From Harford County government:
Today, County Executive David R. Craig vetoed County Council Bill 14-27, which if enacted would raise the base salary of the Harford County Executive from $90,000 to $130,000.
County Executive Craig attached the following message with the vetoed bill that was returned to the Council:
In July 2005, when I became the county executive, the economy of our country, our state, and our county was in excellent shape. Jobs were being created which helped raise the income tax base and revenue. The volume of home construction and the value of existing homes were increasing which helped raise the property tax base and revenue.
Property tax revenue is the largest source of funding for Harford County government, providing 51% of total revenue on an annual basis. From FY06 to FY09 it was increasing by an average of $20 million a year.
Because of this, the county was able to negotiate on a regular basis to provide step increases and COLA’s to its valued employees as well as those in outside agencies such as the Sheriff’s office, the public library, and the school system. Pay raises had been inconsistent from 1992 to 2005. In my first four years in office, however, they were consistent – a step and 3% COLA each year.
At the same time, the salary of the incumbent county executive increased annually based on the CPI. The adjustments were:
2007 2.5% $ 95,387
2008 4.1% $ 99,297
2009 1.0% $ 99,397
2010 2.7% $102,080
These pay raises had been authorized by Bill 99-34 which was enacted six years prior to my taking office. It also affected the salary of the county council.
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Then in 2008 (FY2009) the economy was drastically affected. This meant that to keep our county solid and stable, some changes needed to take place until the economy recovered.
Property tax revenues over the following five budget years were greatly impacted. Instead of increasing $20 million a year, it only increased $2 million over the entire five years. If the economy had continued in the way it had previously, property tax revenue in FY2015 would have been $350 million — $100 million more than it currently is. This would have enabled the administration to continue providing justifiable pay raises to all employees.
Being fiscally prudent, however, was very important. While pay raises were not provided five out of the six years, the administration did provide a 4% raise in FY13. Unfortunately the rise in federal social security taxes undermined this. Many did not see that they had received a pay raise which was retroactive.
In FY12 the administration submitted legislation to provide a bonus to employees. The bonus was to ensure that employees at least received extra funds that year with the hope that revenues would allow for a pay raise soon after that.
The depressing aspect of this was that the County Council, which now wants to give the county executive the highest salary, $130,000, amended the bonus legislation and cut the bonus in half for the employees. County Council President Boniface and Council Members Woods, McMahan, Slutzky, and Lisanti voted for the cut. Councilmen Guthrie and Shrodes abstained.
As the current county executive, my largest regret has been that the economy made it difficult to provide pay raises. Because of that, in FY10 and FY11 I remitted the entire pay raise that I received back to the County Treasury. I also introduced legislation to restrict the pay increase of the county executive so that it could never be higher, by percentage, than that given to the employees. The council did support that legislation (10-06). Without that legislation the salary of the county executive would be $110,379, $6,000 more than I currently receive.
The County Council wisely withdrew Bill 14-28 to give the next Council a pay raise. The same action should have taken place with Bill 14-27, which gives the next county executive a significant pay raise and which will cost county taxpayers $100,000. This equals the amount saved by cutting the bonus for some 160 employees. If the Council chooses to override this Executive Veto, I feel that the next county executive should remit the increase or the next Council should repeal the legislation if they truly value the work of the employees.
Therefore, I VETO Bill 14-27.
I guess David is mad at Barry. Wait until next year and we will find out how bad the economy of Harford County Government really is. Hold on to your wallets.
I think David is mad at the Council, and for good reason. This Bill is junk. I can understand Boniface supporting it, even Lisanti – she’s got nothing to lose. But the other so-called Republicans on the Council? Who has ever heard of a 25% raise?!
Barry should’ve stepped in weeks ago and requested they drop the Bill.
Bonicrat you mean? Boniface is a liberal democrat through and through. Ask anyone in the county GOP other than Glasman and see what they think.
I support his veto and am glad he did it. This is one of the things that needed to be done. SHAME ON THE COUNCIL WHO VOTED FOR IT. Guess it’s time to change my vote from republican to whoever is the best candidate. It’s a miscarriage of justice, when the council votes for a pay raise…..FOR ONE PERSON. Who do you think works for the county? I’m so glad to be getting rid of some of the council.
Isn’t it refreshing to read that “republican” — or “democrat,” (or whatever commentator)–is going to stop voting the straight party line and start voting for “whoever is the best candidate.
Did anyone think to ask WHY they were giving the County Exec a Raise? Might want to look at Mr. Craig a little closer. The next County Exec will see that all the money is NOT there for any one. It just “disappeared” !! It was his idea and then to veto it to make him look better. Look at his bid for Govenor, he did not even take Harford County, his own County.
What are you even talking about? It wasn’t his idea or his bill. He said he was going to veto it on the day it was introduced. And he did win Harford County. He didn’t get over 50percent but he came in first. Check the facts man. Adjust the tin foil on your head… It must be askew.
I guess it is ok for Craig to work a 3 day week and collect 105k and pay is sister in law 71k to keep his calendar not mention Gonzalez and the rest of his cronies at 100k. He has nerve that’s for sure. Let s watch his October surprise as he buys the rest of the EPA clean up sites on water street for his final payback to his cronies. I do hope the next administration sends that deal to the Special Posecutor.
Excellent decision by Mr Craig. 90k is enough, especially when your employees struggle to put good in the table at times.
Harford Campaign for Liberty is asking the public to hold the County Council accountable and insist they let Craig’s veto stand:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2014/09/23/harford-campaign-for-liberty-hold-these-individuals-accountable-for-treating-themselves-to-the-goodies-that-the-rest-of-us-go-without/
I have to wonder if Craig would veto this bill so vehemently if he still had three years of his office left to serve.
Doesn’t the stemmed republican and presumed winner have nothing to say about anything? Is he even running a campaign? This is probably the most obscure campaign I have seen in a long time for office! It isn’t surprising that the democratic candidate would “pound the pavement” to gather some momentum but Glass is acting like he is made of glass and doesn’t take a position on anything. Is he afraid of the C4L or the TP? Probably afraid to take a stand on anything at this point and he will be voted by the hazard county sheep as the next Sheppard-not quite up to speed on county matters and hasn’t ever managed a county or submitted a budget? That actually may be a good selling point since he can’t be admonished from having supported spending or cutting. Make no mistake about it, he will actually have to do some work because the teachers union and the classified employees are about to blow a gasket if no raises are forthcoming next year. I
What does Glen Glass have to do with any of this?
Every knows if anyone represents Harford county voters it is glen glass.
Glassman, I stand corrected. Glass isn’t running for CE. My apologies to both..
the county is about to head into the election for CE and no one has a clue what the republican candidate stands for on any issue. We do know that Boniface is the new defacto director of administration (he sponsored the bill that would allow council reps to move from the council to the administration without the required 1 year wait) Had it been a democrat with that proposal he/she would have been blasted for it, but as long as the republican does it, it must be for good intentions. Pathetic!
Vote ’em all out! It sounds like everyone is finally outraged and angry enough to vote these clowns out. It’s a shame people weren’t this riled up for the past five years when county employees stopped getting increases.
It would be nice to get rid of them all but on election day the same familiar names will probably win. From my involvement in political issues some years ago, I found that most people have no idea of what the candidates stand for, they just pull the lever based on party affiliation, TV commercials, and the number of signs they see along the road.
The ticket should be quite easy to fill, just don’t vote for any incumbents and you have done the correct thing……….