Executive Cassilly Opposes $93M Cost Shift Threatening Local Services

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly issued the following statement urging Maryland legislators to reject a proposed $93M cost shift onto county governments as they attempt to balance the state budget.

“With only a few hours’ notice, we learned that at 1 p.m. today a subcommittee of the Maryland House Appropriations Committee began hearing a recommendation by the Department of Legislative Services to shift the entire cost of state teacher pensions onto the counties. The outrageous shift would cost Maryland counties and Baltimore City a total of $93M and cost Harford County an extra $3.4M next year that would otherwise fund essential services for our citizens. This is in addition to a $3.4M shift in teacher pension costs for Harford that was included in the governor’s budget proposal.

Counties may soon be forced to raise taxes, all because the state insists on spending more than taxpayers can afford, including the state’s massive and ill-conceived Blueprint for Education and hiring 5,000 new state employees.

In addition, Maryland’s tax rates will soon put us among the top four of the highest taxed citizens in the country. Maryland’s economy grew by 1.6% from 2016 to 2023, far behind the national growth rate of 13.9% and Virginia’s growth rate of 11.2%.

It's time for the state to stop the shell games, get their fiscal house in order, and stop balancing their budget on the backs of counties like Harford County that have worked hard to rein in spending and focus on needs versus wants, without raising taxes.

I urge all concerned citizens to call on the House Appropriations Committee to reject this proposal and call on their state representatives to do the same.”

Contact information appears below:

Maryland House Appropriations Committee
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Details?cmte=app

Harford County Delegation

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mg...