Residents of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County will see the following ballot questions when they enter voting booths today.
* The eight city ballot questions are Question A, $12 million for community development; Question B, $1.5 million to improve community buildings; Question C, $12.5 million for economic development projects; Question D, $1.5 million for asbestos removal at city-owned properties; Question E, $3.5 million for renovation at the National Aquarium; Question F, to finance a $500,000 city match toward renovations at three city swimming pools, and Question G, $12 million for school repairs and renovations. And don't forget Question H, a charter amendment clarifying that civil service employees can be removed only for cause.
We urge a vote FOR each of these questions.
* The 11 ballot questions Baltimore County voters will face include Question A, a $46.1 million school bond issue for construction and maintenance and the purchase of property for future school construction; Question B, $11 million to build and maintain refuse disposal facilities; Question C, $3.3 million for construction and maintenance at county community colleges; Question D, $47.4 million for work on storm drains, roads, and bridges; Question E, $3 million to develop and preserve parks and greenways; Question F, $600,000 to develop affordable housing for the elderly and low- to moderate-income county residents; Question G, $660,000 to purchase easements for agricultural preservation; Question H, $1.7 million to spruce up commercial districts and town centers; Question I, $3.2 million for restoration of county shorelines, stream banks, wetlands and tidal waterways; and Question J, $1 million to improve buildings and grounds at the county's 25 libraries.
We call on Baltimore County citizens to vote FOR each of these ballot questions. But we urge a vote AGAINST Question K, a charter amendment giving each County Council member appointment power to a seat on the Planning Board.
* Harford County voters will find a slimmer ballot. Question A authorizes unequal installment payments to purchase farm land
preservation easements. Question B allows the council to set the dollar level above which county purchases and contracts would have to go to competitive bid, thus eliminating the current $3,000 ceiling. Harford residents should vote FOR these charter changes.