Commissioners Adopt FY2014 Budget with 3-2 Vote

In a regularly scheduled open meeting Tuesday, the Board of Carroll County Commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt the fiscal year 2014 budget. 

Board President Doug Howard said he is very proud of the budget and this year's process in creating the budget. 

"I’m incredibly proud of this budget," Howard said. "We've decreased taxes for the third year, on the heels of [the county] not having decreased [taxes] for 25 years. I understand everyone would like to do more, but I think before that happens we have to look at consequences and the purpose of government."  

Commissioners Robin Frazier and Richard Rothschild did not support the budget. 

Both mentioned, among other things, that they are not comfortable with the funding for the Board of Education. The Board of Education will receive $163.5 million in new county funds in fiscal year 2014 and the commissioners will authorize an additional $500,000 transfer from the school system's fund balance. 

Additionally, according to a county news release, the Board of Education will receive $2 million in one-time money for technology projects. 

"There are things in this budget that I think are good and I support," Rothschild said. "I’m going to vote against it, I'm not comfortable with the structure of the education budget."

The budget also includes an income tax rate reduction from 3.05 percent to 3.04 percent for calendar year 2014, with another cut planned for fiscal year 2015.

Carroll County residents will also see a 3-cent personal property tax reduction from $2.545 per 100 to $2.515 per 100 in fiscal year 2014.

Rothschild said he was happy to see the reduction of bonded debt. The commissioners planned for a 7 percent reduction of outstanding bonded debt through fiscal year 2014.

Other highlights from the fiscal year budget include: 

• $1.5 million (3 percent) increase in compensation for county employees 
• Funds the cost of the teacher pension shift, which is $5.1 million dollars in FY 14 growing to an estimated $7.8 million in FY 19.
• Funding for Sunday hours at the Eldersburg Library ($55,000)
• Sheriff’s Office staffing increases ($232,000)
• Create a hardship fund to help the towns when hard-hit by stringent regulations ($200,000)
• Education Opportunity Fund for supplies for non-public school children ($400,000)
• Technology money for Community College and Libraries ($1 million)
• Performance audit funding ($100,000)
• Flat funding for county-funded nonprofits including Human Service Programs. 

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• Commissioner Howard Not Optimistic About Funding Adopted Education Budget