Harford County Council President Billy Boniface delivered his annual legislative address Tuesday night, citing the economy, budget, and property tax relief as the council’s priorities heading into 2010.
Addressing the slumping economy and its impact on Harford County’s budget, Boniface cautioned not to expect much in the way of new projects or programs.
“On the operating side it’s maintaining basic services without any bells and whistles. The Capital Program for this year; if the mortar isn’t being mixed or the dirt isn’t being moved, it’s most likely going to have to wait until things improve,” he remarked.
Boniface also said the council is determined to provide property tax relief for county residents.
“We lowered the homestead tax cap from a maximum allowed rate of 10% to 5% for this year forward, something no other Council since 1991 has had the fortitude to execute. We recently removed the service charge placed on those that choose to take advantage of paying their property tax bill in two payments. These measures alone will provide significant savings for property owners,” he said.
Boniface added that the council supports Harford County representatives in Annapolis in their effort to improve Maryland’s property assessment process.
The council president also mentioned the unique qualities of his six colleagues on the council and how their different personalities and skills have come together to better serve Harford’s residents.
Here is the full text of Boniface’s address:
2010 Legislative Address
When this Council’s time began over three years ago, the handicappers had mixed feelings on where to place our odds of success.
There where just too many unknown variables to take in consideration.
Four first time starters, seven very different pedigrees that couldn’t possibly ever agree, and probably the most concerning of all, Mr. Guthrie is still there.
But now with three seasons behind us and a record of accomplishments to show for it, we’re on track to complete our first terms not as long shots but arguably the most productive Council to serve together.
This year’s agenda could easily be summed up in three areas of priority; the economy, budget process, and property tax relief.
The economy
As legislators working with the administration we have implemented tax credit programs, reduced fees, funded the efforts of the County’s office of economic development, and cooperated with our partners at the state and federal level to bring new businesses to Harford County.
We developed an entirely new Zoning Code that laid the ground work for a historically successful comprehensive rezoning process that was supported by all members of the Council and County Executive without opposition of the community.
This one accomplishment on its own will have us in a much better position to be prepared for BRAC as the economic climate improves.
But none of this means anything if you have lost your job and are struggling to make ends meet.
It is now time to take advantage of the many tools we have placed in the box that will allow Harford County businesses to grow but most importantly, put people back to work.
The budget process
As revenues continue to decline, the decisions get harder.
To insure that we achieve a successful outcome for the upcoming budget process this Council and Executive have agreed that communication and cooperation are paramount.
On the operating side it’s maintaining basic services without any bells and whistles.
The Capital Program for this year; if the mortar isn’t being mixed or the dirt isn’t being moved, it’s most likely going to have to wait until things improve.
While still very strong in our ability to borrow and much more conservative than other counties throughout the state, we must continually look for other ways fund projects.
This country was built upon the principal of living within your means and saving for the future. Borrowing and investing on speculation is at the heart of the current financial crisis.
As a nation haven’t we passed enough burdens on to those that will come after us?
Property tax relief
Balancing the needs of our citizens and the amount we ask of them in taxes is always difficult but even more so when many are just trying to get by.
The cost of the services we provide and improvements we make should not entirely be on the shoulders of our property owners.
This Council and Executive have demonstrated time and again that we believe actions speak louder than words when it comes to providing tax relief for those that choose to live in Harford County.
We lowered the homestead tax cap from a maximum allowed rate of 10% to 5% for this year forward, something no other Council since 1991 has had the fortitude to execute.
We recently removed the service charge placed on those that choose to take advantage of paying their property tax bill in two payments.
These measures alone will provide significant savings for property owners.
The Council strongly supports the efforts of our State Senators and Delegates to improve Maryland’s property assessment process in order to create a more reliable and fair indicator of property values.
Mr. Guthrie I’m sure will continue throughout this year to be wherever and whenever he needs to be as an advocate for the citizens of district A.
The Council suffered a great lost in 2009 with the passing of Mrs. Chenowith.
While she can never be replaced, Mr. Woods has already in a short amount of time established himself as a strong supporter of those he serves in district B.
What about Jim McMahan and the yellow van you may ask?
