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Central-area officials say the economy will play a role in determining what projects and development to move forward with and what to put on hold in 2009.

The city of Bowie's financial director estimates at least a $500,000 deficit in city revenue from the lagging state gas tax, meaning the city will have to trim its budget to keep in step.

"If you distill next year down into one word, it's the economy," said Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson.

In the coming year, the City Council will have to decide whether to stretch out capital projects to save money or to cut programs. Robinson said core programs such as trash collection will stay as the city begins hashing out its fiscal 2010 plans but said plans such as hiring additional police officers may be further staggered to save money.

Despite the potential slow in growth, the Bowie Police Department plans to roll out at least one new initiative starting in January: the dedication of one officer as a full-time traffic enforcement officer, said Deputy Chief John Nesky. The traffic enforcement officer will help the city deal with what has become a common complaint of speeding in residential neighborhoods.

Communities like District Heights face similar issues. District Heights Commissioner Lee Collins (Ward 2) said the city met with state officials and received a grim 2009 forecast for municipal finances. Collins said his city is concerned about a possible cut in state highway user money, which comes from state vehicle tag registration fees.

Collins said the city typically receives $300,000 to $500,000 in state highway user money, which goes back into the city's general fund and is used for jobs such as maintaining public works vehicles.

Collins said the city's priority is maintaining the quality of its police, public works and recreation services, but infrastructure projects will likely be placed aside in 2009 due to predicted state budget shortfalls.

"We're anxious to hear what our revenue sources are going to be this coming year, and we won't know that until we get some feedback from the General Assembly," Collins said.

New Carrollton City Administrator J. Michael Downes said the city has no major projects or plans to hire more personnel in 2009.

"Traditionally, maintenance of sidewalk and streets has always been a priority," Downes said. "It gets increasingly difficult when our highway user revenues are impacted to put money together to do a significant amount of street work and sidewalk work."

But not every town is looking for ways to cut back. Aiming to expand communication, Capitol Heights Mayor Darrell Miller hopes in March or April to have a town cable channel to broadcast town announcements and to launch a town Web site shortly within the new year.

Other communities are focusing on development in the coming year. Glenn Dale, Seabrook and Lanham residents will have several more months in 2009 to comment on development recommendations, as the planning process that will ultimately help the Prince George's County Council manage future growth has been extended until July.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission will continue to craft the Glenn Dale-Seabrook-Lanham and Vicinity Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment for Planning Area 70. The M-NCPPC asked the County Council on Dec. 18 to extend the planning phase from January to July to continue gathering community input on land use and development, parks and transportation, public facilities and the Glenn Dale Hospital site.

The Glenn Dale Citizens Association plans to continue focusing on creating and preserving scenic and historic sites, including Glenn Dale Hospital.

While the Glenn Dale civic association plans to continue working on existing projects in 2009, the economy has slowed development projects in the Largo, Kettering and Mitchellville communities.

In Mitchellville, officials are attributing a slow development pace to the economy and said many development and retail projects are being put on hold in 2009.

"There isn't anything in the queue for retail or anything of that nature," said County Councilman Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville.

Several business vacancies in the area have drawn the ire of the Largo Civic Association, which is worried the empty storefronts will hurt profits at nearby businesses.

Association President Chuck Renninger points to closures at the Boulevard At The Capital Centre in Largo, such as the former Linens-N-Things.

"No developers have come forward in the last couple of months - they have no market right now," he said. "There are vacant storefronts [and] there's not a lot to do about it, other than lend support to developers to get business in the community to work with property owners to fill their spots."

In 2009, the Kettering Civic Federation plans to tackle a rise in foreclosed and abandoned homes, hoping to minimize crime and damage to local property values.

Federation President Phil Lee said he plans to work with the county's Department of Environmental Resources to expedite the process of securing foreclosed homes, turning off utilities and in the summer, mowing lawns. He also plans to work with the county's Department of Public Works and Transportation to remove abandoned vehicles in neighborhoods.