PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY — A Prince George's County Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order on June 26, 2026, preventing the county from diverting $39.3 million in taxpayer funds from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The Commission filed a lawsuit earlier in June 2026 to block the county's attempt to reappropriate the money.

Associate Judge Krystal Quinn Alves stated that the county's interpretation of state law was incorrect. Alves said the Council's attempts to balance its budget by using the commission's money caused "immediate, substantial and irreparable harm to the commission." She added that it "may not have been fiscally responsible to base its budget on funds it may or may not be entitled to."

Prince George's County had stated that the Commission was improperly spending funds on high salaries for leadership and an expensive headquarters building. County Council members maintained they were interpreting the laws correctly and had the right to move the money, asserting that the funds were taxpayer dollars. Some of the diverted money would have gone to administrative uses, with the rest intended for nonprofits the council members wished to fund.

The M-NCPPC maintains that the county does not have the right to reappropriate taxpayer money. William Spencer, acting executive director of the M-NCPPC, said the Commission "appreciates the court's decision to grant a time-limited TRO temporary restraining order." Spencer added that the Commission "stands ready to work collaboratively with county council members to address the budget imbalance."

Manuel Geraldo, a commissioner on the Prince George's County Planning Board, said the judge "made the correct decision." He stated, "She sees that we have a certain mission that's set forth in the state legislature, and we have, in order to fulfill that mission, we put together a budget every year."

The Commission seeks to make the temporary restraining order permanent in an upcoming trial. Spencer said the Commission aims to develop a lawful framework for projects that "honors the intent of the land use articles and continues to serve the residents of Prince George's County."

Why It Matters

This court decision temporarily halts the transfer of $39.3 million from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, funds that Prince George's County intended to use for its own budget and to fund nonprofits. The ruling highlights a disagreement between the county and the Commission regarding the interpretation of state laws concerning taxpayer funds and budgetary authority. The Commission's stated goal to secure a permanent injunction indicates that this legal dispute over fiscal control and departmental independence will continue.