Jay Fergusonjay@deepcreekvacations.com301-501-0420
Menu

Area Leaders Voice Concerns At "Stop The Shift" Press Conference

Mar. 1, 2012

The Garrett County commissioners joined the Allegany County commissioners at a “Stop the Shift” press conference in Cumberland on Tuesday. About 50 people attended the event, which took place at the Allegany County Office Complex.


‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Spearheaded by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), similar press conferences took place across the state on Monday and Tuesday to give local leaders an opportunity to voice their concerns about Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2012 (BRFA).

The House Appropriations Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee held public hearings in Annapolis this week on BRFA.

A major component of the budget that concerns MACo is the governor’s proposal to “shift” teacher pension liability from the state to county governments. Effective July 1, 2013, jurisdictions would pay for half of the combined cost of teachers’ Social Security and pension costs. Currently, counties only pay for the Social Security portion, which is about one-third of the total pension cost.

“Counties are maxed out,” Commissioner Jim Raley said at the Cumberland conference. “Enough is enough. Citizens, please get involved in this issue. It is critical, as if the pension shift occurs, it will certainly cut jobs, close schools, and devastate communities.”

Raley noted that last year Garrett County “absorbed” a state cut of approximately $1.5 million to education, thus placing the local appropriation higher than the state appropriation for the first time ever.

“The $1.7 million that Garrett County contributed last year allowed for the schools to continue to operate and work toward a solution to this ongoing problem,” Raley said. “This year, our loss will be approximately $2.7 million in state aid to education and, coupled with the county loss of revenue of approximately $2 million and a potential of having to absorb pensions for education employees, creates a large budget shortfall. In the current year, Garrett County government is contributing $850,000 over maintenance of effort to our schools.”

According to Del. Wendell Beitzel, the governor’s proposed budget includes certain offsets to the teacher retirement shift by way of a disparity grant; however, the total shift for FY 2013 alone would cost Garrett County government $276,240 and Allegany County $554,075.

“The disparity grant is set to expire, and then the local jurisdictions have the entire burden,” Betizel noted in his weekly e-mail to constituents.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 – toll free

MACo Supporting Local Lawmakers' BOE Funding Bills

Feb. 16, 2012

Garrett County commissioner Gregan Crawford announced yesterday that the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) has voted to support House Bill 660/Senate Bill 586 – Education – State Aid – Grant to Limit Decreases in Funding. Crawford is a member MACo’s board of directors and Legislative Committee.


‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

The proposed legislation, which was introduced by Sen. George Edwards and cross-filed in the House of Delegates by Delegates Wendell Beitzel, Kevin Kelly, and LeRoy Myers, was drafted for the purpose of requiring the state to provide a certain grant to a county board of education for fiscal years 2013 through 2015 if certain funding provided to a county board decreases by not more than 5 percent.

Approval of this legislation by the Maryland General Assembly would equate to additional funding for the Garrett County Public School System, estimated to be $1 million. The Garrett County Board of Education is estimating a loss of state revenue for FY 2013 of $2.7 million. Favorable review of this legislation by the General Assembly and the governor would reduce the predicted deficit, according to county administrator Monty Pagenhardt.


More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 – toll free