 County Executive Rushern L. Baker III celebrate legislative victories in Annapolis on the last day of the Maryland General Assembly 2016 legislative session.
The 2016 Session of the Maryland General Assembly recently concluded and resulted in funding and policy measures that will have significant implications for many of the County’s top priorities, including the Regional Medical Center.
After more than two years of negotiating with the Hogan Administration over shared State/County funding commitments to build a new regional medical center, the legislature passed legislation that required the State to match the County’s commitments for the new and existing facilities and to provide funding necessary to keep the existing hospitals adequately funded during the transition. Under Senate Bill 324, the Governor is required to allocate $55 million in State operating funds and $115.5 million in State capital funds through July 2021. The County had already committed to matching the State’s funding. The County is confident that these funding commitments will provide the financial certainty needed for approval of the Certificate of Need by the Maryland Health Care Commission in the months to come. Stay tuned for a more complete legislative wrap-up in an upcoming edition.
 At his 6th “State of the Economy” address, County Executive Baker said told business leaders that Prince George's County is heading in the right direction and opportunity to expand remains strong.
"Our proximity to the District of Columbia plus our 15 metro stops, acres of land and housing stock, make us a prime area for growth," he said. "But in order for us to remain competitive, we have to step up our game and focus on making ourselves attractive to potential investors whether they be businesses or families."
He made the remarks to business leaders during a breakfast hosted by the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Prince George's Business Roundtable held at the Colony South Hotel & Convention Center in Clinton, MD. Here is the Washington Business Journal report. VIDEO
|
 The Prince George’s County Council confirmed the appointment of Elana Belon-Butler as the Director of the Department of Family Services, followed by a swearing in ceremony in the Office of the County Executive. Prior to her appointment as Director of the Department of Family Services, Ms. Belon-Butler had been with the County's Health Department for fourteen years, serving the citizens and residents of Prince George’s County, MD. Previously, she was appointed to the position of Deputy Health Officer in 2008 and also served in the role of Special Assistant to the Health Officer. To watch video of the swearing-in ceremony, please click here.
| 
