[County Council FY26 Budget Public Hearing on April 23, 2025.]
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SO IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE LIVE STREAMING AUDIO THIS MORNING.
SO, FIRST THING THIS MORNING, WE'RE GONNA WELCOME THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY, UH, COMMITTEE HERE THIS MORNING.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE COMING HOME WHEN YOU GET TOGETHER WITH A BUNCH OF HARTFORD COUNTY, AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW TOO MANY STORIES ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD, SO THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TOO MUCH.
UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
AND I, I JUST WANNA THANK EACH OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY.
UH, YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB, AND, UH, IT IS APPRECIATED VERY MUCH.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE AS CHAIR OF THE, THE COMMITTEE.
AND I'M, I'M REMINDED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME BEFORE YOU, IF YOU THINK BACK, THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED COVID.
IT WAS A ONCE IN A HUNDRED YEAR EVENT.
THOSE WERE VERY UNSETTLING TIMES.
AND I LOOKED TO KIND OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH SOME UNSETTLING, UH, TIMES.
AND MY WIFE HAS, HAS GIVEN ME MANY NUGGETS OVER OUR 30 PLUS YEAR RELATIONSHIP.
UM, AND ONE OF THOSE NUGGETS IS BY AN AUTHOR RUDYARD KIPLING.
AND HIS POEM IF, UH, REALLY RESONATED WITH ME AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT ADDRESSING YOU, UH, THIS MORNING.
AND THE VERY FIRST LINE IS IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU ARE LOSING THEIRS.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE DAY TO DAY CONCERNS THAT EACH OF US HAVE, AND YOU AS A GOVERNING BODY HAVE EACH DAY, AND WE AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND CITIZENS HAVE, UM, JUST TRYING TO KEEP THOSE HEADS.
AND, AND AS I LOOK AT EACH OF YOU, IT GIVES ME GREAT COMFORT TO KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY HAS SUCH STRONG LEADERSHIP.
OUR COMMITTEE IS CHARGED, UH, WITH THREE KEY AREAS.
THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS IS ON OUR SPENDING AND OPERATING FUND.
AND OUR COMMITTEE TAKES IT TO HEART AND KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REPORT THAT WE GENERATE AND HOW IT IS USED BY OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN WE TALKED THROUGH THIS, MATTER OF FACT, WE EVEN STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, THAT OLD ADAGE, THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM AND AN EXTRA MEETING AND SOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS THIS YEAR, I THINK HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL ACROSS THE BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE WITH ME.
THEY'RE ALL SITTING BACK HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UH, TODAY AS CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS, UH, JENNIFER ZER, MR. WAYNE GODDARD, JOHN O'NEILL, JOHN SCOTT, AND LEE TAS AND STEVE WEISSMAN.
UH, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK.
UH, THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE INSIGHTS THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.
UH, AND WITHOUT THEM, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND PRESENT SOME FINDINGS THAT WE THINK ARE VALUE TO YOU ALL AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUBORDINATED, AT LEAST DURING MY TENURE, BY STRONG HARTFORD COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND LEADERSHIP, UH, MR. ROBERT SANDLES, OUR TREASURER, RICK PERIS, DEPUTY TREASURER, THEIR STAFF, BENJAMIN LLOYD, WHO'S CHIEF OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING ESTIMATES ON HISTORICAL DATA AND REVENUE THAT, THAT HAS BEEN PRICELESS TO US, AS WELL AS GUIDANCE, BUT ALLOWING OUR COMMITTEE TO BE INDEPENDENT AND TO DO OUR WORK.
WE WERE ALSO GIVEN SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS THIS YEAR.
UH, RICHARD TRUITT, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, LICENSING, AND PERMITS, SHANE GRIM, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING.
KAREN HOLT, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND A NEW GUEST.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK ROBBIE FOR BRINGING HIM TO THE TABLE.
UH, I'VE KNOWN ANDY FOR A LONG TIME, DR. ANDREW BAUER WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE OUT OF BALTIMORE, WHO IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, HUMBLE, AND ELOQUENT, UH, SPEAKER AND PERSON TO JUST SIT AROUND AND HAVE A COFFEE CHAT WITH.
AND, UM, I THINK, I THINK HE WAS, UH, VERY GIVING OF HIS TIME AND WE, HE ENJOYED THE INTERACTION WITH OUR COMMITTEE AS WELL AS HE'S LISTENING TO THE INSIGHTS OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, SO TO SPEAK.
SO THAT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL ADDITION THIS YEAR THAT I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF.
THE COMMITTEE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ISAIAH SMITH.
HE'S A BUDGET ANALYST, UH, AT THE KELLY GROUP, MY FIRM AND HIS ASSISTANT IN DEVELOPING NEW FORECASTING MODELS FOR US, AND CERTAINLY GAIL DE PETRO FOR HER EFFORTS IN COORDINATING US AND MAKING OUR MEETINGS COME TOGETHER SO SEAMLESSLY.
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AND AS MY COUSIN MURPHY WOULD HAVE IT, I LEFT MY GLASSES ON MY DESK.BUT THANK GOODNESS FOR, UH, TECHNOLOGY.
I'LL TRY TO USE THIS FOR REFERENCE.
YOU EACH WILL BE RECEIVING OUR REPORT, AND I, I BELIEVE IT DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB, PARTICULARLY IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF LAYING THINGS OUT.
BUT THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS I JUST WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO, AND, AND OF COURSE, I'D WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS, UM, AS WE GO ALONG OR, OR PLEASE INTERRUPT.
THE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR STARTED UTILIZING, UH, A MODEL, UH, TAKING DATA OVER MANY, MANY YEARS SUCH THAT WE WEREN'T KIND OF TAKEN FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT AND LET THE HIGHS GET TOO HIGH WHEN EVERYONE'S VERY BULLISH ON THE ECONOMY.
OR MAYBE THE LOWS GET TOO LOW WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS THAT GET OVEREXAGGERATED.
YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN AN INCREDIBLY RESILIENT COUNTY, UH, RESILIENT STATE AND NATION, BUT SOMETIMES THOSE WORRIES CAN PUSH US TO BOTH THE LOWER SIDE AND MAYBE TO GET A LITTLE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC AT SOME POINTS THIS YEAR, WE ADDED A, A DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO THAT DATA.
AND WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, WE TOOK ONE MODEL WHERE ROBBIE AND HIS TEAM, UH, USED AVERAGES, LONG-TERM AVERAGES, TOOK OUT KIND OF OUTLIERS, UH, AND THEN ISAIAH AS AN ANALYST CAME AND DID SOME REGRESSION ANALYSIS WITH, UH, STATISTICAL BANDING.
AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET INTO THAT, I'M NOT YOUR GUY
UM, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT ISAIAH WITH ME.
IT'S, IT'S A, A TECHNIQUE THAT, UM, WE THINK PROVIDES VALUE.
AND HAVING TWO DIFFERENT MODELS COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, I THOUGHT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
AND OUR COMMITTEE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
AND ESSENTIALLY, IT'S, IT'S NOT LETTING THOSE HIGHS GET TOO HIGH AND LOWS GET TOO LOW.
YOU CAN ADD ALL OF THE JARGON, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THOSE MODELS END UP BEING AND DOING FOR, FOR US.
THEY CAME TO, TO A POINT WHERE THEY PROJECTED, UH, REVENUE GROWTH, UH, AT ABOUT, SO I'M GONNA GET INTO THE TWO DIFFERENT AREAS NOW.
UM, OUR NET NET ADJUSTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET WE'RE PROJECTING TO GROW AT ABOUT 6.15%.
THAT'S OVER $44 MILLION OVER FISCAL YEAR 20 FIVE'S BUDGET.
NOW, AT FIRST GLANCE, THAT MAY SEEM, UH, VERY OPTIMISTIC, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS OVER BUDGET.
WE HAD SOME VERY STRONG NUMBERS THAT CAME IN THAT I'M GONNA DISCUSS THAT ELEVATED THAT BASELINE THAT WE'VE ADJUSTED AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
WE STILL HAVEN'T OBVIOUSLY SEEN EVERYTHING YET, BUT WE'RE COMING IN VERY STRONG.
THE TRUE YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH IS CLOSER TO ABOUT 2.9%, WHICH IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY REAL ESTATE REVENUES.
AND THEY ARE OUR MOST CONSISTENT, AS I'M GOING TO DISCUSS OUR INCOME TAX REVENUE STREAMS ARE THE, THE LEAST PREDICTABLE, IF YOU WILL, DUE TO A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, THE MECHANICS, UH, AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH ADJUSTMENTS, THEY WERE VERY HARD TO PREDICT, BUT IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE HAD A FAIRLY LARGE RECONCILIATION, UH, PAYMENT IN 25.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST, SAY, FIVE YEARS, HAD COVID, WHICH REALLY TOOK US OFF TRACK AND OUT OF A NORMAL TYPE OF PERIOD, YOU HAD, UH, A BOND AND STOCK MARKET CORRECTION IN 22, THAT LOWERED GAINS, FOLLOWED BY A STRONG REBOUND, WHICH ACCENTUATED GAINS.
SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME THAT THIS OCCURRED.
ORIGINAL PROJECTIONS WERE CONSERVATIVE, AND I BELIEVE PRUDENT IS A GOOD WORD TO USE AT ABOUT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, BUT THEY ACTUALLY CAME IN AT ABOUT 5.8% DURING THAT TIME.
SO OUR APPROACH IN SMOOTHING DATA WITH OUR TWO MODELS IS NOT GONNA ALLOW FOR THOSE ACCENTUATED, UH, NUMBERS, NOR WILL IT PERMIT THE, THE BOTTOM END OF THAT TO OCCUR UNDER THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
THEY GREW AS EXPECTED AROUND 6%.
AS, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS REALLY DRIVE THIS.
AND GROUP ONE AND 26 WAS REASSESSED AT 19.8%, THREE AND 25 AT 22%, AND GROUP TWO AT 16%.
AND ONE WOULD SAY THAT'S, WE'RE STILL COMING OUT OF THE, THE GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS AS WELL AS, UM, I I'VE HEARD THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF HOMES OUT THERE.
SO PRICES ARE BEING DRIVEN HIGHER AND HIGHER.
OF COURSE, THERE'S OPINIONS GALORE.
WE, WE ARE SEEING ECONOMIC HEADWINDS JUST TAKE THIS WEEK.
WE'VE HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, FINANCIAL
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MARKETS THAT YOU TURN ON THE NEWS ONE DAY, YOU SEE A LOT OF GREEN, THE NEXT DAY YOU SEE A LOT OF RED BECAUSE WE'RE DIGESTING INFORMATION AND KIND OF SOME NEW, SOME NEW, SOME NEW APPROACHES.UM, AT THE NATIONAL, UH, LEVELS WE ACCOUNTED FOR, YOU KNOW, MARYLAND, WE READ THE REPORT WHERE MARYLAND IS THE MOST DEPENDENT STATE IN THE NATION ON FEDERAL JOBS.
UM, UH, SO WE TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, POTENTIAL REDUCTION IN FEDERAL WORKFORCE AND SPENDING.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CAPTURE AND WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END.
THAT CAN CHANGE CERTAINLY THE COMMITTEE.
UM, ON, ON OUR FISCAL SITUATION, WE STARTED WITH A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S A RELIANCE, UH, KIND OF ONE TIME FUND BALANCES TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS THAT, THAT IS AT OUR CONCERN.
AND KUDOS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE ON THIS BY YOU ALL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UH, WE'VE GONE FROM 74 MILLION IN 24 DOWN TO 58 MILLION IN 25, UH, WHICH IS A HEALTHY DIRECTION.
BUT THERE'S MUCH WORK TO BE DONE IN LOOKING AT OUR, UM, CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR RATIOS, UH, OF DEBT TO INCOME AS A COUNTY AND PER CONSTITUENT GROUP, IT'S OR PER CAPITA, ALL SEEM TO BE IN REASONABLE BOUNDS AND OTHER AREAS IS OUR FUND BALANCE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR, OUR AAA, IF I'M RIGHT, AA BOND RATING, WHICH, UH, UH, IS VERY IMPORTANT IN KEEPING OUR BORROWING.
THINK OF THAT AS YOUR CREDIT SCORE.
UH, I'VE NEVER HIT 800, BUT I HEAR THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO BE.
AND YOU CAN, CAN BORROW MONEY PRETTY CHEAPLY.
UH, WELL, WE'RE THAT 800 WE'RE THAT CREME DE LA CREME.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN THE SHOULDERS THAT YOU ALL STAND ON BEFORE YOU AND BE FISCALLY BEING FISCALLY PRUDENT, UH, OVER TIME, WHICH IS TOUGH BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PROGRAMS, UH, TO FUND.
SO WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE POSITION YOU'RE IN.
THE KEY TAKEAWAYS, UH, FROM OUR COMMITTEE, UH, IS THAT FIRST GLANCE, OUR BUDGET TOP LINE NUMBER OR HEADLINE NUMBER SEEMS A BIT GROWTH ORIENTED, BUT WHEN YOU FACTOR THAT AGAINST ADJUSTING THE FISCAL YEAR 25 FOR THAT STRONGER REVENUE GROWTH, IT'S MUCH MORE IN LINE WITH HISTORIC AVERAGES AS WELL AS MAYBE A HINT TO THE CONSERVATIVE, UH, SIDE.
AND OF COURSE OUR INCOME TAX WILL, WILL PROBABLY REMAIN THAT KIND OF OUTLIER FOR US EACH YEAR TO BE RECONCILING WITH, UM, COMPLEMENTED BY MUCH MORE STABLE PROPERTY TAXES.
BOWER DID TALK TO OUR GROUP ABOUT IS HOW WE'RE WE'VE BECOME THIS MATURING COUNTY, IN ESSENCE.
WE, WE WERE A HEAVY GROWTH COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES IN BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A DIFFERENT, THAT'S A PARADIGM SHIFT, I WOULD SAY, FOR OUR NEXT 30 YEARS, IF YOU WILL, UH, TO, TO ADJUST FOR.
SO WITH THAT, I, I'LL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS AND, AND HOPE I DIDN'T TAKE TOO MUCH TIME THIS MORNING.
UM, BUT ENJOYED BEING HERE WITH YOU AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THE ONES THAT I CAN'T ANSWER WILL DO OUR BEST TO, TO FIND THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU.
BRIAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, FOR YOUR REPORT, UH, FOR YOUR STEADFAST, UH, LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS 'CAUSE I'M CONFUSED AND, AND I KNOW THAT OUR REVENUE SOURCES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN WE ANTICIPATED, CORRECT? THE, THE, THE INCOME TAX HAS COME IN HIGHER THIS CURRENT YEAR, LARGELY DUE TO RECONCILIATION PAYMENTS.
AND, UH, THE PROPERTY TAX, THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT PERCENTAGES 19%, 6.7%, OR 6%, BUT WHAT IS THAT 18 MILLION? IS THAT WHAT OUR, WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT 20? YEAH.
OH, SO PROPERTY TAX IS THE OVERALL INCREASE? YEAH, ABOUT ABOUT 18 AND A HALF MILLION, UM, DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX.
ANYONE QUESTIONS? MR. JAN? YEAH.
DO WE, DO WE HAVE, UH, IS THAT THE LAST, UH, INCREASE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES IN THE THREE YEARS? WAS THAT THE, WAS THAT THE LAST ONE? NO, I THINK, I THINK WE'LL ALSO ONE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL, NEXT YEAR WE'LL ALSO BE STRONG.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS, RIGHT? SO, AND THEN OF COURSE THEY'RE CAPPED IF IT'S A PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
SO IF IT'S COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, IT'S, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CAPPED.
UM, BUT IF IT'S, IF IT'S PRIMARY RESIDENTIALS TAPPED AT, AT AT FIVE, AT 5%, SO WE HAD THE, UM, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, THE ONE THAT WENT UP ABOUT 16%, SO THAT'S ABOUT FIVE, YOU KNOW, FIVE, FIVE AND A HALF PERCENT A YEAR.
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UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONES AT, YOU KNOW, 20, 21, 22, OR ALSO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AT ABOUT 6% OR SO A YEAR.SO I THINK NEXT YEAR WILL STILL BE GOOD, YOU KNOW, UNLESS, NOW IF THE, THE, THE ONE THAT WAS 15%, IF THAT ENDS UP BEING LIKE FLAT, THEN, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF MAYBE 6%, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'LL HAVE TWO AREAS GROWING AT 5% FOR MOST OF 'EM AND A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
SO IT COULD BE MAYBE MORE LIKE 5% PERCENT WHAT AREA IS LEFT? IT IS, I THINK THE NEXT TIME AROUND IS THE BEL AIR AREA TO BE, UM, THE ONE THAT WILL BE REASSESSED NEXT YEAR.
