More than 600 workers were evacuated Monday because of a gas leak at the same construction site in Parole where a worker was killed in a crane accident the previous week, Anne Arundel fire officials said.

Anne Arundel’s sheriff’s department is getting enough money in the county executive’s proposed operating budget to cover pay increases — much like many county departments for the upcoming year.

Anne Arundel school officials are expressing confusion over how their county executive failed to fund requested special education positions, negotiated contracts and staffing at the new elementary school in Gambrills.

Anne Arundel residents who use an ambulance or guests staying in county hotels could pay more for the services. “In these difficult economic times, we must find the political fortitude to make budgetary decisions that reflect our fiscal approach,” said County Executive John R. Leopold, who unveiled the fiscal 2009 operating and capital budgets before the County Council on Thursday.

Anne Arundel science and math teachers could get paid more, more affordable housing could come to the county and a new homeless shelter could be built and under the proposed fiscal 2009 operating and capital budgets.

Devastating. That was how Anne Arundel Superintendent Kevin Maxwell described the impact County Executive John R. Leopold’s proposed operating budget would have on the school system.

Anne Arundel now has a plan for its approach to 20,000 new jobs coming to the county through Fort Meade’s expansion, but questions remain on how officials will fund growth.

Freezing new hires in most Anne Arundel government departments.

The goal was to help 300 homeless people.

Opposing views welcome at Goucher College