Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz released a $1.9 billion operating budget this week that maintains income and property tax rates, and includes negotiated pay increases for county employees and public school teachers.

As reported by the Baltimore Sun,

The operating budget represents a 4.7 percent increase over the current budget, fueled by what Kamenetz described as the county’s growing tax base and an unemployment rate that has fallen from 8 percent in 2010 to 5.9 percent now — factors “allowing us to maintain stable tax rates.”

Along with the operating budget, the county would spend $375 million on capital projects such as construction of schools and other facilities.

…

In Baltimore County, more than half of the combined capital and operating budgets — about $1.6 billion — would go to schools. Along with teacher salary increases, the education funding includes $80 million for renovations and air conditioning at four of the county’s oldest high schools: Dulaney, Lansdowne, Patapsco and Woodlawn.

It’s anticipated that the County Council will approve the county’s budget plan by May 21.

A press release providing an overview of the budget highlights can be found on the county’s website.