Howard County Executive James N. Robey wants to keep a lid on taxes while giving county workers a pay raise and still spend more for things government had to put off during recent lean years.
But he's got a problem. Budget requests are more than double expected new revenues, and some hard choices will have to be made, he said.
Do the county police get the 24 new patrol officers they want, plus 12 more civilian employees? Do county schools get the $25.6 million more they want for smaller classes, more teachers and new materials? Should public works get the badly needed, but expensive backhoes and other large machines the department needs, or the 22 employees that James N. Irvin, the director, has requested?
What about more people for the Office on Aging? Or the seven firefighters and paramedics requested?
"Even with the benefit of unprecedented growth in our economy, revenues cannot keep pace with the increased needs of education, public safety, roads and our aging population," Robey said.
The new executive's dilemma will be on display at 7: 30 tonight at the annual public budget hearing in the County Council chambers, as Robey listens to requests, and Raymond S. Wacks, the county budget director, tries to dampen expectations.
"The perception is that these are the best of times," Wacks said. "The reality is that these are good times, and in good times you get growth, but not nearly as strong as the perception."
Wacks said departments are requesting $50 million in new operating budget spending in the fiscal year starting July 1 -- not counting cost-of-living pay raises for general government workers. School officials are figuring on 3 percent raises for teachers.
The requests add up to an 11 percent increase in the operating budget, more than double the $21.4 million in extra annual revenues the county expects to have, though Wacks did not count a predicted $20 million more expected to be left as surplus at the end of this fiscal year, June 30.
That money, the budget director said, cannot by law be used for recurring operating expenses, but must be used for one-time capital budget projects.
Forecasts are for a surplus $3.5 million larger than last year's, partially offset by a drop of $2.3 million in fines from red-light runners.
"By taking the surplus and the red-light money out, you get a cleaner picture of revenues," Wacks said, repeating warnings that the surplus might be gone at any time, because it is based largely on capital gains taxes from a volatile stock market.
One growing expense is for fire and rescue services, financed mostly from the county fire tax. Because the special tax revenues aren't covering the whole cost, the county pitched in $1.6 million from the general fund this year, and the request is for an additional $1.8 million.
Robey said several departments are trying to make up for recession years earlier in the decade, when belts were tightened and purchases put off.
"I can't give it all back in one year," he said.
Robey said he plans no property tax increases, and although "plans can change, right now I have no plans" to increase the local piggyback income tax rate, which was cut last year from 50 percent to 48 percent of the state charge. That reduction translates to $5.5 million less in revenue.
The $127 million capital budget request is $5 million lower than the current capital budget, and it includes requests for big-ticket items such as an $8 million renovation of Ellicott Mills Middle School, $2 million for planning a high school, $5.8 million to replace the old Gateway School building in Clarksville, funds for a proposed golf course near the county fairgrounds and $6 million to renovate St. Johns Lane and Talbott Springs elementary schools.
Pub Date: 3/02/99