SO BRIAN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE TWO DIFFERENT MODELS.
UM, THEY BOTH CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION AT THE END.
JUST CURIOUS, EITHER ONE OF THOSE, DID YOU GUYS USE AI AND WILL YOU USE AI? IS THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HELP OR NOT HELP GOING FORWARD? SO THESE MODELS WERE ALL, UM, WITHOUT AI, UH, AS WITH A LOT OF THINGS, I THINK AI IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE INTEGRATED WITH OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.
UH, SO IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AS WE MOVE ALONG THAT, THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND JUST AS WE'RE ANALYZING TOOLS, I KNOW I USE IT IN THAT REGARD, RIGHT? RIGHT.
NOW IN SOME OF THE WORK THAT, THAT I DO OR OUR INVESTMENT COMMITTEE DOES AT OUR FIRM NOW FORECASTING, YOU GUYS DON'T DO ANY FORECASTING OF WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE NEXT YEAR OR DO YOU IN, IN THESE, IN THESE MODELS? IS THAT, I MEAN, I SEE WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTY WITH, YOU KNOW, WHO, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE, THE TARIFFS AND EVERYTHING.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY IT'S UP, ONE DAY IT'S DOWN WHILE THE STOCK MARK, BUT, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TARIFFS ARE GOING AND HOW THAT TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT.
UM, I KNOW TALKING TO CAR DEALERS AND EVERYTHING WITH THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES, CARS AREN'T MOVING.
YOU COULD SEE IT ON THE LOTS THAT THEY'RE THEIR FAULT.
THEY'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANNA PAY THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES AND UNLESS THE MANUFACTURERS ARE GONNA DISCOUNT THE MONEY SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING THE, YOU KNOW, 40, 60, $80,000 CARS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF $30,000 CARS LEFT ANYMORE.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AND THERE ALWAYS IS.
UM, WHAT I, WHAT I GREATLY COME TO APPRECIATE, UM, I KNEW A LOT MORE WHEN I WAS IN MY TWENTIES THAN I DO TODAY,
AND I THINK STAYING WITH BASIC CORE PRINCIPLES AND BLOCKING AND TACKLING, WHICH I'VE WITNESSED SINCE BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE FROM FROM YOU ALL IN OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE AS WELL, I THINK, I THINK, UH, GIVES ME, UH, A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HOW OUR COUNTY, UH, WILL WADE THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FAMOUS ECONOMIST, JOHN KENNETH GRE, UM, WHO SAID THAT, UH, ECONOMIC FORECASTING WAS TO MAKE ASTROLOGY LOOK REASONABLE
UM, AND WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT IS IT'S SO HARD TO PREDICT WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES THAT CAN HAPPEN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A LEFT TURN OR A RIGHT TURN THAT CHANGES THE WHOLE TRAJECTORY.
AS AN EXAMPLE, AI, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE GOLD RUSH, UH, WHEN WE TALK, UH, WITH PEOPLE ABOUT FINANCE AND OPPOSED TO MINING FOR THE GOLD, I WANT TO SELL THEM THE PANS AND PICKS AND SO ON.
SO I THINK AI, IF YOU USE IT IN THOSE WAYS, I THINK WILL BE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE GOING FORWARD TO OUR COMMITTEE, TO YOU ALL, AND TO OUR DAILY LIFE.
UM, I THINK A COUPLE YEARS AGO EVERYBODY WAS CONCERNED, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH ON HARTFORD COUNTY, BUT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE THERE WAS LARGER OFFICE BUILDINGS, EMPTY OFFICE SPACES, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT BIG, UM, INFLUX OF OFFICE SPACE, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'VE GOT ALL, ALL THIS OFFICE COMMERCIAL SPACE.
SO I THINK WE'VE GOT COMMERCIAL SPACE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT NOT THE OFFICE BUILDINGS WHERE I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO FEEL A PINCH NOW BECAUSE OF EVERYBODY'S GOTTA START REFINANCING THESE THINGS.
AND THE, AND THE OCCUPANCY RATES AREN'T GREAT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF, UH, CLIENTS, THEIR RENTS ARE GOING UP, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEIR DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AS OPPOSED TO RE UH, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE BASIS.
SO THEY'RE, SO THEY'RE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE THEIR, THEIR, THE RATES GOING UP ON THE, ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, ON THE STRIP SIDE AND EVERYTHING WHERE, UM, THERE'S NOT AS MANY AND ONE OF PEOPLE WANT TO BE THERE.
SO I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT FACTORED INTO THINGS, BUT I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES AND AREAS.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE GET REPORTS ON AS WE'RE DI DIGESTING THE DATA AND INFORMATION.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT, UH, REGRESSION ANALYTICS, ROLLING PERIODS OF DATA ANALYTICS
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IS THAT KIND OF HELPS US TO, TO PULL THAT INTO A BAND.UH, SO, SO WHEN RENTS ARE DECLINING, BECAUSE OVERSUPPLY THAT THROUGH THE LAWS OF ECONOMICS THAT RECONCILES, UH, BUT IT TAKES TIME.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ON MY TIMELINE, WHICH, UH, IS UNFORTUNATE.
BUT, UH, BUT YES, I, I THINK ALL THOSE ARE VERY VALID COMMENTS.
AND, AND THE ONE LAST QUESTION.
DO YOU SEE THE INCREASE IN THE WAGES? DID THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT OR IN YOUR MODELS ANYWHERE WHEN WE WENT TO THE NEW, YOU KNOW, 15 AND A HALF DOLLARS WAGE INCREASE? THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE FOR DR. BAUER.
UM, I, I THINK IN OUR WAGES HAVE BEEN STRONG, ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO HIS REPORTING, MARILYN LAGS THE, THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY, IF I'M, I'M, I'M GOING FROM MEMORY, SO FORGIVE ME, BUT, UH, UM, I'M, I'M SURE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SPIRAL AND E ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE ALWAYS LAGGING.
SO, UM, IT, IT CERTAINLY CAN HAVE IMPACTS.
AND I THINK TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HIRE IN THAT MARKET PROBABLY WOULD BE A GREAT STORY TO, TO, TO HEAR.
ALRIGHT, WHEN WE DO, WHEN WE DO TALK WITH THE, THE COMPTROLLER OF, OF MARYLAND'S OFFICE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOES COME BACK IS THAT YES, WE DO HAVE, HAVE HAD STRONG WAGE GROWTH AND THAT HAS DRIVEN, UM, SOME OF THE INCOME TAX GROWTH THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE SEEN.
UM, THE ISSUE I THINK ULTIMATELY IN MARYLAND IS THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A VERY MATURE ECONOMY AND WE'RE ALREADY AT ELEVATED LEVELS, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH GROWTH PROJECTED INTO THE FUTURE.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN, SEEN THAT GROWTH.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED REALLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THOUGH, IS THAT, AND THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, UM, SOME STRONGER GROWTH AT THE, AT THE BOTTOM LEVELS, BUT WHAT'S BECOME REALLY HARD WITH INCOME TAXES, THAT SO MUCH OF THE GROWTH, UM, REALLY IN THE PAST 20 OR SO YEARS HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THAT TOP 1%, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY HARD, UM, UH, POPULATION TO SOMETIMES MODEL BECAUSE HOW THEY, UM, HOW THEY BEHAVE ECONOMICALLY DOESN'T ALWAYS CYCLE UP WITH JUST SAY THE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OR THE TRADITIONAL, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITIONAL ECONOMY OF.
THANK YOU, MR. JAN AND MR. BENNETT.
IT'S GOOD, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M OFFICIALLY 30, SO NO OFFENSE TO YOUR REMARKS,
BUT, UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING ABOUT FUND BALANCE, UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
UM, I KNOW YOU WERE MARKED IN YOUR SUMMARY, UH, THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS TEAM'S GOAL IS TO HAVE THE 5% PLUS 20 MILLION.
UH, YOU KNOW, AS OF, UH, THIS BUDGET ESTIMATE COME JULY OF NEXT YEAR, WE'RE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE 5% PLUS 6.7 MILLION.
UM, AND IN SOME WAYS THIS PAST YEAR WE KIND OF CAME INTO A WINDFALL OF WE UNDERESTIMATED INCOME TAX IN A GOOD, HEALTHY WAY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS OTHER WAYS WE EXPENDED LESS THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD AS A COUNTY, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS THAT NEVER GOT FILLED OR VACANCIES THAT, YOU KNOW, LED TO, UH, US ACTUALLY HAVING MORE FUND BALANCE, UH, UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TODAY THAN A YEAR AGO BY ABOUT $3 MILLION.
UH, BUT I GET NERVOUS WHEN I LOOK AT, UM, OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BEING ESTIMATED AT $6.7 MILLION FOR A YEAR FROM NOW, JUST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF IF WE'RE GOING INTO AN ECONOMIC, UH, RECESSION, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT SAME, UH, BUFFER SPACE IN OUR INCOME TAX ESTIMATES.
UM, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE HAVE $10 MILLION IN SAVINGS FROM, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS THAT GO VACANT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME OR WE DON'T GET AS MUCH SNOW OR, UH, SO ON AND SO FORTH, THAT STILL PUTS US AT AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF $16 MILLION A YEAR FROM NOW.
AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE BUDGETING TO SPEND 50 ISH MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO JUST MAKE IT YEAR TO YEAR.
SO I WAS HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, AND IF MR. SANLI HAS ANY SPACE TO SPEAK TO THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF ON THIS RACE TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES.
DO WE HAVE THE TARMAC LENGTH REQUIRED TO LAND THAT PLANE? YEAH, I SO THE, TO ANSWER YOUR ONE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT I, AS A FINANCE PERSON, AND I THINK WITH THE COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MORE RESERVES BECAUSE THERE ARE, THERE IS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY, PARTICULARLY IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WITH THE, THE FEDERAL REDUCTIONS COMING.
UM, HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING AGAIN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO WE WENT FROM A FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATED OF 90 MILLION IN 23 TO ABOUT 75 TO ABOUT 60, AND NOW TO ABOUT TO ABOUT 50.
UM, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE SOME FORM OF A FUND BALANCE, BUT I STILL, AND IDEALLY
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WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT FUND BALANCE, I THINK, UM, MORE ALONG THE LINES OF $40 MILLION OR AT LEAST, UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST 45 OR $44 MILLION HAD WE NOT HAD TO ABSORB ABOUT $5 MILLION OF STATE COST CHEFS.UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, DRIVING THOUGH THIS BUDGET, UM, AND THIS IS WHY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THE REVENUES ARE GROWING BY 6%, YOU KNOW, OUR OVERALL BUDGET IS GROWING BY LESS THAN THAT FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT BECAUSE WE WENT FROM 60 MILLION TO 50 MILLION, UM, LARGELY IN ORDER TO, TO TRY TO FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, TRY TO WORK WITH, UM, UH, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WORK WITH DR.
BOLSON IN ORDER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THEIR CHALLENGES.
AND SO WE DID, WE HAD TO, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY EXTEND IT MORE THAN FROM A, FROM A STRAIGHT, YOU KNOW, RESERVE REQUIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE WOULD'VE, BUT AGAIN, TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE, THOSE NEEDS, BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UM, THAT IS, THAT IS FAVORABLE AND WE ARE, I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND I HEAR YOU ON, ON THAT, MR. SANLI.
BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT AN APPROPRIATE PACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE WHERE WE'RE GOING, THERE'S PAVEMENT AND NOT, YOU KNOW, WATER OR TREES UNDERNEATH OF US? YEAH, AND, AND AGAIN, I MEAN, IF TRYING TO BALANCE A WHOLE LOT OF, OF, OF, OF DIFFERENT NEEDS, YOU KNOW, FROM A STRAIGHT, YOU KNOW, AS ME AS THE GOVERNMENT, FINANCE, YOU KNOW, PERSON, I WOULD ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE MORE, MORE, MORE RESERVES.
BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU DO? YOU BALANCE IT? AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO, WE, WE, WE DO HAVE CAPACITY AND ALL TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE OUR, OUR OUTLOOK SOMEWHAT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, NOT SAYING THAT WE WOULD RAISE, YOU KNOW, RAISE REVENUES, BUT WE HAVE THAT ABILITY IF, IF, IF, IF WE HAD TO, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE, UM, TO MAKE OTHER CHANGES IN, IN CUTS AND THE LIKE.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME BUDGET FLEXIBILITY, I THINK MUCH MORE SO THAN A LOT OF OUR OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND US.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SAME AMOUNT OF BUDGET FLEXIBILITY THAT, UM, THAT WE DO.
SO WE WOULD, WOULD WE WANT MORE ADDITIONAL, UM, RESERVES? SURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT, IN THE, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND IT'S THAT, IT'S THAT BALANCING, IT'S THAT BALANCING ACT.
AND WOULD YOU HAVE, UH, ANY OPINIONS TO SHARE ON, ON THAT REGARD? SURE.
SO I, AS A, AS A FINANCIAL PLANNER, I MEAN, IF YOU THINK OF THIS AS YOUR HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AND, UH, COMPARE IT TO YOUR EMERGENCY FUND THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT, AND LET'S SAY YOU'VE GONE THROUGH A PERIOD OF, OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT, SO YOUR, YOUR EMERGENCY FUND HAS GONE DOWN.
I THINK AT SOME POINT YOU CAN GET OVERLY DRACONIAN.
UH, SO IT'S A, IT'S A FINE LINE IN BALANCING.
I THINK THE COMMITTEE'S REMARKS IN OUR REPORT ARE ONE OF, OF CAUTION, BUT UNDERSTANDING AT THE SAME TIME BASED ON OUR CURRENT REVENUE STRUCTURE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR EDICT TO BASE OUR CONVERSATIONS ON THAT REVENUE STRUCTURE.
BUT I THINK THOSE ARE VALID POINTS THAT, THAT YOU, MR. BENNETT ARE OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL AND, UH, MR. SANLI AS WELL AS OUR, OUR COMMITTEE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE PUT IN THERE FROM A CAUTIONARY TALE.
'CAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU WANT THAT RAINY DAY FUND THERE FOR WHEN IT'S RAINING, NOT WHEN IT'S SUNNY.
UM, AND THEN A ALONG THOSE SAME LINES YOU SHARED IN YOUR REPORT, UM, THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT AMONG, AMONGST THE COMMITTEE ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE ON INCOME TAX GROWTH GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
COULD YOU JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS WERE AS FAR AS GROWTH IN INCOME TAX? UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE, THE DISCUSSIONS THERE? SO WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HAVING A COMMITTEE OF VARIED BACKGROUNDS AS EACH BRING A PERSPECTIVE TO THE TABLE, AND, UH, I THINK OUR CONVERSATIONS ALWAYS, UH, WELCOME THAT THAT DISSENT.
AND THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MODELING APPROACHES, UH, THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN HOW THEY LOOK AT THINGS.
SO I, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR OUTLIERS WITH, UH, THAT I'M AWARE OF.
AND I'LL, I'LL LET ANY OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS CHIME IN IF I'M MISSPEAKING.
BUT, UH, THAT WE'RE THAT FAR AWAY FROM ANY DISAGREEMENT, UH, FROM AN ULTIMATE NUMBER THAT WE ENCOURAGE, I THINK OUR INCOME TAX OFF OF THE NEW BASELINE'S ABOUT 0.7 MM-HMM
WHICH IS ON, ON THE, IN THE STATISTICAL MODELS, ON THE LOW BAND, UM, UH, OVERALL.
SO TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE WAS POUNDING THE TABLE THAT WE SHOULD GO TO HISTORIC MEAN OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WITH INCOME TAX IS THE WAY THAT THE INCOME TAX SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, WORKS.
SO WHEN ALL OF US GET PAID, YOU KNOW, UM, HOWEVER THAT IS, AND WHETHER WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET PAID THROUGH ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE SEND IN ESTIMATED PAYMENTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OR WE'RE A WAGE EARNER, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I ARE, AND IT COMES OUT EVERY TWO WEEKS.
IT ALL KIND OF JUST GOES INTO THE, THE COMPTROLLER'S, YOU KNOW, POT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THEN THEY, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY SAY, OKAY, BASED UPON LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, HARTFORD COUNTY SHOULD GET, YOU KNOW, 4.8% OF THE POT.
THEY, THAT'S WHAT THEY SEND TO US, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOUR DOLLAR OR MY DOLLAR AND, YOU KNOW, GO INTO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES OR WHAT, WHAT HAVE YOU.
