Harford County Executive Glassman Announces Fiscal Year 20 Budget: Record Investments in Education and Public Safety; No Tax Increases
Harford County Executive Barry Glassman this week released his fiscal year 2020 budget proposal, which includes record-level funding for education and public safety, without raising tax rates. The spending plan totals $903,164,125 and is subject to the approval of the Harford County Council.
According to County Executive Glassman:
“In this first budget of my second term, we are building on our success in Harford County with record-level funding for education and public safety, without raising tax rates. In fact, in each of the past five years we have directed funds to restore salary increases for our teachers and law enforcement totaling $38 million. At the same time, we have identified efficiencies within our budget to help restore salaries for our dedicated county employees. We have also maintained our AAA bond rating, which keeps borrowing costs low for vital capital projects such as roads, fire & EMS infrastructure, schools, parks, and recreational facilities. This progress was made possible by following our path to fiscal balance and responsibility in local government.”
County and state increases exceed school board’s budget request
Operating funds budgeted at $256,465,645 for Harford County Public Schools increase by $10.7 million, the largest increase in a decade despite flat student enrollment. When combined with state funding increases, which were not fully reported in the school system’s budget, operating funding for FY 20 exceeds the Harford County Board of Education’s request. County funding of $10 million is directed by the county executive to raise instructional salaries and $650,000 is to strengthen mental health services with added support for school psychologists. This significant funding increase from the county also qualifies HCPS to apply for state “Kirwan” grants to further increase teacher salaries.
Harford Community College’s requested 2% increase is fully funded.
Historic-level funding for public safety
In accordance with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Pay Plan, one step increase and a 1% COLA are budgeted for law enforcement deputies and corrections officers in addition to supporting Harford’s volunteer fire companies ($7,037,245, representing a 2% increase), the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Foundation ($4,196,668), and to fully staff two ambulances for the county’s EMS service ($2,165,168), supplementing VFC services. A contribution of $250,000 is to assist Jarrettsville VFC with repairing its fire protection pond.
Continuing reinvestments in employees who provide vital public services
The county executive has budgeted a $2,000 merit-based increase per qualifying Harford County government employee, and equivalent increases for employees in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Circuit Court, and for Sheriff’s Office civilian employees. This $2,000 increase will have a greater impact on lower-salaried workers.
Record-level funding to fight the opioid epidemic and support behavioral health
The county executive’s budget dedicates a record $1 million targeting the opioid epidemic and to support behavioral health. County funding increases to $750,000 in FY 20 for treatment assistance, prevention, recovery coach training, the 24-hour hotline, and post-recovery support. To help families in crisis find services at any time of the day or night, funding of $250,000 is budgeted for the second phase of the 24-hour Harford County Crisis Center for Mental Health & Addiction in Bel Air.
Strengthening community organizations
Support for community organizations continues with increased funding for the Harford County Humane Society, Harford Center, and The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region. New this year, the Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation is budgeted to receive $250,000 toward a planned museum and cultural center; and the Miracle League of Harford County is slated for $250,000 to build a specially adapted baseball field at Schucks Road Regional Park in Bel Air.
Capital projects
The proposed $155,966,000 capital budget includes $42.8 million for eleven projects requested by Harford County Public Schools. They include final funding for the $100 million Havre de Grace Middle/High School; HVAC systemic renovations for George D. Lisby and Roye Williams elementary schools; roof replacements for Aberdeen Middle and Hickory Elementary; repairs to the North Bend Elementary School central plant and fire alarm system; funds to replace special education buses, and continued funding for technology, swimming pool renovations, security measures, and athletic fields.
Public safety capital projects totaling nearly $12 million are for volunteer fire company priority repairs and life safety equipment, including renovations for Whiteford and Aberdeen VFCs; a multi-agency public safety mobile command center; construction of a county EMS station; funds to support Next-Gen 911 technology and upgrade the mobile/portable radio system, and funds to upgrade public safety radio communications in school buildings.
Other essential capital projects include $28.5 million for county road and bridge projects; $10.9 million for stormwater remediation projects; $6 million to complete the Ma & Pa Trail connection; $4.7 million in water & sewer infrastructure reinvestments; $2.5 million to support sports tourism through improvements to parks & recreation playing surfaces, including Cedar Lane Sports Complex, and $2.1 million for comprehensive upgrades to the Chesapeake Center at Harford Community College.
