From Harford County Councilman Mike Perrone Jr.:
The Possibility of a Raise for the Next County Council
On October 11, at 6:15 pm in the Council Chamber, a public hearing will be held on Bill 16-023, which would raise the salaries of the 2018-2022 County Council by approximately 18% (from the current $36,750 to $43,500).
For the record, I am not in favor of this increase. For the nearly two years I have sat on the current Council, I’ve had easily several hundred conversations regarding the state of the County’s finances, and everything people wish the County had more money to spend on… from compensation for County employees to school renovations to stormwater management…and everything in between. Regardless of how insignificant this proposed increase in Council salaries may be in the grand scheme of the entire County budget, it still sends a message that contradicts our fiscal reality.
I hope to hear a lot of testimony and read a lot of e-mails in regard to this bill, but there is one point I know is going to be raised in opposition to the bill which I believe actually weakens the argument against it, and so I want to bring up the point in the interest of healthy debate.
That is the myth that County Council positions are somehow part time. Granted, by specifying that the position of County Executive is full time while making no such statement for Council Members, the County Charter does in a sense imply that Council positions are part time. But whatever the Charter may imply, that isn’t reality. I’m a pretty meticulous record keeper, and I’ve averaged 49 hours per week on Council business since this term began (which is probably lower than the average of my colleagues.)
My point is that even though Council members might work harder and put in more hours than a lot of people realize, there are plenty of other people out there who work long and hard hours too… in their careers, no less. County Council positions aren’t supposed to be careers. If our pay is inadequate, we can always step down and move on after our terms are over. That’s how the system was intended to work in the first place.
Thank you Mr. Perone for being honest and frank. Term limits should be instituted in congress to prevent long time good ole boys taking advantage of the system.
Well said, Mr. Perrone. Considering how many candidates ran for these positions, the proposed increase is unnecessary – and somewhat offensive to people who’ve gotten little to no increases in this economy.
I suggest the all-republican Council concentrate on saving this county money, instead of spending it on pay raises and corporate handouts.
Mr Perrone thank you! Councilman McMahon said in The Aegis article that county employees got 1% and then 3% more over the last two years…yeah over the last 10 years actually! So 4% in 10 years yet the Council got a CPI increase over the past 10 years and the raise they are proposing is 18%! Yes this Council is paid less than other jurisdictions but so is your county workforce, take care of the boots on the street maintaining the county with 18% then you can sleep at night getting yours. I’m not expecting 18%, its unrealistic and a lot of the private sector hasn’t made out well either, I just think it’s insulting that McMahon isn’t asking for 4% like the county employees got. What a joke!
When people finally realize that politics isn’t about public service and is about living off the public, then people will finally see who and what the politicians really are…….
Mike – I appreciate your take on the subject and agree with you mostly. I get that we don’t want career politicians. My only concern is that while we don’t want career politicians, I do think we want competent politicians. Harford County is $700 million a year operation. We engage in complex financing arrangements such as TIFs. We debate complicated zoning and land use issues. Our Council members serve a dual role on the Board of Appeals and have to interpret the zoning code.
People want to beat up the Council and not give raises due to past performance. While I couldn’t agree more, I think past performance is linked to competency. And competency to an extent is tied to compensation. Unless you get an educated professional like yourself who is “volunteering” out of a sense of civic duty, you are not going to attract competent individuals to serve on what amounts to a minimum wage part time salary.
I think it is time that our government acknowledges that we are no longer a sleepy little agrarian county. Again we are a $700 million suburban county with a population pushing 250,000. We can no longer afford to allow ourselves to be run by people who are not qualified.
That’s a good point Bill… and I agree with you that like so many other services that people offer, when it comes to the “quality” of our elected officials, we get what we pay for. Along those lines, the day may well come when the Council does a raise for that very reason.
Taking a step back from the Council and looking at the field of candidates from 2014, between the two incumbent-free races from 2014 (Districts E and F), there were 10 candidates total; 5Rs and 2 Ds in District E, and 2 Rs and 1 D in District F. That’s a healthy turnout. The other races weren’t quite as contested, but I think that’s more a function of overall lack of willingness to challenge incumbents than it is a reaction to the compensation package.
But if we find ourselves in a position someday where good people aren’t willing to run because the pay isn’t worth the hours and the stress, I agree that we might need to rethink this.
Councilman Mike, I agree with her 100% (even more, it that was possible!). 🙂
It comes down to ‘you get what you pay for’. However, you can’t apply that to one area of public service and not others. Make that same argument about teachers and their salaries and everyone starts having fits. Sigh.
I am also surprised our local officials get lambasted for small increases when the State folks slip raises in every term and no one says a word For example:
Clerk of Court JIm Reilly who maybe comes in 20hrs went from: $96,750 to 112,750
Reg of wills. Derek Hopkins whoa has less than 6 employees went from 93,900 to 109,153
States Atty Joe Cassilly is at $114,457 and the Delegate and Sen Norman, Cassilly and Jennings quietly raised it to $141,333. Btw watch Sen Cassilly run for this now next term.