[00:30:01]
SO THE CHALLENGE I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL REALLY KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH IS THIS NOTION THAT MARYLAND IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO INTO SOME TYPE OF RECESSION.HOWEVER, THE RECESSION WILL PROBABLY BE HARDER FELT IN THE DMV AREA THAN IT MIGHT BE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS THAT WHILE WE DO THINK THAT ALL ASPECTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE GONNA HAVE SOME REDUCTION IN SPENDING, THAT DEFENSE IS RELATIVELY SPEAKING SPARE VERSUS SOME OF THE SAME CUTS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A PG TO US.
HOWEVER, UM, WHEN YOU KNOW ALL THE MONEY'S KIND OF GOING IN, IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE THAT EVEN IF, EVEN IF WE'RE WEATHERING BETTER THAN THE STATE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT KIND OF ALL GOES IN AND GETS DISTRIBUTED OUT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT SEE OUR QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS TAKE A BIT OF A HIT, BUT THEN TWO OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW GET A HIGHER RECONCILING BECAUSE WHAT THEY'LL SAY IS, OH, YEAH, HARTFORD COUNTY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT MORE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT LESS.
UM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT UNEASINESS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS STRUGGLING WITH, IS, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATE TO HOW IT'S GONNA WORK, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM WITH INCOME TAX.
UM, AND LAST QUESTION FOR, UH, ME FOR NOW.
YOU KNOW, AS WE SAY THE WORD RECESSION, I THINK BACK TO THE LATE AUGHTS IN 2010, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A BIG RECESSION THAT REALLY, UM, WAS A, YOU KNOW, A LONG-TERM RECESSION THAT IMPACTED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND REALLY IMPACTED OUR LOCAL BUDGET.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME, ARE THERE ANY LESSONS LEARNED AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ESTIMATED REVENUE DURING THAT TIME OR HOW WE PREPARED OURSELVES AND INSULATED OURSELVES FOR EXPENSES DURING THAT TIME THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO TODAY? YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD PLAY MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK, IS THERE ANYTHING FROM THEN THAT WE CAN THEN APPLY TO NOW? UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHAT, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT MOMENT THAT MAYBE WE CAN LEARN FROM AND APPLY THROUGH THE NEXT FEW YEARS? UH, AT THAT TIME, I WAS WISHING I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL
UM, BUT THE, THE, THE GFC, THE GREAT FINANCIAL, UM, UH, SITUATION IN OH 8, 0 9, UH, WAS SIGNIFICANT.
AND I WASN'T ON THE COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME OR INVOLVED IN THIS CAPACITY, BUT IF YOU, IF YOU TAKE THE WAY WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT ROLLING DATA VERSUS GOING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, THAT WAS SOMETHING AS A, AS A BUSINESS PERSON WITH SOME OF MY, MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND JUST LOOKING AT ONE YEAR, BUT TAKING A LARGER SCOPE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS BAKED IN TO THE WAY THAT WE'RE NOW ANALYZING THE, THE DATA AND TRYING TO PROVIDE BANDS AS WELL.
AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE OLD SAYINGS, YOU KNOW, PREPARING FOR A RAINY DAY BECAUSE IT WILL RAIN SOMEDAY.
AND RECESSIONS ARE NATURAL ECONOMIC EVENTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE CLEANSING.
AND I, I DON'T, I WISH THEY DIDN'T EXIST, BUT THEY ARE A NECESSARY, UM, PART OF THE CYCLE, I GUESS.
UM, AND, UH, BY HAVING A RAINY DAY FUND AND HAVING PRUDENT STEWARDSHIP THAT I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS ALL FOR, I THINK THOSE ARE THE BIG LESSONS THAT ARE KIND OF TIMELESS OVERALL.
SO I WAS A, A YOUNG, NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT YOUNG, MUCH YOUNGER, UM, UH, BUDGET ANALYST AT THE TIME IN CARROLL COUNTY, UM, DOING THEIR REVENUES.
AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT STILL PROBABLY STICK WITH ME TO THIS DAY.
ONE IS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE DATA BACK THEN AND YOU WOULD NEVER SEE, UM, ASSESSMENTS REALLY GO DOWN.
ASSESSMENTS MIGHT SPIKE AND THEN LEVEL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T, AND LIKE IN OUR DATA DIDN'T HAVE THAT, THE, THE, THAT THAT THE, THAT ASSESSMENTS COULD ACTUALLY ACTUALLY GO DOWN.
NOW, PROBABLY HAD, WE HAD DATA GOING BACK TO THE THIRTIES, WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS SOMETIMES WITH DATA IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG DOES YOUR, DOES YOUR SYSTEM GO BACK? AND SO I THINK THAT'S A REASON TO, TO SOMETIMES TEMPER YOUR, YOUR, UM, UH, YOUR FORECAST.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THINGS WE ALWAYS SAY WITH, WITH THE REVENUE FORECAST IS WE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE, UM, YOU KNOW, SHORT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, THAT I, I'M SORRY.
WE WOULD MUCH RATHER, YOU KNOW, HAVE OUR REVENUES COME IN ABOVE EXPECTATIONS AND BELOW EXPECTATIONS.
'CAUSE WHEN THEY COME IN BELOW EXPECTATIONS, WE HAVE A VERY SHORT WINDOW OF TIME OFTENTIMES CORRECTED.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND NORMALLY BY THE TIME WE FIGURE THAT OUT, IT'S, IT'S, UM, MORE THAN MIDWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, IT'S AROUND THIS TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED TO THE SCHOOLS, WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED TO THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY CUT MIDYEAR OR EASILY CUT MIDYEAR.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE TRY TO NOT OVEREXTEND OURSELVES AND, AND, AND PUSH THOSE, PUSH THOSE ENVELOPES.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A LOT OF LESSONS, THERE WAS SOME SIMILAR THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THOSE YEARS.
THE STATE HIT US WITH A LOT OF CUTS, MIDYEAR, UM, THOSE DIFFERENT DYNAMIC, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE FAR LESS DEPENDENT ON STATE GOVERNMENT NOW THAN WE WERE.
YOU LOOK AT HARTFORD COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND REVENUES, LESS THAN 1% OF IT COMES FROM THE STATE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME WHERE THERE WAS A LOT, A LOT MORE OF, OF THAT.
IN FACT, NOW WE'RE SENDING MORE MONEY OUT THAN, THAN WE'RE, THAN
[00:35:01]
THAN WE'RE GETTING BACK IN.UM, SO SOME OF THOSE LESSONS, AND THEN PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES OF THAT TIME WAS JUST HOW DRAMATIC, LIKE OUR RECORDATION AND OUR TRANSFER TAX DROPPED OFF.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOOD HERE IN, IN HARTFORD, MANY THINGS ARE GOOD HERE IN HARTFORD
A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES HAD THOSE AS PART OF THEIR GENERAL FUND, SO THEY HAD A LOT OF VOLATILITY IN THOSE YEARS.
SO, UM, LOTS OF, LOTS OF DIFFERENT LESSONS LEARNED.
BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE, TO BE KIND OF CONSERVATIVE, UM, IN YOUR, IN YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE SEEMS LIKE THERE, THERE USED TO BE A ONCE IN A HUNDRED YEAR TYPE OF A CHANGE.
AND NOW IT'S LIKE EVERY OTHER COUPLE YEARS, THERE'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TYPE COUPLE OF CHANGES.
IT'S, UH, THE DYNAMICS CHANGED.
SO, ROBBIE, ARE YOU SAYING WE'RE INTENTIONALLY UNDERESTIMATING REVENUE? I DUNNO IF I WOULD SAY INTENTIONALLY.
LIKE WHEN WE LOOKED AT HOW WE DID THE MODELS AND ALL THIS YEAR, I THINK THAT WE DO TAKE YOU, YOU, YOU OFTENTIMES WILL SAY LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.
THIS IS A MORE MODERATE APPROACH, AND THIS IS A LESS, UM, AND IS A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH THIS YEAR, I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE OF ALL THE UNCERTAINTY, LIKE WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR MODELS AND WHEN ISAIAH DID HIS, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT BANDS AND WE TOOK THE BAND.
THAT WAS THE MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
IF YOU'RE IN MORE NORMAL TIMES, I THINK YOU COULD JUST SAY, OKAY, WELL LET'S JUST TAKE THE REGULAR, THE THE REGULAR AVERAGE.
UM, BUT IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, AND THIS GETS BACK INTO THAT ONETIME REVENUE, ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, YOU KNOW, IF WE UNDERESTIMATE IN REVENUE, IT'S, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, IT'S NOT AS IF, UH, WELL, WE, WE LOSE OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GONNA COLLECT IT AND WE CAN STILL USE IT IN THE FUTURE FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, OR WE CAN USE IT TO SMOOTH THINGS OUT.
UM, SO THIS YEAR I WOULD SAY YES, WE HAVE A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, UH, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, UM, AND, AND WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE AT THE STATE TOO, THEY'RE LIKE, LOOK, ALL OF OUR RISK IS ON THE DOWNSIDE.
UM, I I, I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS WARRANTED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.
IT'S PROBABLY NEVER HAS IT BEEN MORE WARRANTED THOUGH, IN, IN PROBABLY IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN.
AND THEN BRIAN, IN YOUR COMMENTS, YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT WE ARE A MATURING COMMUNITY, CORRECT.
AND THAT, UM, I, I'M, I'M ASKING YOU, HAS YOUR COMMITTEE LOOKED AT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES, UH, FOR THE FUTURE? UH, OUTSIDE OF TAX BASE, NO.
JOB CREATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO, WE'VE ASKED ABOUT THAT WHERE, WHERE MS. HULK CAME IN FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TALKING ABOUT EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE, BUT WE REALLY ARE STAYING ATTUNED TO OUR DIFFERENT MANDATES AS FAR AS HERE'S THE PLAYING FIELD, WHAT IS REASONABLE TO ANTICIPATE ON THAT FINAL ITEM, LIKE OTHER KIND OF LIKE IN A JOB, OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.
WE DO LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND, AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THOSE, THOSE COULD BE CONSIDERATIONS, UH, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BEFORE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS, I DO WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MOFF.
UH, THIS IS DEFINITELY, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIRE RIGHT AWAY,
SO, UM, ALLISON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TRYING TO HANG ON AND LEARN FROM YOU ALL, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU DON'T GET TO SEE BRIAN VERY OFTEN.
YOU SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING? NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE QUESTIONS LATER, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.
UM, CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS, ANYONE IN WITH ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, BRIAN.
UH, NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, I'M, I'M, IT'S OFTEN SAID BY FOLKS AT OUR LEVEL THAT AND ABOVE THE, WE'RE THE, WE'RE IN THE PART OF GOVERNMENT THAT, THAT REALLY SORT OF THE MOST REWARDING, WHERE IT'S THE MOST IMPACTFUL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING WHEN I DROPPED OFF THREE LITTLE GUYS AT EL AT OUR, ONE OF OUR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND I DO THAT AND, AND I LOOK AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? AND YOU SEE THOSE LITTLE FACES AND, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, GREAT JOBS.
I'M GRATEFUL TO, TO BE HERE AND, UH, TO BE ABLE TO IMPACT THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
WELCOME, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MOFF, UH, PLEASURE TO SEE YOU, MA'AM.LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
UM, THEY GENERAL, SO UPON TAKING OFFICE TWO YEARS AGO, UM, WE REALLY RECOGNIZED WITH ROBBIE'S HELP AND THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE, UM, AND INCUBATED TO YOU ALL, AND MOST OF YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT AS WELL, THE, THE, THE REAL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING MARYLAND AND ALL THE COUNTIES, UM, AND, AND OURS INCLUDED.
AND, AND WE AVOIDED, UH, THE UNSUSTAINABLE PRACTICE OF SPENDING FASTER THAN THE REVENUE GREW.
AND THAT'S BEEN OUR, OUR MANTRA HERE IS WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE TAXPAYER'S MEANS NOT OUR OWN MEANS, BUT THE TAXPAYER'S MEANS WE CAN'T GROW COUNTY REVENUE FASTER THAN, THAN THE REVENUES BEING GENERATED FROM OUR TAXPAYERS.
UH, INSTEAD OF RAISING TAXES, WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WAS UNPOPULAR AMONGST A NUMBER OF FOLKS, UH, TO, TO DIAL BACK SPENDING, UH, AND REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT.
AND DESPITE FREQUENT AND SOME PRETTY HARSH CRITICISM, UH, WE, WE STUCK TO THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE LINE HERE.
UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, AND SO TODAY, WHILE YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU WATCH 'EM, THE, THE REPORTS COMING OUTTA VARIOUS COUNCILS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND CUTTING HERE, CUTTING THERE, UM, SOME SUBSTANTIAL CUTBACKS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE, THE STATE AND, AND WHEN OUR STATE'S RAISING TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD, CHASING BUSINESSES OUT, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO REACH A BALANCED BUDGET THAT MEETS OUR KEY PRIORITIES WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S AN ATTRIBUTE TO ALL OF US SITTING HERE TODAY WITH YOUR, YOUR HELP AND, AND THE, THE FOLKS HERE, UH, WORKING ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE AS WELL.
UM, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE CHALLENGES ARE THERE AND, AND YOU, YOU, YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD THEM, UH, OVER THE YEARS.
UM, OUR ENERGY COSTS ARE UP, OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE UP.
UH, WE HAD STATE MANDATED INCREASE IN STATE MANDATED SPENDING THAT REALLY WASN'T TELEGRAPHED VERY WELL.
I MEAN, WE WERE KIND OF, WE WERE SURPRISED AS YOU ALL, AND I THINK PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE.
THE STATE SHIFTED 6.2 MILLION, ULTIMATELY WAS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT IN THE, IN THE INITIAL GOVERNOR'S INITIAL BUDGET, ABOUT 6.2 MILLION IN COST TO THE COUNTY.
AND, AND THEN ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WAS A SPENDING CUT RIGHT BY THE STATE, AND ALL THEY DID WAS MOVE IT FROM THE TAXPAYER'S LEFT POCKET TO TAXPAYER'S RIGHT POCKET.
UM, BUT THE TAXPAYERS ARE STILL PAYING IT.
UM, WE, WE'VE ADDRESSED THESE WITH THE COMBINATION OF EFFICIENCIES, COST CUTTING AND, AND, AND REVENUE INCENTIVES, UH, TO, TO PREVENT THE BUDGET TO YOU TODAY.
UM, JUST WANNA HIT SOME OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES THAT, THAT WE REALLY HAVE PUT IN PLACE, THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO, TO, TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE SET OFF ABOUT 65% OF THIS BUDGET AFFECTS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL DIRECTLY.
WE, WE GIVE THE MONEY OVER TO THE BOARD OF ED TO THE SHERIFF, THIS H ATTORNEY AND THE VOTER OFFICES, BUT WE DON'T CONTROL HOW THAT'S SPENDING THAT'S, OR THE EFFICIENCIES THEREIN.
I CAN'T, CAN'T TELL THEM HOW TO BE EFFICIENT.
UM, AND, UH, WHILE I THANK THE COUNTY AUDITOR FOR HER, HER RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING TO US WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES WITH ABOUT 35% OF THE BUDGET.
AND THAT'S TOUGH ON A BUDGET IS MAGNITUDE TO, TO STRESS EFFICIENCIES, ONLY 35% TO MAKE THAT, MAKE THAT BETTER.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE REST OF THE, THE BUDGET RECIPIENTS, UH, TO, TO BRING THEM ALONG.
AND, AND WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD SOME DEGREE OF SUCCESS WITH THAT.
UM, UH, WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE OFFERED A RETIREMENT INCENTIVE LAST YEAR, AND THAT ALLOWED US TO, TO MOVE.
SO I MEAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAKE SOMEBODY WHO'S MAKING 150,000, RETIRE THEM AND THEN EITHER NOT FEEL THAT OR BRING TWO PEOPLE ON OR BRING ONE PERSON ON FOR HALF OF THAT PRICE.
UH, WE INVESTED IN OUR LAW AND OUR RISK MANAGEMENT.
UM, THOSE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE EACH OF OUR, EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS NOW HAS A QUALIFIED WELL EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY TO ADVISE THEM.
OUR RISK MANAGEMENT, UH, FOLKS ARE OUT THERE WORKING THROUGHOUT.
I MEAN, WE, WE'RE A HIGH, WE'RE A HIGH RISK MANAGE, A HIGH RISK OP, UH, UH, ENTERPRISE HERE.
