Cassilly Administration Erases $90M Deficit Without Tax Hike, Earns Top Audit Rating

Harford County’s Cassilly administration has erased an inherited $90M structural deficit without raising taxes and earned a clean audit opinion on the county government’s financial report for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2025.

A structural deficit occurs when ongoing expenditures exceed ongoing revenues from taxpayers.

To reduce Harford’s deficit, which was inherited from the prior county administration, County Executive Bob Cassilly implemented cost-saving and efficiency measures and delayed some major projects to focus on priorities including public safety, raising police salaries, and full funding for Harford County Public Schools.

The county’s FY 2025 audit was performed by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Auditors reviewed the county’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR), which is required by federal and state law, and is an overall assessment of the county’s financial position, including revenues, expenses, debt, investment performance and pensions.

The auditor’s clean opinion of Harford’s ACFR for FY 2025 means that the financial statements are accurate and contain no material misstatements. It also means the ACFR was presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the requirements of the Government Standards Accounting Board. In addition, the auditors had no management comments or findings.

Harford County’s year-end unassigned fund balance was $37.8M, an increase from the prior year’s $6M fund balance, and in line with the county’s estimates. Unassigned fund balance is the excess of actual revenue over actual expenses plus necessary reserves.

Harford County’s FY 2025 ACFR is published on the county website at https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29316/June-30-2025-ACFR-PDF.

“I am proud that, through responsible fiscal management, my administration has over the past three years erased the $90M structural deficit left by my predecessor and Harford County is now living within our taxpayers’ means without compromising on primary government functions and key priorities; we must remain vigilant, however, in light of economic uncertainty and the state’s propensity to push state costs onto county governments,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “I am also proud that once again my administration’s dedication to accuracy and transparency in financial reporting has been recognized by independent financial professionals. I would like to thank Harford County Treasurer Robbie Sandlass and his team, as well as my entire leadership team, for achieving this highest possible opinion from one of the nation’s top accounting firms.”