Pay freeze could thaw early in Prince George's

The Prince George's County Council on Tuesday opened the door to potential salary increases for incoming council members and the county executive, already the most highly paid county government officials in Maryland.

The council rejected a bill that would have frozen the pay of council members and the county executive for two years and instead left intact a one-year freeze that will be lifted in December 2011 and potentially boost pay for council members, who now get $96,417 for the part-time positions, and for the executive, who gets $174,540. The action followed a recommendation by a commission that included close associates of departing County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D).