Final Budget Approval Set for Morning Council Meeting
Spending plan holds the line on property and income tax rates and proposes minimal cuts.
The Baltimore County Council is scheduled to vote to approve $258,000 in cuts to the $1.6 billion general fund budget at a meeting that begins at 10 a.m.
The cuts to County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's first proposed budget amount to a reduction of less than two-hundredths of a percent—one of the second smallest cuts in two decades.
The budget is expected to hold the line on property and income tax rates—neither of which have been increased in two decades.
One of the largest reductions, about $120,000, came from the Department of Public Works. The majority of the cuts, about $112,000, came from what was called a miscalculation in gas and electric expenses.
The council halved a $110,500 proposed cut that would have, in part, paid for a lawn mower for Robert E. Lee Park. The council and auditor said they expect the county will make up the difference through a separate fund for such equipment.
The council also cut nearly $24,000 from the sheriff's budget, including half of a nearly $37,700 line item for salary savings from positions that are expected to go unfilled.
The council can only cut the budget. It is prohibited from moving money or adding to the annual spending plan.
The legislative body can use its budget message to make its priorities and concerns clear to the county executive and department heads.
Two issues that could come up in the council budget message related to the restoration of nearly 200 teaching positions in the county schools system and restoration of funding for the Maryland Food Bank.
The council pressed Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston to commit to restoring the teaching positions should his budget have a surplus. The cost of the teacher positions is estimated at nearly $16 million.
Hairston declined to agree to the request, saying he expects the next budget year to be even tougher than this one.
The council also made largely symbolic cuts to some city-based arts and nonprofit groups. The 10 percent reductions on programs receiving $50,000 or less in county grants only netted a reduction of about $27,000.
Councilman David Marks, a Republican, suggested the cuts after many on the council expressed concern about funding such groups at the same time the county eliminated a $250,000 grant to the Maryland Food Bank.
Marks said two weeks ago that he would like the council to use its budget message to ask Kamenetz to restore the money to the food bank.
Buzz Beeler
1:04 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011
Are seven heads better than one --- apparently not. The following quote from Bryan"s article is an ominous sign that the council is still oblivious to what lies ahead:
"The cuts to County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's first proposed budget amount to a reduction of less than two-hundredths of a percent—one of the second smallest cuts in two decades."
The problem is, as a society encased in government entitlements, any cut in those entitlements threatens the power base of those proposing the reduction in spending.
By rubber stamping Mr. Kamenetz's budget, the council reaffirms the executive's pledge not to engage those entitlements. Thus the question becomes, when the time arrives that this shell game can no longer be played, what then?
The economic indicators are not indicating any change in the forecast. In order for any local, state or federal government to survive, the force driving that survival is the economy.
Look at what just happened in Detroit? The plight of the city is so dire that when they announced that a certain amount of federal stimulus funds would be made available thousands showed up for a chance to obtain some of that money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ97seqfTi0&feature=related
What is distressing is that like the quote alludes to, while facing the most grievous of economic times, the budget reduction is the smallest in two decades.
Lorna D. Rudnikas
6:28 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011
Hi Buzz, exactly what "entitlements" are being referred to? I'd also like to respond, but just not sure about the focus.
Buzz Beeler
12:33 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Lorna, sorry for the delay, I have been busy.
There is so much going on in the county that is not good that I'm trying to get a focal point at which to start.
OK, look at the censure figures recently released. It shows a migration of poor and immigrants into the county settling mainly into the areas of Dundalk, Essex and Cockeysville.
There are huge costs associated with this influx of poor into the county. These costs are related to education, health care, housing vouchers, unemployment, food stamps and the ESOL program just to mention a few.
The below link is related to Title 1 schools. There are taxpayer funded cost associated with this program. I posted the cost in one of my comments on another site and was criticized because the commentator said I was wrong as the funds were federal monies. I asked him to check his pants pockets and reminded him that state and local taxes come out of the left pocket while federal withholding comes out of the right pocket.
There are more people in the county today that rely on the government to subsidize their income than ever before.
The bottom line is that the debt crisis of this nation with no viable economic solutions is leading us to the precipice of a finical crisis.
http://www.bcps.org/offices/titleone/
Next time we'll take a look at the costs to the taxpayers of doing business in the county and some real figures.
Buzz Beeler
12:50 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Lorna, read this link.
http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=359e72b8-8531-44a9-a190-d1246d5556bd
This is not good either and wait till next year it will be worse.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-04-11/news/bs-md-co-session-kamenetz-20110411_1_kamenetz-state-aid-legislative-session
Next time you go shopping look at where the products are made. Most are overseas which means we are not making goods to sell but rather importing them. We lose jobs, much needed revenue for taxes and you get the picture.
http://www.americaneconomicalert.org/ticker_home.asp
Read the WSJ and you will begin to see some of the issues we are facing, not only on the local level but as a nation also.
