More Teachers, New 911 Facility Included In Pittman's Budget Proposal For Anne Arundel

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman released his budget proposal on Thursday.

The Democrat's suggestion calls for $2.16 billion in the county's general fund. Pittman proposed a $1.88 billion budget last year. The final budget was $1.87 billion. Adjusted for inflation, last year's approved budget would be worth about $1.97 billion in today's money.

Pittman hopes to hire more teachers and raise pay for educators, staff and school bus drivers. He also wants to build new facilities for first responders and buy additional emergency service vehicles. Other highlights include suggestions to build new parks, trim income taxes and reduce property taxes.

“This budget proposal is a direct response to requests by residents at 29 Budget Town Halls over the last four years to invest in the institutions of local government that serve and protect our people and our environment,” Pittman said in a press release.

The county executive will send his proposal to the County Council on Friday. The lawmakers will likely make edits before returning a final draft to Pittman for his signature.

This budget pitch covers Fiscal Year 2023. That term runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

“This is the strongest, most responsible budget I have seen since I first became involved in Anne Arundel County government in 2010,” County Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer said. “The deliberate and careful planning in our last three budgets earned us a coveted AAA bond rating, and this proposed budget will help us secure that rating while investing in key county services and programs.”

George Arlotto, the superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, also applauded the proposal. He thanked Pittman for covering the school board's entire request for its capital budget, which funds construction projects.

"It is clear to me that the County Executive and his team clearly valued our message," Arlotto said in a statement. "I am particularly thankful for the full funding of our compensation packages for our awesome employees and contracted bus drivers, the allocation of 424 additional positions, and the careful attention paid to providing more resources to address the social and emotional needs of our students."

Pittman's proposal also aims to grow the rainy day fund by the maximum amount allowed.

Herb McMillan, a Republican candidate for county executive, would have preferred a bigger tax cut over the large rainy day deposit.

"Raising county income taxes by 12%, and then giving back less than 1% of the increase is not tax relief, it’s an election year gimmick," McMillan said in a press release. "After excessively taxing us, Pittman wants to increase the Rainy Day Fund, another scheme for him to keep our hard-earned money away from us and sitting in the county’s savings account."

Residents can learn more about Pittamn's proposal at aacounty.org/budget. The county executive's budget speech is also uploaded to that webpage.

Pittman additionally released an outline of his major budgetary points. That unedited announcement is pasted below.

Taxpayer Benefits

Lower income tax

• Last year, the County Executive worked hard to pass the Tax Relief for Working Families Act in the Maryland General Assembly.
• This year, the County Executive’s budget proposal uses the bill’s new authority to lower the income tax rate on the first $50,000 of taxable income for every taxpayer, from 2.81% to 2.70%.
• This will save each taxpayer up to $50, and keeps Anne Arundel County’s income tax rate the lowest in the Baltimore region.

Property tax rate set below the cap

• Anne Arundel County’s property tax revenue cap went into effect in 1993.
• Since that time, the property tax rate has been set at the maximum level allowed in 24 out of 28 years. This year, that rate is 96.2 cents per $100 value.
• In the FY 23 budget proposal, the County Executive calls for a rate 3 cents lower, 93.3 cents. This saves the average homeowner $100, and keeps the County’s property tax rate significantly lower than any of its central Maryland neighbors.

Structural deficit eliminated

• The County Executive’s FY23 budget proposal completely eliminates the structural deficit.

Reduced Borrowing

• For the first time ever, the county will reduce borrowing for capital projects, from $170 million to $160 million.
• That is possible because conservative budgeting left a fund balance that allows us to invest a record $205 million up-front - or paygo - protecting future taxpayers.

Rainy Day Fund

• The County’s record rainy day fund impressed the bond rating agencies by showing the County is well-protected from future economic downturns.
• The County Executive’s FY23 budget proposal grows that fund again - to the maximum allowable by law.

Education

Capital Budget

• For the first time in the County’s history, the budget proposal includes funding for 100% of the Board of Education’s capital budget request for the coming year.
• This includes moving Old Mill Middle School North into the six-year schedule.

Back steps and salary

• The budget proposal restores back step increases and makes all units of AACPS employees whole.
• It also fully funds the Board of Education’s request for pay increases for all teachers, staff, and school bus drivers.

Blueprint for Maryland’s Future

• The budget proposal fully funds obligations under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, including comprehensive changes to Maryland’s early childhood and public schools to provide promise and opportunity for all children.
• The budget sets a new county record of $50 million over the state maintenance of effort requirement, which is also a record $50 million over last year’s budget.

New Positions, including:

• 119 new special education positions
• 29 new social/emotional learning positions
• 48 new pre-k positions to convert half-day programs to full-day pre-k classrooms
• 20 new English language development positions
• 3 new bilingual facilitators
• 140 new classroom teacher positions, including the final year of staffing required to fully open Crofton High School

Public Safety

911 Call Center

• Design and construction of a new 911 Call Center, combining police and fire call takers into one unified operation under the Office of Emergency Management.

Police Capital budget

• The budget proposal includes a replacement for the dilapidated firing range, a new forensics facility, and a new special operations facility.
• To attract and retain the best officers in the region, the budget proposal provides cars to all officers, with a $3.7 million investment in 55 new vehicles.

Police staffing

• The budget funds a Police Accountability Board Director and Assistant, as well as new staff to handle public information requests, body worn camera review, expungements, and victim witness support.

Fire Apparatus

• The budget proposal includes $2 million to replace the County’s oldest fire boat and $4 million for nine new vehicles, including a tower ladder truck.

Fire staffing

• The budget continues to provide additional funds to train and certify new EMTs, and it also creates three new EMS supervisor positions to manage the growing operation.

Recreation & Parks

Parks

• The budget proposal includes two new parks - Tanyard Springs and South Shore - and major investments in Bacon Ridge at Forney, Odenton Library Park, Deale, and the new Brooklyn Park Center.
• It also includes upgrades to 25 playgrounds

Water Access

• The budget proposal provides water access site improvements totaling a combined $7.8 million in investments.

Accessibility

• The budget proposal invests in upgrades to make park facilities more accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Economy, Housing, and Health

Inclusive Ventures

• The budget proposal adds $1.3 million to the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Inclusive Ventures Program to support emerging minority and small business operators.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

• The budget proposal invests $10 million in the County’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park

• The budget proposal includes $3.5 million to restore a building on the campus to become the Crownsville Health and Wellness Center, and incubator that will house emerging nonprofits, offer services to residents of the treatment centers operating nearby, and be a temporary home for the county team that will manage the restoration of the site.

RELATED:

• Inflation, Crime, Education Among Top Concerns In Anne Arundel: Poll
• Pay Raise For Teachers, Money For School Construction Requested In AACPS Budget

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