In Friday’s Gazette, Governor O’Malley’s spokesperson was quoted on the Administration’s deliberations on a possible shift of funding responsibilities to local governments. From the paper’s write up:
Gov. Martin O’Malley is weighing a proposal to shift some of the pension costs for the state’s public school teachers to the local governments that employ them, his spokeswoman said this week.
Such a proposal “has been part of our discussions,” as the governor and his aides ready O’Malley’s fiscal 2013 budget and legislative agenda, Raquel Guillory said.
2011 MACo President Ken Ulman was also quoted in the article, vigorously resisting the notion of a shift being appropriate:
“It’s a huge burden and something, frankly, the counties can’t afford,” said Howard County Executive Kenneth Ulman, who this week ended a yearlong term as president of the Maryland Association of Counties. “We strongly oppose any shift of the teacher pensions.”
A possible shift is “the number one, most important issue for counties,” Ulman added.