Take for example the rising gas prices. For every penny increase at the pump, the economy looses a billion dollars. How does the government survive when their tax base is eroded?
What is also alarming is the economic erosion impacting the European countries.
Lorna D. Rudnikas
7:13 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Thanks for sharing the information Buzz. I will read up as you suggest. I guess my curiosity lies in what percentage of illegal immigrant folks are included in the stats for Dundalk, Essex and Cockeysville--just for some insight on cause and effect of how funds are distributed - the specific impact of illegal immigration to these areas - education,health, welfare, etc. I will then assume that to be an example of financial impact to any areas in Maryland affected by changes referred to. And then, of course, since there is political promotion of illegal immigration to Maryland - what steps will be taken financially to cover the obvious costs? Anything to do with higher taxes for citizens, by chance? Or, if not, decrease in education, health care, welfare, infrastructure benefits to tax paying citizens? Forgive me, but my "worker bee" mind works in such simple, basic ways.
Regarding "...for every penny increase at the pump, the economy looses a billion dollars..." Would love to know who worked day and night to come up with those numbers---way, way over my head. However, if they could boil it down to simple terms I think we (the worker bees) could get it.
Buzz Beeler
1:28 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
Lorna I am a 24/7 news junkie, historical buff and vivacious reader. If I take on a topic I research it and that includes seeking out those who experts in their field.
As to the immigration issue the Supreme Court just ruled in favor for AZ on the of hiring illegals by business who do so to increase the bottom line, the profit margin.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/963382679001/big-win-for-arizona-immigration-law/
One of the largest imports into Mexico are not U.S. goods, but rather U.S. dollars sent back by illegals working in this country.
If you think that its crazy to figure out the ratio between gas prices and the economy read this little ditty.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/26/senate-report-finds-billions-waste-science-foundation-studies/
Lorna D. Rudnikas
3:17 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
Thanks Buzz. I will read those articles. It will be interesting to see how CASA prepares for developments that will travel East.
I am familiar with the constant dollars being drained from our country going not only to Mexico but all of Central America. There are actual companies - at least in Northern Virginia who make a very good living at being the conduits for sending money and goods south of the border. The flow in and out of their offices is constant. One thing is for sure - these folks do not forget their families back home! I know the governments in these countries are so grateful-no health care, education, nutrition, less crime - wow! They make out fantastic on the backs of their people--why should they want to help us stop it?
Robert Armstrong
12:03 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
What does this have to do with the Baltimore County Council approving their budget? It has nothing to do with Mexico or Central America.
Is Patch being taken over by Buzz and his alties??
Lorna D. Rudnikas
8:55 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Come on honey child - I think the discussion is hitting on "financial impact" of all kinds all the way to the county level. "Alties????" Interesting. Be nice - no labeling please!
bc67
8:22 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
One thing I have always found interesting is to compare the budgets of surrounding Counties. If you look at the population, number of citizens, miles of roads and number of schools compared to the budget. For instance, Baltimore Counties budget is 1.6 billion and Howard County is 1.56 billion. Baltimore County is twice the size of Howard County in all of the categories above. Just something to think about.
Buzz Beeler
9:11 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Lorna, well spoken. Out of the right pocket come the federal taxes, out of the left local and state taxes. Baltimore County depends on state and federal tax dollars for such funding as highway safety, eduction, health care and so on. The state also relies on federal money, in fact the states budget was balanced on federal stimulus money. We are seeing the results of the loss of that stimulus money and next year will be more dire.
All tributaries lead to the main body of water.
bc, interesting comment, but I would double check those figures.
http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Budget/12budget/fy2012budget.pdf
As per the operating budget FY 2012 is $2.6. billion. The budget is broken into two categories, the operating and capital. I only listed the operating budget figure.
This figure follows the county executives budget message to the council.
bc67
12:50 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thanks Buzz,
I took the figure from a Patch artical about Howard County,the same as the artical above about Baltimore County. I just assumed they were comparing apples and apples.
Buzz Beeler
4:37 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2011
BC, its been so long since I looked at that budget, I had to stop and think myself. There is so much going on. Bryan had to set me straight on the Parkville issue. I thought it was a contract out on a bid which requires three sealed bids if its over $25,000. Come to find out it wasn't. Oops.
My friend with the titles always whips me about taking the time to make sure.