Harford Executive Cassilly Vetoes Tourism Spending Bill

Harford Executive Bob Cassilly has vetoed legislation that directs approximately $750K in hotel tax revenue to a non-government entity in violation of the County Charter.

Bill 24-031 is the County Council’s second attempt at imposing a spending mandate for tourism marketing that usurps the executive branch’s responsibility under the charter for developing the county budget and providing oversight of taxpayer funds.

The current bill is similar in all aspects to one that was introduced by the council and vetoed by the county executive in January, except that the current bill specifies the county’s previous tourism marketing organization, Visit Harford, as the organization mandated to receive hotel tax revenue. By doing so, the current bill circumvents competitive bidding and other procurement regulations that ensure fairness and transparency for taxpayer-funded purchases.

Visit Harford had been the county’s tourism marketing organization, designated as such by the county executive. Rather than continue to outsource these efforts, County Executive Cassilly moved tourism in-house under the county’s department of economic development, which issues contracts for specific marketing services. The county executive’s move aligns Harford with how most Maryland counties manage tourism.

“As with the prior failed bill, this legislation illegally directs $750K in annual hotel tax revenue to a non-governmental entity in violation of the County Charter,” County Executive Cassilly said. “The fact that a specific non-governmental entity is named in the current bill does not make it legal. I have a sworn duty to ensure accountability for taxpayer dollars and to uphold the charter and that is exactly what I will continue to do. This bill is inconsistent with good governance and an afront to fiscal responsibility.”

County Executive Cassilly’s veto message to the County Council is attached.