Montgomery County officials say they will fight an attorney general opinion that found the county failed to comply with a state law on school funding requirements.

The attorney general on Wednesday found that Montgomery and Prince George's counties did not properly make the same level of funding for schools as provided the year before.

Phil Andrews, the Montgomery County Council president, and County Executive Isiah Leggett say the county could be penalized, simply because it could not maintain one of the state's highest local contributions to education due to the recession.

They say they're ready to sue the state, if necessary.

Andrews says the state could withhold an estimated $30 to $40 million in state funding for schools in Montgomery as a result of the opinion.