And finally, the Delegates and Senators are quietly accepting a 15.7% raise this term right now.
So where is all the hate and indignation to them. Just saying…
There would be “hate and indignation” IF more folks knew about these increases!
BTW, the Cassilly switch will probably take place PRIOR to the end of this term. Watch for big brother Joe to retire around mid-term, and middle brother Bob to get appointed by the Central Committee to fill big brother’s shoes. From what I’ve heard, this was planned since before they were elected two years ago. Talk about abuse of the system! Bob will receive a YUGE (undeserved) raise! And the show goes on……..
Bill, the information you provided is quite startling. Case in point, the amount of salary for Cassilly and the slick way it was done is disgusting. Its about the good ole boys network in addition to feathering one’s nest. Cassilly should have retired years ago and I’m so tired of hearing about his brother. We need new people with fresh ideas and a spirit of truly helping others rather than devising new ways to help themselves, their families or friends.
Agreed. 100%.
Everyone who works is entitled to a fair wage for their time. It would be interesting if the Capt could put together what a full week work load is like being a council member. The problem is other than a council meeting, we the voting public, have very little idea what the council does each and every day. When I had employees they would get a raise for many reasons but if they asked for a raise they needed to explain why they thought they deserved it…. And saying something like “Baltimore county pays it’s county council more” I’m sorry is nothing more than childish negotiations.
Here is another challenge for the Capt in justifying why his hard work deserves a raise. Cecil county pays it’s council $27,000, What is it does the Capt do that Cecil county member’s do not.
I wonder if Mike Perrone can convince the apt to answer my questions?
Maybe print them out and hand them to him at the next meeting, because it seems the Capt only contributes to Dagger requests in his news letter and Wal Mart issues.
Mike Perrone, I find your opinion remarkably refreshing and more in line with our Founders’ vision of how government should work than any government official/politician at any level of government in modern day times. You are exactly the caliber and type of person that I would love to see run for higher office, beyond the local level. Harford County is blessed to have you. Love that you are also sensitive to the needs of your constituency and not living in an elitist bubble..This family of ONE wage earner thanks you! Keep up the great work.
Thank you Bernadette!
I sincerely mean every word of it, Mike. You stand with the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. So very glad that you are serving the people of my county! Would love to see you advance but don’t want to see you leave Harford County local government for selfish reasons….wonderful man of INTEGRITY
Let’s research this. How much does the our government spend on employment of our county councils friends and family?
Maybe, that should be raise enough
“County Council Positions Aren’t Supposed to be Careers. If Our Pay is Inadequate, We Can Always Step Down” – This one statement should be praised by not just the citizens of Harford County, but the citizens of this entire nation. Very seldom do I credit anyone involved in politics due to obvious political agendas and greed, but in this instance I give my praise to this man. Mr. Perrone, our entire country could use more people like you in public office……
Thank you; I appreciate that.
Consider this, if we had economic prosperity and peace, would this really be an issue?
Look around Harford County and tell me if you don’t see evidence of bloated government everywhere you turn? High-density housing running amok (social engineering). The merger of medical care into Maryland’s “Big Three” (socialized medicine). No evidence of thriving businesses employing people making items here in America setting the example for young people to pursue their dreams and start their own businesses which would fuel the sluggish economy (backwards economics aka Keynesianism). Few choices for schooling children outside public school (indoctrination via Common Core) a few Catholic schools (social justice warriors) and a few private schools which we need more of (school choice at a reasonable price). More and more taxes and regulations galore, etc., etc. etc. imposed on the taxpaying citizens who supply the money for the tax pump that pays government bureaucracy. One day, folks, the well is going to run dry.
If you don’t see evidence, are you in denial; a welfare recipient; employed by the government; apathetic and uncaring about the present and the future? If, yes, shame on you!
Who is to blame? Everyone! The taxpayers for not taking a stand. The politicians for not upholding their oaths to U.S. Constitution to protect and preserve liberty and rubber-stamping tyranny. The recipients of corporate and individual welfare.
I know I know. Taxpayers are busy working and caring for their sick and their families just to stay afloat. I had an acquaintance tell me the other day that he had two heart attacks and it will be up to his kids to take on the fight. What an inheritance. Tell all of these reasons to the Founding Fathers. Did they have entertainment like the Baltimore Ravens and weekend football? Did they have their children in umpteen sports? Have we forgotten the shoulders we stand on, the real heroes of America, the pillars of our freedom?
It seems our priorities are backwards and until more people reconsider what is happening, the leviathan state will continue to be fed, watered, and nourished at the expense of everyone! Welcome to Harford County, State of Maryland, United States of America!