Cassilly Vetoes Legislation Which Would Empower County Council to Increase Spending, Leading to Higher Taxes

Harford Executive Bob Cassilly today issued a veto of Bill 26-014, a proposed charter amendment that would lead to higher taxes by expanding the County Council’s power to spend taxpayer money.

The county executive’s veto letter reads, in part:

“As it has for the past 50 years, the Harford County Charter requires the county executive to submit a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year. The County Council’s role in our well-ordered system of government is to act as a check on the county executive’s spending. To achieve that purpose, the council has the authority to intervene to cut budget line items.

… This system has served Harford’s citizens and taxpayers well in effectively limiting the size of government, controlling spending and taxes, and protecting the county’s AAA bond rating, all while delivering high-quality essential services.”

By contrast, Bill 26-014 would permit the Council to increase any existing line item in the current expense or capital budget, leading to higher taxes.

County Executive Cassilly’s full veto message is attached.