From Harford County Government:
Harford County Executive David R. Craig issued the following statement regarding the FY 11 fund balance and proposed one-time pay bonus pending approval before the Harford County Council.
“Much of this week I have spent with the County Treasurer, the Director of Administration, and others meeting with the bond rating organizations in New York as we work to maintain Harford County’s strong financial position and a AAA bond rating. Regretfully, I was unable to attend the Harford County Council session this week to personally present our request for the one-time pay bonus for county employees, but my absence was due to the critical meetings we’ve had in New York promoting the financial strength and position of Harford County.
Over the course of the past three years, Harford County employees have risen to the challenge and made personal sacrifices necessary to help keep government solvent and working for the community and citizens we serve. As a result of their dedication and selfless efforts, they have not received a pay increase in more than three years, and have also had to absorb incremental increases in their health care premiums and pension benefits.
The proposed one-time pay bonus to county employees, which is not a pay raise, will come from a fund balance which Harford County has as a result of strong conservative budgeting, and through effective and efficient fiscal management by departments of county government, as well as the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County Public Library, and Harford County Public Schools. Additionally it is my intention, working cooperatively with Council President Boniface and the Harford County Council, to fund one-time capital projects which will result in long-term cost savings to taxpayers, by not bonding such projects over the course of several years.
During the past few years the citizens of our great county have asked for and received tax relief from this Administration and the County Council. Furthermore, during this unprecedented period in our country’s history, Harford County has grown the economy, diversified our economic base, and created jobs, while at the same time we lowered the property tax rate twice, reduced the tax cap, and limited the size of government. I am extremely proud of how Harford County has handled the economic crisis during this difficult time.
Our citizens are fortunate to have quality, dedicated, and outstanding public employees working each day to help improve the quality of life for those who work, live, and raise a family in Harford County.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the support and cooperation the Administration has received from labor on the one-time pay bonus proposal, notably AFSCME, MCEA, the Harford County Deputies Association and the Harford County Correctional Officers Association. I appreciate their support for this proposal.
In concluding, I appreciate the time Council President Boniface and his colleagues are taking in considering this legislation. The Administration also took time to carefully consider this proposal and fiscal implications prior to our announcement of the proposal in October of this year. I am committed to seeking this one-time pay bonus for county employees and look forward to working with Council President Boniface and members of the Harford County Council to do so.”
Ever since I casted my vote for Executive Craig in 2010, his actions have reassured me that I made the right choice at the ballot box. Executive Craig has represented me and my fellow Harford County citizens better then any other County Executives in the past. He has balanced our county budget and has provided us with a surplus. Even now, Executive Craig continues to represent the citizens of Harford County by showing our gratitude to the hard working Harford County government employees by providing them with a well earned bonus.
I have lived in Harford county for my whole life and I know how hard our County Government employees work. Government employees who teach and protect our children. These are the same government employees who haven’t received a raise in more then three years. The least that we can do is give them a bonus to show that there hard work and dedication is appreciated. I admire County Executive Craig for taking the initiative to show our thanks on behalf of the citizens of Harford county.
Good point – no political gain for Craig out of this as he can’t be re-elected and probably won’t go any further politically unless he goes back to Havre de Grace. He’d get slaughtered if he tries to run for governor.
Good point – rank and file county employees are generally not making a lot to start with – so good for them with a little extra $ in their pockets
Possible bad point: Harford is heavily dependent on Federal Govt employee paychecks for revenues – DOD is about to get clobbered, pay is already frozen for Feds – uncertain times ahead.
Bel Air Fred
Can you say governor?
He has feelers out there already
We could only be so lucky as to have Craig as our Gov. He is an outstanding manager. He has created a surplus, lowered taxes and increased the quality of life in Maryland. I hope he runs. We need a commonsense conservative running the state. The damn tea party guys in this county have no idea how good they have it.
Craig for governor are you insane? First he is unelectable and two he is a political hack. Besides he thinks he can be Ruppersberger and he can’t.
The only way Dave Craig becomes governor is if he changes his political affiliation, then changes his last name to O’Malley.
More a statement on Maryland voters than Craig’s competency.
Well, there go the teacher bonuses. No big deal because the union that represents the teachers (HCEA) didn’t want them anyway. Check out the article and replies elsewhere on Dagger. Cerveny, the HCEA president, wants no part of the bonuses.Too bad for the other folks that did want them.
I can’t wait to drop the teacher’s union next year. I feel everyone should do the same.
I totally agree.
Everyone states how the pay for the employees of HCPS and Harford Co. have stayed the same for the past three years. Amazing, because as a HCPS employee my take home pay for the same period of time has actually gone backwards. How? The additional 2 % for State Retirement and the additional price of health insurance after it is played with each year.
You don’t have to wait but please understand that if you do you will lose your malpractice insurance!
I was a member of a union before I retired. Someone brought a frivolous lawsuit against me for actions I took while doing my job. The case was eventually dismissed by the judge before a trial began. The union paid all my legal fees which would have run into the thousands of dollars. Just knowing I had competent legal representation and that I had the support of my union made every penny I had ever paid worth it. Leave the union if you want but think very carefully about what you could lose by doing so.
Staying in the union for the insurance is pretty flimsy. All of the rest of us who are in professional positions carry our own errors and omissions insurance. Check with a reputable agent (start with the one who insures your house) and look into your own policy.
I doubt it is as cheap as simply paying the extra fee to HCEA that makes you a member instead of the representation fee.
There were certainly other reasons for belonging to the union in my profession, but the security of legal representation was certainly a significant factor.