WE GET THE ROADS ARE FILLED WITH COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, UH, DOING HIGH RISK JOBS FROM CHASING BAD GUYS TO, TO, UM, UH, PUSHING SNOW AND ALL THAT.
SO HOW WE DO THESE THINGS AND AMBULANCES AND THE, LIKE, HOW WE DO THESE AND, AND REALLY MAXIMIZING OUR, OUR ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS, UH, SAVES MONEY.
UH, WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS, THINGS THIS YEAR TO, TO, UH, KEEP OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS.
WE ORIGINALLY WERE REJECTING EMPLOYEE, PART EMPLOYEE, UH, 10%, UH, PARTICIPATION, BUT WE HAD TO KEEP THAT AT A 5% BECAUSE OF THINGS WE'RE DOING TO MANAGE HEALTHCARE COSTS.
OUR PROCUREMENT STAFFING AND POLICIES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE HAVE REDUCED SPENDING IN A NUMBER OF AREAS GIVEN US GREATER EFFICIENCIES, UM, IN HOW WE, HOW WE, UH, JUST THE INTEGRITY OF IT, HOW WE DO SOLICITATIONS, UM, AND, AND HOW WE AWARD THE CONTRACTS, OUR IT ADVANTAGE.
[00:45:01]
YOU KNOW, WE'VE INVESTED HEAVILY IN IT OVER THE YEARS AND, AND MAXIMIZING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN INITIAL OUTLAY FOR IT THAT COSTS A LOT.BUT IF WE DO IT RIGHT, THEN THE, THE, IN THE, IN SUCCEEDING YEARS, THE EFFICIENCIES REDUCE, RIGHT? YOU NOT AS MANY PEOPLE TO DO A JOB.
AND THE LIKE, UM, UH, THE, UH, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, DES WE, WE REDID THE BUILDING PROGRAM FOR DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S GREATLY INCREASED OUR RETURNS.
UH, WE REDUCED SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS JUST THROUGH EFFICIENCIES.
UH, WE DID A FLEET STUDY, UH, WHERE WE LOOKED AT EVERY VEHICLE THAT WE'RE THE COUNTY'S USING TO SAY, WHAT DO YOU, WHO'S ROOFING THAT VEHICLE? HOW ARE THEY USING THAT VEHICLE? WHAT'S THE SIZE OF THAT VEHICLE? AND WE'RE, WE'RE USING THAT TO, TO, TO CUT DOWN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
AND INSTEAD OF YOU HAVING A BIG TRUCK, MAYBE YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH A LITTLE OLD, YOU KNOW, A SEDAN OR SOMETHING INSTEAD OF DRIVING SOMETHING.
UM, SO WE, WE SAY FUEL AND THE LIKE, UM, THE, UH, OUR BUS SERVICE, BY INVESTING IN IT ON THE BUS SERVICE, WE BOUGHT A NEW SOFTWARE THAT'S, THAT IMPROVES DELIVERY, BUT AT A REDUCED COST AS WE HAVE PEOPLE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE INTERACTIVE, UH, MORE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BUS USERS AND THE BUS DRIVERS.
OUR, OUR PARKS AND REC, WE PUT IN PLACE A LOW MOW PROGRAM, AND IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
UM, WE JUST DESIGNATED AREAS OF OUR PARKS THAT WE SAID THAT'S A PASTURE.
NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA MOW IT EVERY WEEK, JUST LET IT GROW.
WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, WE MOW IT ONCE A YEAR AT THE END IN THE FALL TO GET, KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO TREES, BUT IT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAT WAY.
UM, OUR, OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION HAS, HAS REALLY, WE REORGANIZED THOSE FOLKS AND, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY EXCELLENT.
THEY'RE CHASING THE BEST DEALS, BUILDING AFFORDABLE STRUCTURES THAT MINIMIZE LONG-TERM OPERATING COSTS.
ON THE REVENUE SIDE, UM, WE MADE ADJUSTMENT TO OUR COUNTY FEES, AND THAT WAS WITH YOUR HELP.
WE ADJUSTED FEES SO THAT THE PEOPLE USING THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES PAY FOR THAT.
AND WE HAD GOTTEN OUTTA WHACK BECAUSE BY NOT ADJUSTING THOSE OVER TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MINORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE USING GOVERNMENTS TO DO INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS, UH, WHAT WE WERE CHARGING THEM DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL COST.
SO WE DID A, WE HAD OUR, ALL OF THEM REVIEWED TO SAY, HOW MUCH DOES IT GENERALLY, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIME IT IT COST TO DO AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION? HOW MANY, HOW MANY MINUTES DOES THAT TAKE? AND THEN WHAT DO WE PAY THAT PERSON DOING THAT INSPECTION? SO LET'S JUST SAY FOR SIMPLICITY THAT THAT GUY'S MAKING $50 AN HOUR AND IT TAKES ONE HOUR, BUT IF YOU'RE ONLY CHARGING $20 FOR THE INSPECTION, WE'RE LOSING OUT, IT'S $30 WE'RE LOSING OUT.
SO THE COST OF THE SERVICE, WE DIDN'T GO ABOVE IT.
SO THE COST OF THE FEE EQUALED THE COST OF DOING THAT INSPECTION.
SO NOW, INSTEAD OF THE GENERAL FUND, INSTEAD OF ALLING US, ALL OF US PAYING OUT THE GENERAL FUND FOR THAT, THAT INSPECTION THAT YOU ASKED FOR, UH, YOU PAY FOR THAT COST, NOT THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS.
UM, AND THAT'S BEEN, THAT, THAT RIGHT THERE WAS A, A, A BIG PIECE OF ALL OF YOUR PERMIT FEES WAS JUST MAKING, SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO USE THAT INSPECTION, THEY PAY FOR THAT.
UH, WE DIDN'T DO ANY OF THE FEE INCREASES JUST TO SAY, HEY, LET'S GROW THE GENERAL REVENUE.
NOT, WE DIDN'T DO, LIKE THE STATE DID.
WE DIDN'T JUST GO OUT AND SAY, HEY, WE, WE NEED ANOTHER $10 MILLION.
WE'LL JACK UP THOSE FEES AND THOSE FEES AND THOSE FEES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DID AT ALL.
AND YOU ALL HAVE THAT, SO YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UM, WE DID INCREASE THE TIPPING FEE, BUT, BUT THAT WAS ONLY, THAT WAS ENTIRELY BECAUSE BALTIMORE COUNTY INCREASED THE TIPPING FEE.
SO WE ARE AT THE, BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WE'RE TOTALLY AT THE MERCY OF BALTIMORE COUNTY TO DUMP OUR GARBAGE, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
AND WHEN BALTIMORE COUNTY RAISES THAT FEE, IF WE DON'T MATCH THAT FEE, IT'S BEING PAID OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND.
SO WE RAISED THAT TO MATCH THAT, THAT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, HEY, WE NEED A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY KIND OF A DEAL.
WE INCREASED THE IMPACT FEE, WE INCREASED THE IMPACT FEE BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THE IMPACT FEE WAS TO TRY TO OFFSET THE COST OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.
WE HADN'T RAISED IT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IN DECADE, MORE THAN A DECADE.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PRICE, THE PRICE OF BUILDING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THAT TIME.
UM, JUST LOOK, LOOK AT THE COST.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SHOCKING.
I HAVE TO SAY WHAT THE COST OF THOSE ARE.
BUT WE, WE ARE NOT, WE'RE STILL EVEN UP TO THAT.
WE WENT UP TO OUR MAXIMUM UNDER THE STATUTE, BUT IT WAS NOT TO, YOU KNOW, PULL THIS, UH, BUNCH OF BUCKS IN TO BUILD UP OUR GENERAL FUND SO WE COULD GIVE ALL OURSELVES RAISES LIKE THE, LIKE THEY DID AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED STUFF.
SO, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL, UH, UH, FOR, FOR SUPPORTING THESE FEE INCREASES.
I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, THAT THESE WERE NECESSARY.
AND BY NOT DRAINING THE GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I I, I, I THINK THE WATER AND SEWER FEE THAT WE, WE'VE SPOKEN ON THAT ONE, YOU'LL KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
UM, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE AND WE'LL TALK MORE.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION.
YOU KNOW, AND WE ALL TALKED TO YOU EARLY ON, IT SEEMED LIKE THE ECONOMY WAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
I THINK A NUMBER OF YOU FELT MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT THINGS HAVE GONE A LITTLE BIT DICEY IN THE MORE RECENT TIMES.
SO THE, THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING IS, IS GROWING THE ECONOMY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME INTO THIS OFFICE, UM, I WENT AROUND WITH SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE.
WE CALL 'EM BUS BDS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE.
[00:50:01]
I WALKED AROUND WITH THEM, AND WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT LARGELY THEY WOULD COME IN AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.HERE'S ANOTHER PAT ON THE BACK.
I FOUND THAT TO BE NOT INCREDIBLY USEFUL FOR OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE.
WE REVAMPED OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT ARE EXPERIENCED, WHO ARE, ARE ATTORNEYS WHO, WHO, WHO HAVE RUN SMALL BUSINESSES, WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MEET A PAYROLL.
THE CHALLENGES THAT PRESENTS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY AT THE, AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY LEVELS, AND HOW WE CAN ADVISE YOU THROUGH THAT.
WE BROUGHT IN, WE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE WHO KNOW, KNOW THE, THE DEFENSE, THE, THE UNDERSTAND A PG, THAT, THAT, THAT OUR NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER AND, AND THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT THAT IS ON THIS.
UM, UH, AND, AND, AND DOING THAT WAS PAINFUL.
ANY KIND OF CHANGE IS PAINFUL, BUT IT'S BEEN, IT IS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
AND YOU'LL HEAR LATER ON FROM KAREN HOLT ON ON THAT.
UM, BUT WE FOCUSED ON GROWING HARTFORD'S ECONOMY AND CREATING THE WELL PAYING JOBS WITH LOCAL TALENT.
SO WE GET A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM OUR, FROM OUR HUGE INVESTMENT EDUCATION.
AND WE'RE PARTNERING VERY CLOSELY WITH ABER PROVING GROUND, UH, AND, AND, AND ALL THE FEDERAL STAKEHOLDERS, UH, TO, TO, TO, IT'S A CRITICAL TIME BECAUSE THE, THE WORLD'S IN TRANSITION, THE FED'S IN TRANSITION, THE, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S IN TRANSITION.
AND, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROVING GROUND, UH, ACHIEVES THE OPPORTUNITIES, CAPTURES THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO GROW THEIR MISSION AND, AND GOD FORBID, SHRINK THEIR MISSION.
SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM, UH, BOTH, UH, IN DC AND, AND LOCALLY TO DO THAT.
UM, ON THE SPENDING SIDE OF THIS BUDGET, UH, AGAIN, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY AS IT'S BEEN FOR, FOR, FOR YEARS NOW.
UM, FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN A ROW, UH, WE'VE INCREASED PAY FOR SHER'S DEPUTIES.
THIS BUDGET PROVIDES FOR A 6% INCREASE THAT ALIGNS, THAT'S IN LINES WITH THE SHERIFF'S 2022 SALARY STUDY.
UM, OUR DEPUTIES, UM, ARE THEIR, THEIR PAY IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, UH, BOTH LOCALLY WITHIN THE REGION AND STATEWIDE.
UH, WE'VE INVESTED, WE'VE CONTINUED OUR INVESTMENT IN FIRST RATE EQUIPMENT, UH, INCLUDING THE, THE 30 NEW PATROL CARS THAT WE, WE PURCHASED THIS PAST YEAR WITH THE LATEST EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, AND THE LIKE.
UH, OUR COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE IS NOW UP TO 17 UNITS, UH, THAT'S REDUCING RESPONSE TIMES AND SAVING LIVES EVERY DAY.
ON THE EDUCATION SIZE, UH, UH, LOOK, IT REMAINS BY FAR THE LARGEST PIECE OF OUR BUDGET.
UH, THAT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE FOR US AS A COUNTY, BUT THIS YEAR YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 9% INCREASE THAT FULLY FUNDS THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST.
UH, THAT'S 27 MILLION ABOVE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
AND IF YOU ADD IN, IF YOU ADD IN THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE TEACHER'S PENSION SYSTEM, WE'RE ABOUT 30 MILLION ABOVE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT THIS YEAR.
UH, UH, AND I ATTRIBUTE WHERE WE ARE NOW TO, TO OUR EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, HIS STAFF, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO REALLY, REALLY WORK TOGETHER FOR, TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND BETTER OUR REVENUE, A OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR REVENUE ASSETS, OUR LIMITATIONS, BUT ALSO HELP US TO BETTER ALIGN OUR REVENUE GROWTH WITH THEIR OVERALL MISSION.
UM, WE'VE MADE MAJOR INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR IN, IN A COMBINED NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE NEW HARTFORD ACADEMY, UH, REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS FOR A NUMBER OF OUR EXISTING SCHOOLS.
AND THESE ARE MAJOR REPAIRS FOR SOME, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
C MILTON INCLUDED, UM, UH, AND AGAIN, PICKED UP THE LARGER SHARE OF THE TEACHER'S PENSION.
UM, OUR ONGOING, UH, COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY COST SHARING AND COST CUT SAVING OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUES.
AND I'M REALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THAT CAN LEAD TO IN THE FUTURE.
OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR FY 26 HAVE INCLUDED SAFETY UPGRADES TO OUR COUNTY COURT SYSTEMS. UH, A NEW FIREHOUSE IN WHITEFORD, IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES, EXPANDING FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION, OPEN SPACE.
SO IN, IN CLOSING, I WANT TO JUST THANK, UH, UH, THE, UH, EMPLOYEES OF HARTFORD COUNTY WHO WORK EVERY HAR VERY HARD EVERY DAY TO GIVE US A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT, UM, AND, AND, AND THE, AND OUR, THE, THE WIDER TEAM IN THAT EFFORT FOR, FOR WHAT THEY DO.
I WANT TO THANK MY, MY DIRECTORS FOR BEING GOOD, GOOD, UM, UH, STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I WANNA THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, UH, AND, AND DOING THE, DOING THE TOUGH THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE GOOD, GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY, HOLD THE LINE ON EXPENDING AND, AND KEEP A, BE THE BE TRUE WATCHDOGS FOR THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
AND I WANNA REAFFIRM, UH, OUR COMMITMENT TO A STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT TO PRESERVE WHAT MAKES HARTFORD COUNTY SO SPECIAL.
AND, AND WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE GLAD TO ANSWER.
SO FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
LET ME THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN PERSON WITH US.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE FEES REAL QUICK.
WE DID SUPPORT 9 1 1 FEES, TIPPING FEES, IMPACT FEES, UH, PERMIT FEES BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN RAISED IN SO LONG.
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL IN 2014,
[00:55:01]
WHEN WE CAME IN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND NAUSEA, I GUESS, BUT, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT WHEN WE CAME IN, WE HAD TO DO THAT HEAVY LIFT BECAUSE THAT ENTERPRISE FUND WAS NEARLY DEPLETED AND WE THE TOUGH DECISIONS AT THAT TIME.AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT GOOD WATER AND SEWER NOW.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE IN A POSITION THAT WE'RE IN.
I THINK WE SET THAT TONE, MOVE FORWARD.
I WANT, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU REALIZE THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PUT THAT OTHER BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS.
YOU SENT YOUR BUDGET MESSAGE OVER WITH THE $6.2 MILLION INCREASE IN TAX BURDEN FROM THE STATE.
UM, THAT ADDS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE FACED WITH EVERY DAY.
SO I, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT BILL TEMPORARILY.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, CLEARLY, UM, WE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP REVENUE IN A PLACE THAT, THAT ENTERPRISE FUND SUPPORTS ITSELF.
UM, THE OTHER THING YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THE SHERIFF'S PAID STUDY.
UM, THE SHERIFF DISAGREES WITH THAT, AND THE SHERIFF, UM, HE, HE SAYS THAT YOU'RE LIKE ABOUT FOUR TO $6 MILLION SHORT IN THAT STUDY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
I MEAN, I, I JUST RESPOND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS, BUT NOT THEIR OWN FACTS.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND SHOW YOU THE NUMBERS.
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE SPREADSHEETS.
UM, BUT I, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO THAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING YOU TALKED ABOUT RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE WAS THE SCHOOLS, THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK YOUR GRANDCHILDREN TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ANYBODY KNOWS, THE, THE PIECE THAT I'M REALLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IS THAT BECAUSE OF OUR BUDGET WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE'RE LOSING 150 EMPLOYEES AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WELL, WE'RE NOT, I TALKED TO SEAN BOLSON YESTERDAY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.
