Spending Affordability Guidelines, often shortened to SAG, are budget limits set before the operating budget recommendation arrives.
For the operating budget, the County Council sets these guidelines by the second Tuesday in February after a public hearing. The guidelines include ceilings for the aggregate operating budget and for funding from property tax revenues.
Why It Matters
SAG shapes the budget discussion before the County Executive’s recommended operating budget is formally reviewed. It gives Council a framework for deciding whether requests fit expected revenues and fiscal limits.
Common Misunderstanding
SAG is not the final budget. It is a limit-setting step in the process. The Council still reviews, revises, and approves the budget later.