Harford Executive Cassilly Sets Record-Level Funding Without Raising Taxes in FY 2027 Budget

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly today issued the following video and statement announcing his recommended budget for the fiscal year 2027, which begins on July 1, 2026.

“Hardworking families expect their county government to live within taxpayers’ means. My FY 2027 budget fulfills that promise for the fourth consecutive year and still makes record-level investments in public safety and education, while funding enhancements to our overall quality of life. Getting here was not easy.

When I came into office four years ago the county government was spending more than it was taking in, leaving my administration with a $90M structural deficit. Today, that deficit has been eliminated, and we are on a sustainable path where spending aligns with anticipated revenue growth.

We did it, in part, by resisting demands to continue spending at the sugar-high levels of the COVID pandemic and federal stimulus years.

We did it even after learning – one month into my term – that the volunteer ambulance service was no longer viable, and we had to quickly staff and equip 17 ambulances countywide. Since then, we have reduced response times, and we are saving lives every day.

We also held the line on the 25% of the county’s general fund budget that operates under my direct administration, with an increase of only 1% per year (except for public safety). Fiscal discipline, procurement savings, and greater efficiencies - these are the tools of good governance that helped us direct record-level funding to the remaining 75% of the budget that funds our priorities of public safety and education.

Public safety
If citizens don’t feel safe, nothing else matters. My top priority is public safety through highly trained and equipped ambulance services, robust volunteer fire companies, and highly competitive salaries for sheriff’s deputies.

Along with standing up 17 ambulance units with lifesaving equipment for citizens who are sick or injured, we also improved service with lifesaving interventions including the infusion of whole blood and the ability to open a patient’s airway using a procedure called Rapid Sequence Intubation.

Our volunteer fire companies that serve us with tireless dedication will receive record-level funding for their critical mission.

To strengthen law enforcement, we are investing in sheriff’s deputies ahead of buildings. In each year of my administration, deputies have received substantial raises and next year’s budget provides funding to raise the average deputy salary to $113,700 before overtime, making Harford highly competitive among area jurisdictions.

My budget also invests in state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment for deputies, who put their lives on the line to protect us.

Record-level funding is provided for the court system and state’s attorney’s office to help keep criminals off our streets.

Funding is also provided for school safety.

Education
K-12 education will receive record-level funding, the second highest dollar increase in county history. This includes full funding for instructional salary increases requested by the school board and the $60,000 starting salaries for new teachers, as required by the state.

Harford provides local per pupil funding in line with our per-capita-income peers, such as Carroll and Baltimore counties.

As the state continues to support its runaway spending by pushing some costs onto the counties, we continue to absorb these unexpected cost shifts, which include $3M more for private pre-K and teacher pensions next year.

Capital projects for public schools include a new elementary school, the new Harford Academy, a new roof for Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary, and a new HVAC system for Edgewood Middle, and many more.

Harford County Public Library will receive record-level funding and Harford Community College’s operating budget request is fully funded. Funding is also provided for the college’s new workforce development center.

Quality of Life
Despite state cutbacks, my administration continues to invest in schools, parks and roads, including funding set aside so we can act quickly when land becomes available to build turn lanes and other improvements that help traffic flow.

Investments in parks and recreation facilities include new fields in Fallston and Joppatowne; parks in Norrisville and Edgewood; Aberdeen’s activity center, and park improvements at Eden Mill, Schuck’s Road, Mariner Point, and our crown jewel Oakington Peninsula Park System.

In closing, I would first like to thank our taxpayers. Thanks also to my budget team and all county employees for their outstanding work on behalf of the citizens we serve.”

FY 2027 budget highlights appear below.

Budget highlights are listed below:

- Total operating budget (all funds) of $1,145,966,650; Total capital budget of $364,514,265.
- Total general fund operating budget of $896,618,000, an increase of $80,053,000 (9.8%)
- No increases in tax rates
- Highest funding in county history for HCPS, Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney, HCC, Libraries

-Largest general fund operating increases by department/agency:
o Harford County Public Schools ($25,530,838)
o Sheriff’s Office ($9,705,833)
o Emergency Services ($3,501,854)
o Harford Community College ($1,726,917)
o Libraries ($1,337,706)
o Public Works ($1,000,120)
o Volunteer Fire Companies ($918,147)
o State’s Attorney ($700,284)
o Humane Society ($563,000)

- COLA of 3% plus a merit increase of $2,000 for employees of county government, as well as civilian employees of the Sheriff’s Office and Circuit Court, with an equivalent amount to be allocated at the discretion of the State’s Attorney.
- The state of Maryland has burdened county taxpayers with over $3 million in new costs
- AAA bond rating retained, lowering our cost of borrowing for capital projects

Harford County Public Schools
- Total county operating budget funding of $422,645,505 (9.2% increase)
o HCPS operating contribution: $370,196,425
o HCPS support (for teacher pensions, private pre-K, etc.): $6,414,161
o General fund appropriation for HCPS capital improvements: $7,500,000
o Debt service on HCPS capital projects: $38,534,919

- The County contribution to the HCPS operating budget increases by $22,594,148 (6.5%), providing for full funding of the second year of the Superintendent's three-year funding plan as presented to the Board of Education in January 2025.
- Capital budget funding of $96,946,000, including $79 million for the Harford Academy and new elementary school, $3.1 million for roof replacement at Hall’s Cross Roads ES, $5 million for school site improvements, and $2.3 million for school safety improvements.

Sheriff’s Office
- Operating budget of $143.2 million, an increase of 7.3% over last year, and an increase of 25.6% over the last four years.
- PAYGo funding for equipment increases by an additional $2.9 million, bringing the total general fund increase to 9.2%
- Full funding of the sheriff’s non-personnel operating request
- Wage increases of 9% for eligible sworn law enforcement and corrections officers, including one merit step, a 3% COLA and a 3% market adjustment
- Average salary is now $113,700 per year for a law enforcement deputy and $87,000 for a correctional officer (not including overtime)
- Law enforcement deputies who have been with HCSO since December 2022 are earning $32,000 or 36% more on average than they were four years ago
- A 25% increase in uniform allowance for correctional officers for FY27
- $10 million in capital funding, including providing body worn cameras for correctional officers

State’s Attorney’s Office
- Overall operating increase of $700,000 (6.2%)
- Funds included for a COLA and wage enhancements at the discretion of the State’s Attorney
- One (1) new Assistant State’s Attorney position added

Harford County Public Library
- Funding increase of $1.3 million (6.2%)
-Includes $900,000 for equivalent COLA and merit increases
- Increased funds for healthcare, books and digital records, as well as for state-mandated cost shift of employee pensions to the county

Harford Community College
- Full funding of operating request, an increase of $1.6 million (8.1%)
- Increase in state-mandated cost shift of employee pensions
- Added $11 million in county funds to Regional Workforce Development Center project

Humane Society: Funding increase of $463,000 (35%) for operating costs, plus an additional $100,000 as a contingency for court-mandated animal seizures and boarding expenses

Volunteer Fire Companies
- Full-funding of requested 12% increase in funding allotment to companies
- $250,000 provided for cancer screening for volunteer firefighters
- $13.8 million for new Whiteford station, $500,000 for major maintenance projects

Parks & Recreation
- $30 million in capital projects, including $10 million for Aberdeen Community Center
- Other projects include construction or improvements of parks in Norrisville, Edgewood, Joppa (Mariner Point), Havre de Grace (Oakington), Bel Air (Schucks, Blake’s Venture), and Pylesville (Eden Mill)

Ag Preservation: $12.8 million for the permanent preservation of additional farmland and forests

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