I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY TOO.
AND WHAT HE SAYS IS THEY'RE STILL UNCERTAIN.
THAT'S WHY THESE 150 FAMILIES ARE STILL, UM, IN CHAOS.
BUT THE UNCERTAINTY IS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T ACCEPTED THE POSITIONS YET.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE UNCERTAINTY THAT, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO DOUBT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. WITH DR.
BOLSON THAT THE POSITIONS ARE THERE OR WILL BE THERE.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS, ARE THOSE PEOPLE GONNA ACCEPT THAT NEW POSITION? ARE YOU GONNA ACCEPT THAT YOUR POSITION AT FALUN IS NOW IN, IN, IN, IN, IN ANOTHER SCHOOL IN H GRACE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
BUT IT IN IT IS GONNA INCREASE CLASS SIZE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WHICH, THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT A PARENT WANTS, IS THEIR CHILD TO BE IN A MUCH LARGER CLASSROOM.
MEAN, REMEMBER, THE CLASS SIZE INCREASE IS A RESULT OF THE BLUEPRINT.
AND, AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN FUND TWO PLANS.
I MEAN, THE BLUEPRINT HAS A PLAN AS A STATE PLAN, RIGHT.
UM, AND THE STATE'S DIRECTING THEIR PLAN.
NOW, HARFORD COUNTY COME AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA FUND THE STATE'S PLAN, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HIT OUR TAXPAYERS, AND WE'RE GONNA FUND OUR OWN PRIVATE PLAN ON TOP OF THAT.
I, I DON'T, I MEAN, THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH NUT TO SWALLOW.
UNDERSTAND WE'RE GONNA RUN TWO PARALLEL PLANS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
AND THEN IN TALKING WITH SEAN YESTERDAY, HE ALSO SAYS THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE MAY LOSE ANOTHER A HUNDRED POSITIONS OR MORE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE WORK DONE TO SIFT THIS OUT, BUT I JUST NEEDED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR NO, I APPRECIATE IT.
AND, AND I THINK THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO TAKE A LOOK ON, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE PUBLICIZE THE SALARIES OF THE, OF THE OFFICE SITTING OVER HERE IN MM-HMM
UM, THERE'S BEEN NO ADJUSTMENTS, RIGHT.
THEY, THEY, THEY, THAT'S A HUGE, A HUGE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN WITH VERY HIGH SALARIES ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE.
I THINK AT SOME POINT THERE HAS TO BE RECOGNITION BY THE, BY THE BOARD THAT, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY'S GOTTA BE IN THE CLASSROOMS, NOT NOT IN THE OFFICE BUILDING.
UM, THAT, THAT'S POINT NUMBER ONE.
BUT POINT NUMBER TWO IS, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE, WE HAVE DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS.
I OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE, THE, THE, THE TEACHERS WILL BE IN THE, THEY ARE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THEY WILL BE IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND, AND, AND I'M HA AND THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE THESE DIALOGUES.
YOU KNOW, WE, OUR BUDGET IS DONE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WITH HIM.
WE, WE WE'RE ALREADY MEETING ON THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE ARE ALREADY HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE BRING THIS THING IN? AND, AND WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE, WHAT THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE FOR THIS YEAR, UM, THE, THE DISCUSSION WAS SPECIFICALLY, ALRIGHT, LOOK, UM, WE'RE, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU.
AS REVENUES INCREASE, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU TO GET A BETTER GLIDE PATH.
WE'RE WORKING SO THAT, YOU KNOW, DON'T GO FOR EVERYTHING THIS YEAR, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW YOU.
AND, AND SEAN AGREES THAT, THAT DR.
BOLSON AGREES THAT, THAT THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS THAT WE, WE GROW THE SCHOOL BUDGET AT A A RATE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING REASONABLE FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
QUITE FRANKLY, THOUGH, A 9% GROWTH RATE ISN'T TOO SHABBY FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
[01:00:01]
UM, AND, UH, UH, FOR THIS YEAR, THAT'S PRETTY RESPECTABLE GROWTH RATE.UH, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU WANNA RAISE TAXES, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE START LOOKING MORE THAN A 9% GROWTH RATE IN THE OUT YEARS.
AND, AND I THINK THE SCHOOL'S GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT, WELL, MAYBE WE HAVE TO ADJUST, THIS IS THE GROWTH RATE.
THIS ISN'T FLAT, WE'RE GROWING AT 9%, AND THEY SAY WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS AT A 9% GROWTH RATE.
I THINK THERE'S SOME, SOME READJUSTMENT THAT HAS TO BE MADE HERE ON THEIR SIDE AS WELL TO MAKE THIS WORK.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE IS, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND THEN ONE LAST THING FOR ME RIGHT NOW IS YOU MENTIONED PARKS AND, UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MIRACLE LEAGUE PARK AND BATHROOMS 250,000 MATCHING GRANT.
SO, SO THERE WAS, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A GRANT LAST YEAR AND THEN A GRANT THIS YEAR, AND WE HAD PUT SOME MONEY IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND WHEN I TALKED TO PAUL TWO WEEKS AGO ON THIS, ONCE WE KNEW THE FEDERAL GRANT HAD COME IN, YES, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. ANA? I'M SORRY.
SO, UM, FIRST I WANT TO, UH, SAY THANKS FOR THE 3% SALARY INCREASE AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS STIPEND TO ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
BUT I DID TALK TO, UH, THE HEAD OF THE DEPUTIES, UNION, SERGEANT EATON, AND HE SAID ONLY ABOUT, UH, HALF OF THE MEMBERS ARE GETTING THE 6% SALARY INCREASE.
AND THEN OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS WHO ARE ONLY GETTING, UH, 3%, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE THOUSAND DOLLARS STIPEND.
IS THAT, IS THAT ACCURATE? DO YOU KNOW? I MEAN, AT THE, I MEAN, ULTIMATELY ALL OF THE PAY WILL BE DETERMINED BY, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER THE SHERIFF, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATES HIS, HIS FUNDS.
SO, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS ENOUGH MONEY IN ORDER TO, UH, IN ORDER TO MEET THE, THE, THE PAY STUDY.
THE PROBLEM WITH ANYTIME WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF STEPS IS THAT YES, ULTIMATELY SOMETIMES IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS THAT THERE ARE STEPS, THEN YOU KIND OF STEP OUT.
AND THEN THE PURPOSE OF THE COLA IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, IT, IT'S MORE OR LESS THAT'S A STIPEND PACE WITH INFLATION.
SO, SO, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE SHERIFF'S PLAN, HE HAS STEPS AND CORRECT.
UM, ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, YOU STEP, YOU STEP OUT.
AND THEN, UH, THE ONLY WAY TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEYOND, OR ADDITIONAL RAISES, IF YOU WILL, IS EITHER THROUGH COLAS, WHICH KIND OF JUST KEEPS PACE WITH INFLATION OR A PROMOTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ON THE COUNTY SIDE, WE DO NOT HAVE, WE DO NOT HAVE STEPS, UH, BUT WE ARE DOING A THOUSAND DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, INCREMENT, WHICH VARIES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, IT'S 1%.
IF YOU MAKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE $10,000 A YEAR, IT'S 10%.
UM, NO ONE MAKES $10,000 A YEAR.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.
NOW, ON HIS CIVILIAN SIDE, WE DID PUT ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE CIVILIANS TO GET THE 3% AND, AND THE, AND THE 1000, THAT'S THE SAME.
UM, AND THE OTHER KIND OF ALLIED AGENCIES, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE PUT ENOUGH FUNDING IN THERE FOR THE LIBRARY AND ALL TO DO THAT TOO.
KIND OF THAT IDEA THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE GROWS GROWTH AT THE SAME LEVEL, BUT KIND OF, AGAIN, GOES BACK TO THE, THE NATURE OF A STEP SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
NOW, THE CIVILIANS LAST YEAR, THEY, THEY DIDN'T GET SOMETHING CORRECT.
WE GAVE THEM, WE SPLIT IT UP LAST YEAR.
I THINK THE FIRST WAS A ONE AND A HALF, OR, YEAH, I'M SORRY.
SO IT WAS, YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT LAST, BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, THE CIVILIANS WERE, WERE, WERE, WERE GRANTED A HIGHER, UM, UH, INCREASE, YOU KNOW, WHICH, WHICH WASN'T THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION WAS, WAS THE DECISION ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO, UH, PROVIDE A, A HIGHER, UH, INCREASE FOR THEIR, THEIR CIVILIANS TWO YEARS AGO.
THEN THE IDEA WAS, OKAY, WELL IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME, YOU KNOW, A SECRETARY HERE, A SECRETARY THERE, A A FISCAL PERSON HERE, A FISCAL PERSON THERE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY, UM, UH, AN EQUAL, UM, UH, COUNTERPART, BUT STILL THE IDEA OF TRYING TO KEEP THEM ALL THE SAME.
SO YES, THERE WAS NOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED AND THAT, UM, LAST YEAR FOR THAT.
BUT NOW I THINK WE HAVE A NEW BASE AND WE'RE, WE'RE TREATING EVERYONE ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE.
IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T WEAR A UNIFORM, WE'RE TREATING EVERYONE THERE THE SAME.
AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, MR HONOR, SO WE HAD PROVIDED, IN THE YEAR PRIOR, WE HAD PROVIDED MONEY FOR THE CIVILIANS.
AGAIN, WE TRY TO PAY ALL THE CIVILIANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHETHER YOU'RE IN DES OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IF YOU'RE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE TRY TO PROVIDE THE SAME, THE SAME RATE THE SHERIFF ELECTED TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE DEPUTIES, THE MONEY WE GIVE FROM THE DEPUTIES, AND SHIFT SOME OF THAT TO THE CIVILIANS.
SO THE DEPUTIES GOT LESS, CIVILIANS GOT MORE.
WE, THE MONEY WE GAVE TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WAS BASED ENTIRELY UPON OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE DEPUTIES THAT WE HAD TO KEEP DEPUTY SALARIES COMPETITIVE FOR UNIFORMED LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THERE WERE COMPETITION.
THEY WOULD LEAVE AND WE HAD TO KEEP THEM.
UM, SO THEN THE, THE YEAR COMING BACK AFTER THAT, UM, WE TO, IN ORDER TO BRING THE SHERIFF CIVILIANS BACK IN LINE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A CLERK, WHATEVER,
[01:05:01]
THAT THOSE WERE THE SAME THROUGHOUT THERE, THAT WE DID NOT GIVE THEM THE SAME INCREASE THAT WE GAVE THE, THE, THE REST OF THE CIVILIANS.WE GAVE THEM AN INCREASE THAT WAS, THAT PUT THEM BACK IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE CIVILIANS THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY EMPLOYMENT.
AND NOW THIS YEAR THAT'S BEING CORRECTED.
EVERYBODY'S BEING, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, EVERYBODY'S BEING TREATED THE SAME.
SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE WORKING A DESK JOB OR WHATEVER, A CIVILIAN, AND YOU'RE NOT DOING LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, EVERYBODY'S GETTING THE SAME PAY RAISE, THE SAME MERIT.
NOW, IS THAT IN LINE WITH THE, THE STUDY THAT WAS, UH, DONE FOR THE SHERIFF'S IN OTHER AREAS THAT WERE A HUNDRED PERCENT MATCHING? SO WHEN, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT, AT, AT FUNDING THE SHERIFF'S, UM, SALARY STUDY, UH, IT'S ON THE UNIFORM SIDE.
SO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CORRECTIONAL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A STUDY FOR THE CIVILIANS.
HOWEVER, THAT PUTS US IN A, UM, IN AN EQUITY SITUATION HERE WHERE, YOU KNOW, CAN WE REALLY BE PROVIDING, UH, RAISES TO THE SHERIFF'S CIVILIANS THAT, THAT FAR EXCEED THE RAISES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE GUYS IN DPW OR PEOPLE IN PARKS AND REC OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT KIND OF, AGAIN, IT GETS BACK TO THAT WE, WE UNDERSTAND IF YOU, IF YOU ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR YOUR CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, YOU KNOW, THE THE RULES ARE DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF DIFFERENTLY.
THEY HAVE, UM, UH, ON, UH, LIFETIME HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE BENEFITS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE COUNTY SIDE DO NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, DO, DO NOT HAVE.
BUT THERE IS THIS SENSE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CIVILIANS, THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO TREAT THE CIVILIANS EQUALLY.
AND IF NOT, WHERE IT CREATES THEN IS THESE ISSUES OF, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THERE'S AN OPENING, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE, A A PERSON FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SAID, WELL, I'M GONNA GO OVER THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA GET, THEY'RE GONNA GET HIGHER RAISES AND NOT, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, WE'RE, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, AGAIN, TREAT EVERYONE, UH, THE SAME UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY CORRELATE TO THE ACTUAL STUDY, BUT WE ARE FUNDING IT TO THE ACTUAL STUDY FOR THE UNIFORM PERSONNEL.
SO I, I, I KNOW WITH LOWER RANKING OFFICERS, SOMETIMES THEY WILL GO TO A DIFFERENT COUNTY AS WELL BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA GET PAID MORE.
SO IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT THE SHERIFF HAS FULL CONTROL THAT HE CAN DO THAT WITH THAT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT HE CAN ALREADY DO THAT.
WE GIVE HIM WHAT THE MONEY THAT YOU SEE IS WE, WE, WE, WE, WE DO, UH, AN ALLOTMENT BASED UPON, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THE IRRATIONAL CONNECTION.
WE SAY, WE'RE GIVING YOU ENOUGH MONEY TO DO X, BUT HE CAN MOVE THAT AROUND.
HE COULD SAY, I'M NOT GIVING ANY OF THE SENIOR PEOPLE ANY MONEY.
I'LL PUT IT ALL TOWARDS THE JUNIOR PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE IN THE, WITH THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHERE WE TELL YOU, HERE'S WHAT THE RAISE IS, HERE'S HOW YOU'RE SPENDING IT.
BUT FOR THE, FOR THE, THE SHERIFF'S PERSONNEL, NO, WE GIVE, WE GIVE THE MONEY.
UM, WE, WHAT WHAT WE WERE SHOWING YOU IS HOW WE CALCULATED THAT, WHY WE CAME UP WITH THAT MUCH MONEY.
BUT NOW HE'S FREE TO THEN REALLOCATE AS HE DID BEFORE, AND HE TOOK MONEY FROM THE DEPUTIES AND GAVE IT TO THE, THE, THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.
HE'S FREE TO, I THINK WHAT TONY WAS, EXCUSE ME.
I THINK WHAT TONY WAS ASKING IS THE, WITH THE FUNDING THAT HE HAS IN THIS BUDGET, RIGHT.
IS IT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT THAT PAY PLAN IS, OR NO? WELL, OUR, OUR INTENT WAS THAT WE WERE MATCHING THE PAY PLAN.
UM, OF COURSE, GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE, BECAUSE NOW I LOST MY TRAIN.
IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE A GROWING ECONOMY AND YOU'VE HIRED EXPERIENCED PEOPLE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, OR CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY NUMBERS ON HOW OUR ECONOMY HAS GROWN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS? YEAH, I, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH, WITH THE DETAILS ON WHAT OUR, THE RATE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IS.
AND THEN, UM, BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S, YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PAY.
UM, COULD YOU PROVIDE ANYTHING THAT SHOWS THAT, HOW IT COMPARES TO OTHER COUNTIES? SURE.
WHICH, WHICH WE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE SHERIFF AND THE UNION AS WELL.
SO MORE THAN A MONTH AGO TO SHOW HOW WE WERE CALCULATING THAT.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ON SEEKING EFFICIENCIES.
UH, CORRECT ME IF I GET THE NUMBER WRONG, MR. MCCORD, BUT THE NINTH POINT OF THE SCOUT LAW IS A SCOUT IS THRIFTY,
AND SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WHEN MY WIFE AND I MET SIX YEARS AGO, I TOLD HER, LOOK, I'M A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WHO MAKES, AT THE TIME $48,000 A YEAR.
UH, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY WE GET MARRIED AND WE HAVE KIDS AND WE WANT ONE OF US TO BE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CREATIVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA MAKE US RICH ANYTIME SOON.
SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK GETTING SOLAR PANELS ON OUR HOUSE, GETTING INSULATION
[01:10:01]
TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, REPLACING OUR WATER HEATER.SO I SOLD MY CAR FOR 12,000 AND THEN BOUGHT A NEWER CAR FOR 9,000.
UH, SO THAT'S $3,000 IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT.
