Leggett and the council have worked to persuade union officials to give up the COLAs to save the county about $26 million. Representatives of the schools unions agreed to forgo cost-of-living adjustments for their members two weeks ago, which saved the county $89 million.

In addition to these savings, Council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg has urged Leggett and the council to reduce the number of government employees.

"I don't agree with Phil Andrews on much, but I do agree with him on this," Renne said. "We are too large and have an inflated bureaucracy and an unnecessary political structure — including the nine members of the County Council — that we cannot continue to contain."

Leaders offer stimulus recommendations

This week, county leaders sent a letter to Congressman Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington seeking money for projects that could be included in an economic stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.

The letter touts the county's dedication to environmentally friendly legislation and initiatives and means for creating jobs.

With money for transit and roads probably being distributed to states, counties such as Montgomery are asking for separate local funding, said Timothy L. Firestine, the county's chief administrative officer.

"We're trying to say that in terms of competition within the state, we think there are strengths that Montgomery County has that necessitate money coming to the county directly," he said.

Included on the county's "shovel ready" project list are such as school modernization plans, water quality projects and park improvements.

Praisner's daughter

mulls Dist. 4 council run

The Dist. 4 council race could once again include a familiar name if Alison Klumpp, daughter of Don and the late Marilyn J. Praisner, decides to seek the Democratic nomination in 2010.

Klumpp is considering a run for the seat, Praisner confirmed this week. A call to Klumpp for comment was not returned by press time.

If Klumpp decides to run, she will enter what is already crowded race.

School board member Nancy Navarro plans to run again, as do civic activist Steve Kanstoroom, and former Civic Federation president Cary A. Lamari. Lawyer and management consultant Patrick Ryan remains undecided.

Don Praisner won the seat vacated after the death of his wife on Feb. 1, and vowed to only finish out Marilyn's term and not seek re-election. Praisner was supported by Leggett and several other council members.

Staff Writers Douglas Tallman and C. Benjamin Ford contributed to this report.