County Budget To Focus on Education, Public Safety
No layoffs, furloughs or increases in property or income taxes are expected when county executive releases second budget Thursday.
County residents and employees can expect some good news Thursday when Kevin Kamenetz releases his second budget as county executive.
Kamenetz will deliver his budget message before the Baltimore County Council Thursday at 10 a.m.
Sources familiar with the budget say it will contain no tax increases for residents and no furloughs or layoffs for county employees.
The focus of the budget will remain on schools, which make up more than 50 percent of the county's total budget, and public safety.
The county executive will also announce the results of a early retirement incentive program that officials hoped would save $15 million through the retirement of at least 200 employees. Sources said the county will surpass those expectations with the total number of general government employees, excluding police and fire employees, at its lowest level in 25 years.
Kamenetz is also expected to announce funding to install air conditioning at number of county schools.
johnny towson
11:22 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What is the good news? I expect my taxes rates not to increase. I expect that a primary focus be placed on our decaying schools and public safety. If air conditioning and re-capitalization of pension programs for county employees are the benchmarks for the "idea county of the region" (Kevin's campaign tag) then the Kamenetz Administration is without a doubt the least capable team to lead Baltimore County. It is CLEAR that our County Council has more initiative and better vision for the residents of the County then the Executive. Mr Kamenetz needs to work with the Council and learn from them. They get it and they can do what needs to be done.
Calm down
7:54 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Your anti Kevin rant is getting a little old, Ginny.
Buzz Beeler
12:21 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012
This is not abut anything but reality, and you can't hide from that. Attempting to spin that could lead to a tornado. The counties have not seen the worst of it yet. You've got some reading to do.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-budget-not-balanced-20120413,0,960092.story
http://towson.patch.com/blog_posts/baltimore-county-lost-8000-taxpayers
This is the destabilization I was talking about. The middle class flees as the value of their homes drop along with the tax revenues.
Here is another ominous sign.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-02-23/news/bs-md-cns-working-families-baltimore-county-20120223_1_sufficiency-child-care-subsidy-program-baltimore-county
Another interesting concept involves the government sector jobs. As state, local and federal government agencies put into place austerity measures, Maryland counties will share the burden of that impact.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-08-10-1Afedpay10_ST_N.htm
The unemployment rate in the county is high. The county ranks 11th out of 24 jurisdictions in the state. This is an interesting analogy in the county ranks 12th in health care among those 24 jurisdictions.
Reality is a funny thing, there is no way of getting around it in the end.
Dave Broder
9:18 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
No tax increase. Funding to air condition schools. This guy is one of the few leaders to get it.
johnny towson
9:18 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
@ Damclown
It will be interesting to read your comments after this morning's briefing at 10 am. Will your boss state that he is going to spend his time working with the County Council to advance the interests of the County and use his pulpit to motivate and lead, or will waste the opportunity in attempt to spin the past year as a success for himself. The rumor is spreading like a wildfire that the Administration has already decided to and enacted initiatives to isolate and shun at least 4 members of the Council by thwarting community lead initiatives in their districts and imposing silly "rules" of communication within the channels of Government. This is a clear sign that the Administration has zero understanding of leadership and zero merits of its own. Bully tactics will only delay the impending embarrassment brewing for you and your team, especially as it is also becoming known that calmdown is the damclown appointed by the Administration to do a job he has no business doing, especially on public community forums such as this one. It is a slippery slope on which you express your opinions, and by contract, the opinions of the County Administration. Do not think for one moment your accusations can be made with impunity or without recourse; you are replaceable, expendable and a likely whipping post. Keep your shine box in order.
JDStuts
10:27 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
johnny,
Just ignore the troll. It is abundantly apparent that in lieu of concise factual proof or learned opinion the whole point of their posts is to spin the conversation off into a different direction. After she posts 4 or 5 times without a response she'll quit.
I heard that rumor as well. Of course, KK's big concern is the looming legitimate contender he is going to face for re-election. From the redistricting moves to the communication brown out it is clear his campaign has already worried. Too bad they can't see they are hurting themselves more than securing victory.
Hubris. Plain and simple. He is his own worse enemy.
Matthew
9:18 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Rest assured, your sheep-like allegiance is not...
Bart
10:46 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Kamenetz is his own worst enemy. By shutting out the Councilpersons, he is shutting out the voters. And the voters already know who is behind the mess. The system is based on checks and balances. Kamenetz is not king.
DMJ
6:17 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
Well we will see what the executive has to say to the northpoint crowd in a couple of days. Since he didn't carry well down her I sure we will get the tapped out of funds speech. Oh wait is favorite cronie I mean councilman lives down, and wee all know who that is. So maybe we get a new gate for a park or something!! HARDY HARRRR
Buzz Beeler
7:24 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012
At the ceremony for the opening of the bank here in Dundalk the county executive was the only political official present. I saw Mike Weir who was at a community volunteer clean up.
Bread and Cheese Creek had a clean up at the same time, so it's possible some of the them were at that event.
Saturday is a tough day to schedule events. Marge Neal from Dundalk Patch was covering the Bank opening.
johnny towson
9:14 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
DMJ,
Ask the following questions:
1. Gov't Center, Dundalk. How is it that the County has placed an $8mm value on the Gov't Center and is structuring a property swap with the Segram's property, to include the same persons that soaked fleeced the tax payers for $19mm in the Yorkway deal without investigation then or now? Shouldn't the property be put out for bid, and please make it an open bid because a. we do not trust your sealed process and b. the "open" public competition will without a doubt create the highest sale price for the land; and why not hire a professional real estate firm to stir up the market for you?
2. Fort Howard: How is your (KK's) negotiation going with the Union reps? It has been discussed that the unions are being asked to either provide capital and/or debt to "push" the project to fruition. The same loose-lips have reported that your (KK's) interest in this is directly tied to O'Malley's wishes to make Ft. Howard a legacy project of his administration, regardless of infrastructure costs or impacts.
3. How would you describe your relationship with the Governor and how are your interests aligned with his concerning economic development in this part of the State?