WITHOUT LOWERING QUALITY OF LIFE, I GET 10% CASH BACK ON ALL MY CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS.
BUT THE REALITY IS, WHEN YOU'RE SEEKING OUT THOSE EFFICIENCIES, THERE'S THAT INITIAL, LIKE BIG SAVINGS, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE DIMINISHING RETURNS.
YOU CATCH ALL THE BIG STUFF, AND THEN THERE'S ONLY THE EDGES TO NIBBLE ON TO KEEP THE EFFICIENCIES GOING.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR SAVINGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE, HAVE BEEN, UH, RESTED ON THOSE EFFICIENCIES, WHICH IS A, A HUGE, UH, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY WE RUN OUT OF EFFICIENCIES TO SEEK, AND THE ONES THAT WE CAN SEEK, UH, ARE LESS, UH, SUBSTANTIAL THAN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED TO.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, UM, AS YOU LOOK AHEAD INTO THE FUTURE, ARE THERE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE HAVEN'T GONE AFTER YET THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO PURSUE? AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO, UH, SHRINK, UH, THAT REVENUE TO, UH, EXPENDITURE GAP, UH, ONCE WE'VE EXHAUSTED THE PATH OF EFFICIENCIES? SURE.
SO, SO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE DESIGN A BUILDING, WE LOOK AT A PARKS AND REC BUILDING THAT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN THREE PEOPLE TO STAFF IT.
AND WE'VE DESIGNED THAT BUILDING.
SO IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO STAFF IT.
THAT'S DECADES OF, I'VE JUST PULLED TWO PEOPLE OFF THE STAFFING WHEN WE DESIGN A, A, A BUILDING SO THAT IT'S, IT'S MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAT GOES ON FOR FOREVER WHEN WE DESIGN IT SO THAT THE ROOF STRUCTURE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REPAIRED EVERY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
THAT, THAT, THAT GOES ON DOWN.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THESE EFFICIENCIES ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY IT'S ONE TIME, IT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT.
WHEN WE, OUR INVESTMENTS IN OUR INVESTMENTS IN, IN, IN, UH, UH, UH, REDUCING OUR RENTS.
WE, WE WENT AROUND AND DID SPACE UTILIZATION STUDIES.
THOSE RENTS THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING ON, UM, THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, BACK IN FOR, FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, KEEPS COMING BACK TO US, YOU KNOW, IN, IN GROWING REVENUE.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, AS A COUNTY ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE IS TO, IS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS, I THINK IS, IS REALLY TELLING US PRETTY CLEARLY IS THAT, THAT THE FUTURE OF, OF, OF THE ECONOMY IN THIS AREA ESPECIALLY, BUT INCREASINGLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT PARTICULARLY THIS PART OF MARYLAND IS, IS, IS MORE THE HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING AND, AND THAT, UH, WHAT, WHAT DOES HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING WANTS AND NEEDS ACCESS, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE, WE'RE ON 95, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MAJOR ROADS IN THE, IN THE WORLD.
NOT JUST, NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES.
UM, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO BWI, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE, THE, THE PORT.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT A WELL EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WE'RE, WE ARE THE KIND OF PLACE THAT THIS HIGH TECH DEVELOPMENT WANTS TO, WANTS TO NEST IN.
AND WE'RE SEEING IT, WE'RE SEEING IT GROW, UM, EVERY DAY.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WATCHING, UH, MORE AND MORE COMPANIES EXPAND AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE ROOT HERE AND GROW.
UH, AND THEY'RE THE JOBS THAT, THAT, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, STACKING BOXES IN A WAREHOUSE JOB.
THESE ARE THE JOBS THAT YOU WANT THE, OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO MOVE INTO, OR OUR, OUR GRADS TO COME BACK TO.
UM, WHERE, WHERE THEY'RE REALLY GROWING.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE SUSTAINING OUR, OUR, OUR AG OUR AG FOLKS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE, WE LOOK AT TRYING TO INCREASE AGRI AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
ONE OF THE, THE BIGGEST CHANNELS THAT WE HAD, THE FUNNEL BLOCK IS THAT WE HAD FOR, FOR OUR AG THESE IN THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN ON THE, THE, THE, THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE SIDE WHERE PEOPLE ARE, ARE FARMERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO, TO, TO HAVE LARGER FLOCKS OF, OF SHEEP AND, AND HERDS OF CATTLE.
BUT YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T BUTCHER.
WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO, RIGHT NOW TO HELP DEVELOP A LOCAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE, WHICH WILL WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE OUR HERDS.
WE, WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, UH, LOCAL PRODUCERS TO, TO, UH, ACHIEVE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS TO, TO, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LOWER COST, UH, FERTILIZER AND, AND, AND THE LIKE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING CAREFULLY WITH, WITH THOSE FOLKS.
UM, THE, THE, THE, THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE PURSUING AND HOW WE'VE UPGRADED OUR, OUR PERMITS AND PROCESS, UH, PROCESSING OF, YOU KNOW, REDEVELOPMENT AND PERMITS MAKES IT MUCH MORE, UH, UH, AS A MUCH MORE FRIENDLY LOCATION TO GROW OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES.
THEY CAN REHAB AND, AND, AND REGROW AND REDEVELOPMENT ISS A KEY PART OF THAT.
SO AS WE LOOK OUT AND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF REDEVELOPMENT TO BE DONE, YOU SEE IT ON ROUTE 40.
SO AS WE WORK WITH FOLKS TO, TO, TO PUT IN PLACE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, WHICH THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED NUMBER OF THOSE, I MEAN, YOUR LOAN PROGRAMS AND THE, LIKE, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR REDEVELOPMENT ON ROUTE 40.
SO I THINK THERE, YOU KNOW, LONG TERM THERE, IT,
[01:15:01]
AND EVEN NOW, THERE'S, THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE PURSUING THOSE.EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE ARE PEOPLE.
IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO OUT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME, UH, UH, TRYING TO SOLVE THEIR CHALLENGES, WHETHER THAT'S TO GET A STATE OR A FEDERAL LOAN OR GRANT OR A COUNTY PERMIT OR, OR A FACADE RENOVATION, WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, OR TO HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, I, I PERSONALLY WENT OUT AND, UH, A BUSINESS SAID, HEY, WE, WE ARE, WE'RE A SUBSIDIARY OF A BIG INTERNATIONAL THING, AND OUR INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.
WE WANT TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY NEED TO GROW US, THAT DON'T CUT US, GROW US.
WOULD YOU COME AND TALK TO THEM? SO WE PRO I WENT OUT WITH OUR TEAM TO SAY, HEY, HERE'S, HERE'S WHAT HARTFORD COUNTY'S ABOUT.
YOU, YOU, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
AND, AND SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY TO TO, TO GROW THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE SAT IN BOX HILL TOGETHER AS THE COMMUNITY, UH, SAT IN, IN PANIC OVER THEIR HOMES BEING UNDERWATER, THEIR CARS DRIFTING AWAY.
WE SAT IN CHURCHVILLE TOGETHER AS PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT, UM, LEAD BEING IN THEIR STREAM.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE, UH, TALKED WITH, UH, HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT PFAS BEING IN THEIR WELLS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN 40 THROUGH ABERDEEN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LIKE YOU'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, GOING ON A SAFARI ADVENTURE AS YOUR TIRES GO UNDERWATER BECAUSE THE ROAD'S COMPLETELY FLOODED.
OUR ENVIRONMENT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
AND SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO THE WAY WE'VE GROWN AND DEVELOPED THE AMOUNT OF, UH, IMPERVIOUS SPACE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR, OUR SURFACE.
SOME OF THAT'S DUE TO CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS.
UM, BUT LARGE, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY TEAM THAT CAN BE LOOKING FOR BEST PRACTICES.
AND HOW DO WE PREVENT COMMUNITIES LIKE BOX HILL EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY ARE? HOW DO WE KEEP OUR ROADS FROM BEING UNDERWATER? HOW DO WE KEEP OUR STREAMS FROM HAVING LEAD IN THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THOSE BEST PRACTICES? AND IT'S A FIELD THAT'S EVER GROWING.
SO I THINK IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE A REGULAR TEAM TO BE FINDING THOSE BEST PRACTICES AND BRINGING THEM HOME.
UM, CAN I JUST ADDRESS A FEW REAL QUICK, UM, THE, THE BOX HILL FLOODING, WE DID A STUDY.
WE HAD ENVI UH, ENGINEERS COME IN AND WE'LL, YOU'LL SEE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET THERE'S FUNDING TO PUT, TO REDO THE BRIDGE OVER LAUREL BUSH.
LAUREL BUSH, RIGHT THERE, THE, THE BRIDGE OVER LAUREL BUSH OVER THE, THE STREAM.
SO THAT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CULVERTS.
SO WE PREVENT THAT, THAT BACKUP ON THE PFAS, WE ESTABLISHED A PAS TASK FORCE THAT LED BY BILL BEIN THAT I'M GETTING GREAT REVIEWS FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE THE OUTSIDE FOLKS PARTICIPATING AND HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE THE LE THE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ENGINEERING.
AND, AND THESE FOLKS SIT THERE WHO THE ENGINEER BRAINS AND THEY EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE BEST PRACTICES, THEY'RE CHALLENGES AND, AND EXCHANGE IDEAS.
AND, AND THAT'S SETTING US UP WELL AS, AS, AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND HOW WE'RE GONNA BE ADDRESSING THIS STUFF.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE, WE DON'T HAVE A, A A, A SINGLE ENTITY OVERLOOKING THAT, BUT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS IN EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS ARE TAKING THIS STUFF SERIOUSLY AND, AND ARE WORKING TO, TO AVOID ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS. UM, BUT JUST ALONG THOSE LINES, ONE SPECIFIC THING I'VE BEEN REALLY LEARNING ABOUT AND THINKING ABOUT A LOT, UH, ENTERING THE SPRING IS POLLEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STUDIES HAVE SHOWN HOW POLLEN ALLERGIES ARE, UH, ACCELERATE ACCELERATING IN THEIR, UH, SEVERITY.
UM, AND, UM, IN LIKE THE PAST 30 YEARS, POLLEN COUNTS HAVE SHOT UP.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO LACK OF, UH, BIODIVERSITY IN OUR VEGETATION.
UH, ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE CULPRITS IS GRASS.
AND I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO YOUR, UH, LMO, UM, UH, EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
UH, BUT ONE THING I LEARNED INTERESTING, UH, RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, MOWING GRASS RELEASES POLLEN INTO THE AIR, BUT MOWING YOUR GRASS LESS OFTEN ACTUALLY RELEASES MORE POLLEN INTO THE AIR THAN FREQUENT MOWING, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS, UH, KIND OF INTERESTING.
UH, SO ONE OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT WAS, RATHER THAN JUST MOWING GRASS LESS OFTEN, IS TO TAKE SPACES THAT ARE UNUSED GRASS.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WHERE KIDS GO AND PLAY OR WHERE SPORTS TEAMS ARE, YOU KNOW, USED FOR A PARK SPACE.
AND INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING IT BE TALL GRASS THAT'S SMOOTHED LESS OFTEN INTO PLANT, UH, YOU KNOW, A DIVERSE ARRAY OF, OF PLANTS THAT DON'T REQUIRE MOWING IN THAT SPACE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY REDUCES THE POLLEN COUNT, UH, WHICH HELPS QUALITY OF LIFE, AIR QUALITY, HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE THING TO LOOK AT AND TO CONSIDER IS HOW CAN WE CHANGE PLACES THAT ARE, UM, KNOW, JUST GRASS INTO BEING MORE, UH, BIODIVERSE.
AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT IN OUR ZONING REQUIREMENTS THAT WHEN DEVELOPMENTS GO UP, UH, WE'RE PREVENTING LIKE THE SAME TREE FROM BEING PLANTED, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, FEMALE, UH, UH, UH, OAK.
BECAUSE THEN WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS POLLEN GETS RELEASED AND
[01:20:01]
THERE'S NO ONE TO RECEIVE THAT POLLEN.AND THEN
UM, SO LIKE, THINKING ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF, 'CAUSE I DO THINK POLLEN'S GONNA BECOME A LARGER ISSUE.
UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT A PIN ON THAT.
UM, I KNOW PERSONALLY, I LOBBIED REALLY HARD WITH OUR, UH, DELEGATION IN ANNAPOLIS FOR MONTHS THIS YEAR, UM, SAYING, HELP US RAISE THE CAP.
'CAUSE WE'RE STILL AT A DEFICIT WITH IMPACT FEES, RIGHT? WE'RE UNDERCHARGING ON OUR IMPACT FEES.
UM, BUT I HAVE A LOT LESS, UH, SWAY AND INFLUENCE THAN YOU DO IN ANNAPOLIS FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.
ONE OF WHICH IS YOU USED TO BE THERE.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO LOBBY AND PUSH FOR THAT GAP TO BE FILLED BY OUR STATE PARTNERS? SURE.
SO I SUPPORTED, UH, DID A LETTER SUPPORTING THE, THE, THE INCREASE, THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS LOOKING AT, THEY WERE FULLY AWARE OF THE WIDE ARRAY OF TAX INCREASES COMING DOWN.
AND THE DELEGATION WAS LIKE, KINDA LIKE YOU ALL WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE WATER AND SEWER INCREASE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA IN THEORY, BUT THEN YOU SEE THIS AVALANCHE OF NEW STATE TAXES COMING DOWN ON TOP OF YOU, AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, WHOA, WHOA.
KINDA CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE A BIT TO SAY, UH, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE WITH THE DELEGATION IS JUST LIKE, GOOD GOD, LOOK AT THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WITH, YOU KNOW, DR.
TAX AND JUST RUN AWAY WITH THAT.
SO THEY FEEL A LITTLE MORE DEFENSIVE, WHICH, AND, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT, THEY'RE, THEIR, THEIR CONCERN IS NOT ILL PLACED.
SO, UM, BUT YOU DO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OUR, UH, ANNAPOLIS PARTNERS TO HELP US, UH, RAISE THE GAP.
YEAH, I WORK WITH THEM WITH THE REASON WE JUST SAYING, I WORK WITH 'EM THE SAME WAY I WORK WITH THE COUNCIL HERE.
THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU LOOK AT THESE FEES AND STUFF AND YOU'RE LIKE, YEAH, WELL MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME.
SO I, I DEFER TO THEIR JUDGMENT.
WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD DELEGATION IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
I'M NOT GONNA GO ABOUT BEATING ABOUT THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS.
I, I, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE A PRETTY GOOD GROUP OF FOLKS, SO WE'LL WORK WITH THEM JUST SAME AS WE WORKED WITH YOU ALL ON, ON THE LOCAL STUFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, REFERENCING, UH, OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT FUND BALANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S STATED THAT YOUR, ONE OF YOUR GOALS IS TO BE AT 5% PLUS 20 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SPENDING VERSUS OUR REVENUE, AND I KNOW WE'RE SHRINKING THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, BUT IT'S STILL EXISTING YEAR TO YEAR.
DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT YOU HAVE THE RUNWAY SPACE TO LAND THE PLANE, UH, TO, TO HAVE THOSE TWO, UH, POINTS MEET AND, AND NOT HAVE IT MEET, YOU KNOW, OVER THE WATER OR OVER TO? SO, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MONEY.
UM, WE WERE IN DECEMBER, UH, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, UH, WE WERE LIKE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER WITH THE BOARD OF ED.
THEN WE GOT THE TAX RETURN, UM, THAT CAME IN, I GUESS IT WAS JANUARY.
IT WAS JUST LIKE A, IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE.
AND WE ARE LIKE, OKAY, WAIT,
AND WE PULLED BACK, BUT THEN BY, I GUESS IT WAS MAY, WE HAD A DECENT TAX RETURN.
SO I WENT BACK AND SAID, LOOK, UM, I PULLED IT WHEN IT WASN'T THERE.
SAID, WE'LL PUT IT BACK WHEN IT IS THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE UNCERTAINTY LEVEL IN ALL THIS IS PRETTY HIGH.
SO ARE, ARE WE CONFIDENT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED
UM, THE, THIS IS A TOUGH ECONOMY.
YOU LOOK AT THE, THE, THE FEDERAL STUFF, THE, THE STATE STUFF, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, TO SAY, HEY, YOU GOT ANOTHER SIX AND A HALF MILLION THAT WE'RE GONNA THROW ON YOU FROM THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, WE DON'T, WE JUST, THE, THE STATE IS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR COUNTIES ACROSS THIS STATE TO, TO, TO GOVERN.