The Capt doesn’t wait on district C to come to him; He believes that to be a true representative of the people, one must be out and about among them.
He led us on several of the property tax issues we as a Council have dealt with and I thank him for that.
Mr. Shrodes has joined the ranks of fatherhood and I believe although she is only less than two months of age, young Madeline has her father right where she wants him.
He continues to work throughout district D to find common ground on the many issues that are unique to the area.
His desire to maintain Northern Harford County as a rural community is one I share.
Coach Slutzky has been invaluable to me in my role as Council President.
I often use him as a sounding board on difficult issues.
His “think before you leap” approach to a problem has helped me grow as a leader.
District E has many challenges ahead as BRAC approaches but is well up to the task with Mr. Slutzky as its Councilman.
Ms. Lisanti has taken on the call of the Council to lead the effort of finding new solutions to an ongoing problem, how to fund our school construction and renovation needs.
She continues to use her connections at the state and federal level to secure funding for projects throughout District F and Harford County.
I know I speak for my colleagues in thanking the following people who have helped us along the way; our staff for their diligence, the administration for their assistance, and the many members of the community who have spent an immeasurable amount of time providing the Council with input and advice.
I firmly believe this Council has hit its best stride and is united in the goal of keeping Harford County moving forward.
God bless.
Now that sounds like the accountable spending that needs to head to DC. If property taxes are going to be lowered, which is long overdue, then the hedge trimmers need to come out on local programs until the county start to build fiscally with the economy. I’m sure there are programs that could stand to loose the leather seats “LX” package in lieu of cloth and a tape deck. Budget cuts are never popular to government itself, but economic hardship calls for accountability, not popularity. Good on you council, hope you stick to this plan!
…except that the public won’t accept the level of service the government is providing if all they offer is cloth and a tape deck.
If cloth and a tape deck get you from point A to point B, then what more do you need.
Sadly however… tax cuts at a time when all sorts of necessary social services are being reduced, cut, or slashed is irresponsible governance. Despite the popular rhetoric, there is not evidence that cutting property tax rates or even marginal income tax rates (particularly at the levels we are discussing) have any true impact on the lives of people in our county. Nobody is going to be able to stay in a Harford County home or afford necessary surgery due to any ‘tax relief’ (a total BS term coined by Reaganesqe Republicans). Many citizens however WILL be negatively impacted by the cuts that are coming (or have come) to the libraries, schools, police and fire protection, roads, and park and recreation. To be talking about tax cuts when our county is being pummeled by two major storms in a week that is causing our road crews to work over time all week long (road crews who stand to have a budget and/or salary cuts due to Boniface’s ill-advised tax cuts) is particularly obnoxious.
It takes money to have the quality of life we expect as Harford County and Maryland residents. We have great roads, FANTASTIC public servants in all arenas (schools, libraries, public services, police, and so on), the BEST public schools in the country (possibly even the world) ALL due to taxing at a rate high enough to properly fund these institutions. Now you want to cut those funds?!?!?!? People from BRAC are not going to move here because we have a low tax rate. They are going to move here because of schools, libraries, roads, parks, recreation, and fire/police protection. By cutting budgets, you are cutting the things that make our county worth living in. Sounds great to talk about Tax Relief if you are trying to play to the TEA Party type Republican base I suppose… but out here in the real world there are serious things to consider beyond cutting tax rates unreasonably. We need these things that make our county great, and by completing this slashing process that is being discussed in the press release above, you Mr. Boniface will be taking away from the things that make Harford County and Maryland great.
ProudDemocrat –
Sadly you expect us to accept the tired old liberal/progressive/socialist mantra that government is the answer and creates prosperity.
However you are wrong, private citizens engaged in commerce create prosperity, not government. Overly intrusive government sucks the life out of the economy through confiscatory taxation and bureaucratic overreach.
Winston Churchill said it best – “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
Have a nice day!
Joe
PD-Taxes are not responsible for those successes PEOPLE commited to their jobs and doing the best they can with what they have. Obviously you are not familiar with Harford County’s history of “getting the most with the least”.
Once again you bash based on political parties and offer no ideas except tax good and Republicans bad. Sounds sort of Animal Farm-ish doesn’t it…