No turning back

Around the same time school leaders were touting the double-digit gains on the standardized tests given to students in grades 3 through 8, County Executive Jack B. Johnson requested a $14 million cut to education funding. The continuously declining housing market caused an unexpected county shortfall of $45 million, and the school system was asked to share the burden. Faced with an already depleted school reserve fund, Superintendent John E. Deasy was essentially forced to find areas to make cuts.

Last month, school board members voted to consolidate school administrative facilities and move to a new building at a cost of $36 million over the next 10 years. Despite their contention that it is a cost-saving move, it is baffling that it should come at a time when the county is nickel-and-diming to prevent layoffs.

The school board’s decision-making paired with the bleak economic forecast is distressing. It would be a shame for Prince George’s to end its test-improvement trend because of county and school leaders’ inability to maintain successful school programs and unwillingness to make cuts where they can be better afforded.

Have government perks such as county-issued vehicles for officials been eliminated yet?

The county’s children should be the last group impacted by budget shortfalls.

The county hospital system is having a positive run, as well.

After a decade of financial struggles brought on by a large number of uninsured patients, the system seems on course to be rescued thanks to an outline forged earlier this year. According to legislation, the county and state were given a deadline to form a seven-member hospital authority tasked with selling the hospital. Both sides met that goal. A second goal — to reach an agreement on how much each would pay toward the hospital system’s more than $200 million in debt and repairs — has been met, so far. The initial deadline was July 21, with an option to extend the deadline until Aug. 20. State and county officials announced Friday an ‘‘agreement in principle” had been reached but said an extension would be needed to work out the details.

Unfortunately, the details are not minor. Officials must now figure out where they will get the money. The county and state will split $150 million, with the state pitching in an additional $24 million for capital improvements, in hopes of making the hospital system attractive to a potential buyer.

Should county officials manage to find their $75 million share — while school officials toil over what more can be taken away — the next hurdle will be to find a buyer by the end of the year.

Decisions made today by county and school leaders will impact the course the county pursues. There is no room for error.