'Building On Success': Glassman's State Of County Address

BEL AIR, MD — Harford County Executive Barry Glassman focused on finances during his 2019 State of the County Address. He delivered the speech the day after students, staff and parents filled a Harford County Board of Education hearing about the school system's budget gap.

"...we have dedicated close to all new, ongoing revenue to public safety and education, and Harford County has always funded our schools above the maintenance of effort," Glassman said Tuesday during his 2019 address. "For the most part, 50 cents of every tax dollar has gone to education."

He referenced a list created by the Maryland State Department of Education for FY 2018 that showed how school systems around the state ranked as far as per-pupil spending. Harford County was No. 13 out of 24 jurisdictions.

"This does not include the School Resource Officer program we fund through the Sheriff’s Office. And new funding from the county over the past four years has outpaced state increases by 4 to 1," Glassman said.

The county executive, who said he has had experience forecasting financial trajectories, sees that Harford County Public Schools is adjusting to its new share of financial burdens, such as assuming the cost for school employee pensions.

"The school board is finally coming to terms with some of the difficult business decisions just like we made in county government four years ago. Believe me, I know these decisions are tough, but being proactive on health care costs, pension and procurement reform does make a difference. For example, in county government over the past four years we have saved more than $9 million in procurement alone," Glassman said. "That makes money available for other priorities, such as the superintendent’s proposed increase of $10 million from the County next year."

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Photo courtesy of Harford County Government.