UM, JUST BY THE, THE, THEIR LAST MINUTE CHANGES, THEIR, THE, THE, THE BLUEPRINT.
IF THEY DON'T BACK OFF SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE, THESE PUSHES THAT'S MORE OF A GAME CHANGER.
IF THEY BECOME AGGRESSIVE AND STAY AGGRESSIVE WITH THE BLUEPRINT.
THAT'S HUGE MONEY THAT, THAT, THAT.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A BALANCE.
AND, AND, AND OUR OBJECTIVE IS A, A GOOD LANDING.
AS RAVI SAID, WE WERE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO PUT ANOTHER 6 MILLION, UH, AND, AND DRIVE THIS THE DEFICIT DOWN EVEN FURTHER.
UH, THIS YEAR WE WERE HOPING TO BE IN THE FORTIES.
BUT WHEN THAT, WHEN THEY SAY, HERE'S ANOTHER UNEXPECTED 6.2 MILLION, AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA, I, YOU KNOW, BOOM, WE'RE RIGHT BACK UP.
SO WHO, WHO KNOWS? UM, BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A REGION APPROACH.
I THINK WE HAVE GREAT, YOU KNOW, I, I SUPPORT, UH, UH, WITH THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY SET AND WHAT ROBBIE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A GREAT TEAM BEHIND US.
I, I DON'T MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
NOT LIKE WAKE UP AND SAY, HEY, LET'S DO THIS.
THESE GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE RESOURCE.
[01:25:01]
THEY'RE IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE AT THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY DECISION WE MAKE ON THE ECONOMY, NONE OF THOSE ARE JUST, HOW DOES BOB FEEL TODAY? EVERY ONE OF THEM ARE BASED UPON REALLY THE EXCELLENT ADVICE THAT I GET THROUGHOUT FROM MY, MY BUDGET TEAM, THE TREASURER AND THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE AND THEIR ADVICE.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND HOW COMFORTABLE DO I FEEL, UH, LOOK, I, I LIKE TO FEEL A WHOLE LOT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN I'M FEELING, BUT, BUT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA, THERE'S GONNA BE THAT LEVEL OF, OF, OF UNEASE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO KEEP A, A RESPECTABLE FUND BALANCE.
UM, LAST QUESTION FROM ME FOR NOW.
UM, I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED IN YOUR LETTER THAT, UM, YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TOURISM AT ALL, JUST CONSIDERING THE LARGE UNDERTAKING THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE HAVE HAVE TAKEN ON AND THE CREATION OF, UH, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE NEW ENTITY WITH HELLO HARTFORD.
UH, YOU KNOW, HUGE, I MEAN, HUGE PUSH INTO YOUR, UH, CREDIT.
UH, THE WEBSITE LOOKS A LOT BETTER THAN IT DID A YEAR AGO.
UM, AND THE DESIGN AND ALL THAT.
CLEARLY A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME AND EXPERTISE HAS GONE INTO THAT WORK.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND REASONING AND, UM, RATIONALE BEHIND, UH, THIS DECISION TO CREATE HELLO HARTFORD AND, UM, AND SOME OF THAT WORK.
I WAS JUST, AGAIN, SURPRISED IT DIDN'T COME UP IN YOUR LETTER.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE SUCH A, A LARGE UNDERTAKING, LIKE A HUGE PROJECT TO NOT TALK ABOUT.
YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK, LET'S MY LETTER FOCUS ON THE BIG SPENDING.
WE'RE DOING SOME BIG SPENDING IN THIS COUNTY, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WE'RE, WHILE TOURISM IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AND TENS OF MILLIONS AND THE BIG, THE BIG PIECES.
AND AS MUCH, SO THAT'S WHY THOSE ARE LEFT OUT.
UM, WE, WE, WE UNDERTOOK THAT, THAT EFFORT, BECAUSE TOURISM IS IMPORTANT.
AND WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING SINCE I STARTED THIS JOB IS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE TREAT IT, UH, WITH THAT, WITH THAT LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE.
UM, AND CAPTURING TECHNOLOGY, LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IS JUST SO IMPORTANT TO HOW WE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS SHOWING UP AT, AT, AT, AT EVENTS AND THEIR PHONES DING AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN GO TO LUNCH TODAY.
UM, OR HERE'S HERE, YOU CHECK IN AT A HOTEL AND SAYS, HEY, DOWN THE ROAD A MILE, HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, THOSE, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT THAT WE LEVERAGE THAT.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, THE, THE SOFTWARE THAT WE'VE PURCHASED AS A COUNTY, WE BECOME A LIBRARY THAT WE CAN SHARE.
IF YOU'RE DOING AN EVENT, YOU DO YOUR EVENT, YOU COME BACK, WE'LL SHARE WITH YOU ALL THE DATA THAT SAYS, HERE'S WHO CAME TO YOUR EVENT, HERE'S WHERE THEY STAYED.
HERE'S HOW YOU, YOU KNOW, HERE.
SO THAT NEXT YEAR OR THE, YOUR NEXT EVENT, YOU'LL KNOW, UH, WHERE YOUR AUDIENCE WAS.
YOU'LL, YOU'LL KNOW ALL THESE THINGS.
WE'RE NOT, WHILE THE COUNTY'S PAYING FOR IT, THE OBJECTIVE, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS THAT, THAT EVERYBODY, EVERY BUSINESS WHO HAS AN EVENT WILL BE ABLE TO, TO LEVERAGE THAT AND USE THAT TO GROW THEIR PARTICIPATION TO MORE CON ECONOMICALLY, UH, A TARGET THEIR ADVERTISING AND THE LIKE.
SO THAT'S THE GOAL OF, OF THIS, YOU KNOW, HIGH TECH APPROACH TO, TO, TO TOURISM IS TO REALLY RECOGNIZE HOW IT IS A HIGH TECH ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND, AND LEVERAGE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND, AND, AND ALSO SEAMLESSLY PUT TOGETHER A HOTELS WHO ARE GENERATING ATTACKS WITH THE EVENT PEOPLE SO THAT THE HOTEL USERS KNOW WHAT THE EVENTS ARE AND VICE VERSA.
THE EVENT USERS KNOW WHAT THE HOTELS ARE AND, AND TIE THAT ALL TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY.
AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT STEP TOWARDS THAT.
SO ALONG THE LINE OF TOURISM, I MEAN, JUST, I GOTTA ADD THIS, YEAH.
IT MAY NOT BE A LARGE OUTLAY OF CASH FOR US, BUT IT'S A HUGE REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE COUNTY.
I THINK IN 2023, THEY REPORTED $492 MILLION BEING SPENT IN HARFORD COUNTY, ALL SMALL BUSINESS, BIG BUSINESS, WHATEVER.
SO I APPRECIATE, AND I, I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN, THE LETTER WAS GEARED TOWARDS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IN THE BUDGET.
BUT WE DIDN'T FOCUS SO MUCH AS WHAT'S THE OUTLAY FROM THAT? SO I, I TOTALLY AGREE, UH, MR. VICENTE, THAT, THAT, THAT THE, THIS IS, IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE TRIFLED WITH.
IT'S A, IT'S AN IMPORTANT, UH, REVENUE SOURCE.
AND, UH, WE'RE GIVING IT THE GREATEST RESPECT AND, AND, AND ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, YOU MENTIONED YOUR PAS GROUP YES.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, IT'S BILL, BILL BEIN, WHO IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ACTUALLY, RIGHT.
BILL LEADS, LEADS THE PAS GROUP.
UM, AND, AND SO IT INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES, UH, FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, PEOPLE WHO DO WATER TREATMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO WE BROUGHT THOSE ENTITIES IN.
SO IT'S EVERYBODY WHO HAS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PFAS, KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PFAS REMEDIATION, WHETHER YOU'RE
[01:30:01]
DOING IT AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, AND BRINGING THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SHARING IT.I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO PUT A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL ON THAT COMMITTEE AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH, SERVING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH, BECAUSE WE GET CALLS EVERY DAY FROM OUR CITIZENS BUSINESS OWNERS.
UH, THINGS THAT, UH, MR. RILEY AND I WERE AT A, AT A, UH, CAD MEETING RECENTLY, AND SOMEONE BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT ONE OF THEIR SCHOOLS WAS IMPACTED WITH PFAS AND WE COULDN'T ANSWER DIRECTLY THAT NIGHT.
WE COULD THE NEXT DAY, BUT WE COULDN'T THAT NIGHT.
LET THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ONE OF US, LEMME TALK TO BILL, LET ME TALK TO BILL.
I THINK THAT ONE OF US AS A BOARD OF HEALTH SHOULD SERVE ON THAT.
I'M NOT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO IN AREAS WHERE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES ON THE RISE.
NOT JUST, IT'S, IT'S A BIG ISSUE AND I AGREE.
THIS IS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S ALL LEADING.
UM, SO I WAS TRYING TO JUST KEEP IT AT A SCIENTIFIC LEVEL YEP.
AND NOT TRY TO POLITICIZE IT AND ALL THAT, BUT CERTAINLY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, YOU KNOW, I COULD SEE THE, THE WISDOM IN THAT.
BUT IT, IT'S A, IT'S A WORKING GROUP THAT JUST GETS, SITS DOWN AND SHARES KNOWLEDGE AND BEST PRACTICES, UM, WITH THE IDEA THAT AS MONIES BECOME AVAILABLE, HOW DO YOU APPROACH THIS STUFF? HOW DO WE APPROACH OUR, OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ON WELL, WELL, UH, WELL, AND, UH, SEWER AND, AND WATER.
HOW DO WE APPROACH THEM? HOW DO WE APPROACH OUR PARKS AND REC CENTERS? UM, HOW DOES THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER, AND, AND HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THEM? UH, AND IS IT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY? IS IT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WORSE IN THIS DISTRICT THAN IT IS IN THAT DISTRICT? AND WHERE, WHERE WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.
SO THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF WE'RE LOOKING AT SURE.
AND WHAT FEDERAL GRANTS, WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE LAWSUITS AND ALL THAT, AND HOW DO WE APPLY THAT? SO, SO I AGREE WITH ALL THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S BEST 'CAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THIS BOARD OF HEALTH IS GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE EDUCATED JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE ALONG THE WAY, INSTEAD OF HAVE TO DRINK FROM A FIRE HOSE AT THE END MM-HMM
UM, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THEN, UM, IN REFERENCE TO OUR, UM, ECONOMIC GROWTH MM-HMM
UM, YOU AND I WERE BOTH AT THIS MOST RECENT RIBBON CUTTING WITH SAIC.
UH, DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMING IN TO MARYLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, AND, AND THE CEO, TONY, I CAN'T REMEMBER HER LAST NAME.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, OVERALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY HAD 24,000 EMPLOYEES, 30% OF WHICH WERE VETERANS.
SO IT'S A GREAT, GREAT ADDITION TO HARTFORD COUNTY, THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THAT'S LIKE THE THIRD ONE THIS YEAR.
IF YOU START LOOKING AT THESE BIG DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE HERE IN, IN A PG.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW, 'CAUSE UH, COUNCILMAN ANO JUST REMINDED ME OF THAT IS A PG IS SCHEDULED TO LOSE 1200 EMPLOYEES FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING, UH, BECAUSE OF CUTS.
SO, I MEAN, WE JUST CAN'T, YOU KNOW, PUT ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET IS GUESS, GUESS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
WELL, AND CERTAINLY YEAH, CERTAINLY WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE, AND THAT'S WHY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GO ACROSS THE, THE COUNTY IN, IN EVERY AREA.
BUT YOU, WE CAN'T OVERLOOK THE, THE UNIQUE IMPACT THIS ONE HAS.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR 1200 NUMBER FROM CAME FROM A PG.
WAS THAT, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE PX PEOPLE? IS THAT WHAT THAT I DON'T KNOW.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT WE GOT A, WE GOT A NOTE SAYING THAT, AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, A PG HAS AFFORDED US THE LUXURY OF WITHSTANDING MANY DOWNTURNS IN THE ECONOMY.
UH, BUT WITH THIS UNCERTAINTY TODAY THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF, UH, AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE LOSING THESE JOBS.
UM, AND, AND I, AND I'LL TELL YOU, NOT JUST A PG, UH, OUR RECENT, UH, ADVERTISEMENT FOR A HEALTH OFFICER WAS PROOF OF THAT BECAUSE MANY OF OUR 108 APPLICANTS WERE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
UM, SO IT'S JUST, I'M JUST SAYING WE JUST CAN'T PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
WE APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF A PG, WE APPRECIATE THE 20,000 PLUS EMPLOYEES THERE.
UM, BUT, UM, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, MR. CASSIE, UH, I, I GUESS THE BIG THING, WELL, NOT THE BIG THING, BUT, UM, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
UM, AND I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE GUYS, WE HAVE ABSORBED THAT, BUT ON TOP OF THAT, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA ROLL OUT THE LONG-TERM CARE THROUGH, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ALLSTATE.
UM, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE AN AGING WORKFORCE.
IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA THE COST OF THAT.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT, UH, TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION THAT IF THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET, YOU TRIED TO GET LONG-TERM CARE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR IT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HARD.
SECOND OF ALL, IT'S, UH, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
UM, I KNOW THE GROUP COST IS GONNA BE A LOT LESS, BUT I THINK IT ALSO HELPS RETAIN, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP LOSING OLDER FOLKS BRINGING, BRINGING IN YOUNGER FOLKS 'CAUSE WE LOSE THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
[01:35:01]
UM, CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICK ON THAT? JUMP IN.WHEN WE HAVE THE OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR THAT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T SIGN UP RIGHT AWAY, THEY'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TO QUALIFY.
I WAS GONNA BRING THAT POINT UP.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, IT, IT, IT'S PHENO NOW THAT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
IS THAT, DOES IT, DOES THE, UH, PROBABLY NOT TO THE SCHOOLS I WOULD IMAGINE, BUT THE LIBRARY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ALL THEM ARE GONNA HAVE THAT.
THAT DO, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT, I MEAN, GENERALLY THE LIBRARY DOES GO ALONG WITH, UM, WITH US.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT, UM, SUBSIDIZED BY CORRECT.
UM, SO IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL, INDIVIDUAL ELECTION.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO ASK THE, THE, THE LIBRARY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY THE SCHOOLS, UM, AND THE, AND THE COLLEGE ARE, ARE SEPARATE.
BUT THE LIBRARY GENERALLY TENDS TO FOLLOW PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.
UM, ANYBODY WHO'S ON OUR PAYROLL.
UM, AND HAS THEIR BENEFITS THROUGH, THROUGH US.
SO YES, SHERIFF STATE'S ATTORNEY.
SO I, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS OR HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO GET THAT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS, IS AWARE OF THAT.
I MEAN, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE LISTENING.
I'M, I'M SURE I'M GONNA REITERATE THAT TO THE EMPLOYEES, BUT I, IT, IT'S A PHENOMENAL THING.
UM, I SELL IT WELL IN THE PRIVATE MARKET, IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS HEALTH INSURANCE.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WORK FOR GOVERNMENTS, THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO FOR A FAMILY TO BE ON A BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD PLAN, THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THE COUNTIES YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER $3,000 A MONTH FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, THAT'S $33,000 A YEAR.
I MEAN, IF YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ONE KID OR TWO KIDS OR WHATEVER, AND YOU'RE, IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.
SO, SO THAT BENEFIT, AND I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER, UH, HEALTH PROGRAMS, THEY CHANGED IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
SO IT, SO IT WENT TO A, A COPAY, WHICH IF SOMEBODY WENT TO A CHIROPRACTOR OR SOMETHING WAS COSTING THEM A LOT LESS MONEY.
SO THAT IS MY, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I BROUGHT THAT UP AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
I'LL MAKE SURE I PUSH THAT OUT.
UM, ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS? I, I MEAN, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT, BUT I KNOW TIFFANY WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU NEED TO SIGN UP AT WHEN IT COMES OUT.
OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO GET MEDICALLY UNDERWRITTEN AND IT'S, AND IT'S A PROBLEM.
SO THAT, AND THEN ALSO, UM, ON THE SCHOOL, WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW LAST YEAR, MYSELF, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI MET WITH YOU.
WE HAD SOME CONTENTIOUS CON CONVERSATIONS.
WE, WE WERE GET, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM SOME FUNDING AND EVERYTHING.
SO I'M GLAD THIS YEAR THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, MR. CALEY, DO YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT INCREASES? LIKE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS? YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE 'EM WITH YOU, BUT IF YOU COULD GET THOSE TO ME.
I MEAN, AND THEY MEAN PER SCHOOL OR OVER THE OVERALL NUMBER? OVERALL NUMBER.
IT'S NOT INCREASING ENROLLMENT, BUDGET ENROLLMENT, ENROLLMENT, ENROLLMENT.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT'S GOING DOWN, WHICH IS WHY OUR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS ACTUALLY LOWER.
I MEAN, WE, I KNOW, BUT OUR, WE SAID IT'S 27.
WE SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND THE ENROLLMENT'S GOING DOWN.
WE, WE, WE PEAKED PROBABLY AROUND LIKE 20 12, 20 10, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MILLENNIALS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, WELL, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING? TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, TENS OF MILLIONS.
THE INCREASES IF THE ENROLLMENT'S GOING DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE GETTING BEAT UP THAT WE SHOULD GIVE 'EM MORE MONEY.
I'M, LOOK, IT'S FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IT'S STATE MANDATES.
I MEAN, AS YOU, AS YOU THE MINIMUM.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COUNCIL MANDATES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I DID HAVE SOME CLARIFYING THINGS AND SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THE PFAS GROUP, WHICH TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT.
AND WE ARE NOT A MUNICIPALITY IN MY SECTION.
UM, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT SOMEONE IS IN THAT GROUP IN OUR AREA, AND IF NOT, SO IT'S NOT GEOGRAPHIC, BUT THE, THE, THE LOOK, THE, THE, THE PAS PROBLEM IS NOT IMPACTING PEOPLE ON OUR COUNTY WATER SYSTEMS. WELL, UM, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE TREATMENT ALREADY IN PLACE FOR OUR COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
AND THE AREAS IS IMPACTING IS PRIMARILY, IT'S, IT'S A NORTH END, LARGELY THE NORTH END.
THE FURTHER YOU GET UP NORTH, THAT'S WHO'S IMPACTING IT.
AND THE, AND THE 22 CORRIDOR, WHICH IS NOT ON WATER AND SEWER.
AND, AND, AND SO THE, UM, BUT THE, THE, YOUR, YOUR COUNTY SYSTEM, WE'VE GOT, WE FULLY ANALYZE THAT, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'VE GOT SOME AREAS THAT PULL, WE HAVE SOME WELLS THAT PULL SOME PFAS IN.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE THOSE TREATED FEDERAL HELPED US, BUT WE'VE GOT THE, THE TREATMENT SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE DOING VERY WELL AS A COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
IT'S THE REST THAT, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT HEARING THANK YOU.
[01:40:01]
YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.AND THEN THE TOURISM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE.
I KNOW THAT OUR, UM, DISTRICT HAD A LOT OF MONEY AND REVENUE COME OUT OF TOURISM FROM THE OTHER, UM, ORGANIZATION VISIT HARTFORD, I BELIEVE, OR MM-HMM
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE.
WE HAD, YOU KNOW, BOAT SHOWS, WE HAD OTHER THINGS THAT WERE GOING DOWN ON THE WATER.
AND SO, UM, THAT BREAK THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE.
AND YOU'LL SEE WE THERE, THERE, WE HAVE A CONCERT SERIES COMING UP THIS SUMMER.
UM, AND THERE'S A BOAT SHOW GOING ON.
IS IT? NOW WHEN, WHEN'S THAT BOAT SHOW REAL QUICK? I KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING THE BOAT SHOW NOW, OR BOAT, BOAT RACE.
AND YOU'VE PROVIDED THE SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE TO OUR AREA AND THAT'S GREAT AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT.
UM, BUT WHAT IS IT LOOKING LIKE IN, I GUESS, THE BIG PICTURE FOR FUNDING ON THE WHOLE REDEVELOPMENT OF ROUTE 40? THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT LOOK, UM, DEM DEMISED AND LOOK WHERE I HEAR CONSTITUENTS SAYING THEY DON'T WANNA GO TO A SHOPPING CENTER BECAUSE IT LOOKS RUN DOWN AND UNSAFE.
SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT? YEAH, SO WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHOPPING CENTER OWNERS, UM, AND ACTUALLY ALONG WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL, PUTTING, PUTTING CAMERAS AND, AND, UH, AND THE COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
UM, SO, UH, WE, WE'VE GOT SOME FACADE GRANTS, BUT LOOK, I'VE GOT A TEAM THAT'S WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SHOPPING CENTER MANAGERS.
UM, THE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD, LOOK THE, THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE IN THESE AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE, THE, THE ONE IN EDGEWOOD WAS THE SHOPLIFTING WAS, WAS TOO MUCH.
AND SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET GOOD BUSINESSES TAKE OFF WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY FACE THESE KIND OF ISSUES.
BUT WORKING WITH THE, WORKING WITH THE, THE, THE BUSINESS OWNER, UM, I SEE A LOT OF PRODUCTIVE TALK AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME, SOME TURNAROUND, MAYBE SELLING SOME STUFF, REINVESTING IN IT.
UM, SO BOTH THE JOB ACCOUNT SHOPPING CENTER, THE EDGEWOOD SHOPPING CENTER, AND THEN YOU GOT OTHER LONG STRETCHES IN THERE.
I MEAN, LOOK, THESE ARE JUST FOLKS SITTING ON LAND WHO ARE, THEY'RE SPECULATING.
THEY'VE GOT A, THEY'VE GOT A REALLY NICE JUNKYARD, THEY'RE MAKING SOME GOOD MONEY, AND THEY KNOW THAT LONG TERM, THAT PROPERTY IS WORTH AN ABSOLUTE FORTUNE.
AND, BUT IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM RIGHT NOW TO RUN A JUNKYARD.
SO WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM, UM, TO, TO, TO LOOK AT, WE, WE BRING BUYERS IN, UM, TO TRY TO, TO TAKE THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THE PRICE IS KIND OF ASTRONOMICAL, IT HURTS IT A BIT.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE ACTIVELY, UH, UH, TRYING TO WORK, ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT 40 CORRIDOR TO TRY TO, UH, BRING NEW BUSINESSES IN, NEW, NEW LANDOWNERS TO TRY TO CHURN SOME OF THESE, THESE OLD PROPERTIES.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING YOU, YOU MENTIONED, AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
YOU SAID THAT THE SHERIFF HAS FULL DISCRETION WITH HIS BUDGET AND ABLE TO, UM, OPERATING, OPERATE, DISSEMINATE.
AND THEN YOU MET MENTIONED A MATCH.
UM, WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? OR DID I JUST MISHEAR YOU? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY A MATCH.
UM, NO, WE, WHAT, WHEN WE DEVELOP, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS FOR THE AMOUNT THAT WE, THAT WE GRANT THE SHERIFF.
SO, UM, WE LOOK AT WHAT HIS REQUESTS ARE AND TRY TO MEET THOSE.
AND THEN WE PROVIDE, WE'LL SAY, HEY, WE, WE COME UP WITH 6% INCREASE.
BUT THEN HE'S THEN FREE TO TAKE THOSE BUDGET, WHAT'S ALLOCATED FOR THE BUDGET AND DO THAT HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATE THAT HOWEVER HE THINKS IS BEST TO ACHIEVE HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERESTS.
SO IF HE THINKS THIS PIECE SHOULD GET MORE MONEY OR, YOU KNOW, DO MORE IN STEPS OR MORE IN MERIT OR MORE IN WHATEVER, HE'S FREE TO ADJUST THAT TO, TO, AS HIS, HIS OWN ANALYSIS SAYS, WHAT'LL DO THE MOST FOR RETAINING GOOD POLICE OFFICERS, RECRUITING GOOD POLICE OFFICERS, HE'S FREE TO DO THAT.
SO YOU'RE, YOU ARE SAYING IT'S HIS FULL DISCRETION TO DO THAT? YEAH, IT IS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I KNOW I AM BIG WITH NONPROFITS AND THE FUNDS THAT THEY GET, AND WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT THE GRANT AID FUNDS, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST UNDER A BLOCK THAT SAYS GRANT NEEDS, BUT WE WERE WAITING TO GET, YOU, WERE WAITING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AS TO HOW YOU WERE GONNA DISTRIBUTE THOSE GRANT AID FUNDS.
HAS THAT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED YET? UM, I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT STANDS, BUT WE'LL GET YOU, WE'LL GET YOU THAT.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON IT? I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE HOUSING SCHEDULED TO COME IN ON MONDAY.
UM, I'M SURE AT THAT POINT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON AND GIVE YOU A TIMELINE FOR, YOU KNOW.
UM, CITIZEN ADVISORS, ANYONE? MR. PARISH?
[01:45:04]
WELL, THE BEAUTY OF HAVING A VERY INTELLIGENT COUNCIL, IF YOU ALREADY ASKED MANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS GONNA ASK, BUT, UH, DO HAVE A FEW THINGS JUST TO, TO TALK ABOUT.UH, I SIT ON A, UH, COMMITTEE FOR THE COMPTROLLER AND, UM, WE HAD A MEETING JUST LAST WEEK, UH, WITH SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JAKE DAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT PERMIT FEES AND IMPACT FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND JUST ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS ANY OF THE FEES THAT, THAT YOU PUT FORTH, UH, END UP DO GETTING PASSED THROUGH TO THAT, TO THAT END USER, RIGHT? SO AS WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, ANYTHING THAT YOU END UP PUTTING FORTH IS GONNA END UP GETTING PASSED THROUGH TO THAT END BUYER.
UM, SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AS, AS YOU ARE PASSING, UH, FEES THAT, THAT ARE GONNA GO THROUGH, IT IS GOING TO END UP, UH, AFFECTING, UM, THAT, THAT PERSON WHO IS GONNA BE THAT RESIDENT IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND IS GONNA BE BUYING THAT HOUSE.
UM, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GROWING THE ECONOMY.
UM, I GUESS WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM MS. HOLT HERE SHORTLY.
UM, SO I GUESS, UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR IS, UH, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK TO US WITH INFORMATION, ACTUAL JOB CREATION NUMBERS, CAPITAL INVESTMENT OUTSIDE OF THE GATE, UM, AND, AND TAX IMPACT.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE, THE PAPERWORK THAT WE WERE GIVEN THE UNINCORPORATED BUSINESS IN, IN CORPORATE PROPERTY, UH, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX HAS ACTUALLY GONE DOWN, UH, ABOUT 30 MILLION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UH, THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONE UP IS RAILROADS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES.
SO IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE ARE NOT GROWING THE ECONOMY.
UH, IT APPEARS WELL THAT'S, AND THAT'S JUST BUSINESS, BUSINESS PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A, A, A A POINT OF CONCERN AMONG MANY OF THE, OF THE, OF THE FINANCE DIRECTORS.
IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL SELF-REPORTED.
UM, YOUR, UH, MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT REALLY ISN'T A PART OF THAT.
IT, IT, YOU KNOW, AS COMPANIES HAVE LESS INVENTORY, SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A TRUE REFLECTION OF, OF THE OVERALL ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAY THAT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH IS, UM, UM, UH, PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, UH, UNEMPLOYMENT THINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT OUTSIDE THE GATE.
UH, WE, YOU KNOW, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STACKING BOXES AND WAREHOUSE JOBS AREN'T, AREN'T GOOD JOBS TO HAVE, AND THAT'S FINE.
BUT, UH, JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT, THAT A LOT OF THOSE JOBS PAY, UH, JUST AS MUCH AS MANY OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES MAKE.
SO, UH, WE DO WANT TO PROTECT, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING THOSE JOBS.
AND A LOT OF THOSE JOBS ARE TAKEN BY THE GRADUATES OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, AND THEY DO NEED TO HAVE THOSE JOBS.
SO WE DO WANNA KEEP THAT DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SPOKE ABOUT WAS HAVING THAT DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
SO, UM, WE DO WANNA KEEP THAT IN PLACE, UH, NOT TO MENTION A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OWN A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES, SO, UH, WE DO WANNA PROTECT THEM.
UM, AND THEN I GUESS LASTLY, JUST, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI TOUCHED ON, UH, SOME OF THE FEDERAL IMPACTS AND FEDERAL CUTS THAT ARE COMING.
UM, SO I GUESS WE JUST WANNA KEEP THAT IN MIND IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE MENTIONED, UH, POTENTIALLY SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT DOESN'T COME ABOUT WITHOUT FDA INSPECTIONS, UH, AND THOSE ITEMS. AND, AND WE CAN'T ACTUALLY GET THE FDA INSPECTION, UH, IF THOSE JOBS AREN'T HERE AND AVAILABLE.
SO NOW TO THAT POINT, UM, OUR LOCAL, UH, AG COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT FACILITY FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED LOCAL, THEY'RE DRIVING OUTTA STATE YEAH.
UH, TO HAVE, UM, THINGS, UH, PROCESSED.
SO, MR. TBS, YOU WERE GETTING READY TO SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO, I I JUST WANTED TO, UH, THE EFFICIENCY OF PARKS AND REC MOWING THAT CAN COME BACK TO HARNESS US PRETTY HARD BECAUSE OF THE NOXIOUS WEEDS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE THERE.
BECAUSE TWO TIMES MOWING WILL NOT GET THOSE WEEDS KILLED.
AND WE HAVE TO, WE DO HAVE TO DO A SPRAYING PROGRAM SO THAT AS YOU, AS YOU DO THE LOW MOW, YOU GOTTA DO THE AS WELL.
APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK WE STILL NEED TO GO OVER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE BUDGET, IF, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND, BUT I DIDN'T WANNA, WE MISSED KIM.
I DIDN'T WANT KIM WOULD'VE JUMPED RIGHT ON THAT.
KIM WOULD'VE SAID, HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
[01:50:01]
THEN.UM, AND ACTUALLY, IF, IF IT'S ALL COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I JUST WANNA GO OVER A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE GET INTO EACH DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF REPETITION.
UM, SO FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, UM, I'M GONNA WALK US THROUGH AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, UH, THE NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET AND COMPARE THEM.
AND THEN I'LL, I'LL COMPARE THE NUMBERS, UH, FOR NEXT YEAR TO THE NUMBERS THIS YEAR.
UM, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REPETITION, PARTICULARLY ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT ARE, UH, FIRST THE FY 26 COLA OF 3% AND MERIT INCREASE OF $1,000.
SO I'LL PROVIDE THE COST, UM, TO THAT INDIVIDUAL DIVISION FOR, FOR THAT.
AND THEN I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT ANY, UM, SEPARATE SALARY INCREASES, TURNOVER, SAVINGS, UH, AND SO FORTH.
UM, UH, WITH, BY EACH DIVISION, THERE ALSO WILL BE BENEFIT RATE CHANGES ACROSS EACH DEPARTMENT.
SO THE PENSION RATE INCREASES BY ONE POINT, PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD, UH, TO 13% FOR MOST COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE SYSTEM.
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE LEE OPS PROGRAM, THAT RATE GOES TO 39.5% OF SALARY.
AND THEN THE, UH, FOR OUR FOLKS AT THE DETENTION CENTER, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN, THAT RATE IS 35% OF SALARY.
UM, SO I WILL BE NOTING THOSE INCREASES.
HEALTH AND DENTAL INCREASES BY 5% TO 20,375 PER BUDGETED POSITION.
UM, AND THEN, SO AFTER I GO THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE DIRECTOR FOR ANY COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD.
UM, OUR BUDGET STAFF WILL BE MAKING NOTE OF ANY INFORMATION THAT WE SAID WE WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, AND WE WILL BE SURE TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
UM, AND THEN ANY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE'LL GO OVER THAT AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST AFTER OPERATING.
AND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST, UH, ANNOUNCE THE PAGE THAT YOU'RE ON AS YOU GO THROUGH.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET INTO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE BUDGET, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 1 24.
SO THIS DEPARTMENT HAS THREE DIVISIONS WITH A TOTAL BUDGET FOR FY 26 OF 1 MILLION 8 98, 1 23, ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THE OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE BEGINS ON PAGE 1 29.
THIS DIVISION BUDGET IS 579,726, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 10,913.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 15,375, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT INCREASE, UH, OF 10,316.
THEN PENSION HEALTHCARE AND OTHER BENEFIT RATE CHANGES, UH, ADD UP TO $5,059.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 10,000.
UH, THAT'S FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ADVERTISING BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING.
HISTORY, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES $8,000, UH, FOR PRINTING, OFFICE SUPPLIES, FOOD SUPPLIES, AND OTHER SUPPLIES BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING.
HISTORY, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 10,000 FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND MEALS BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THEN THE MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES, UM, BY, UH, 23,538.
AND THAT'S DUE TO FUNDING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS BEING REMOVED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE BUDGET AND PARTIALLY REALLOCATED HERE.
SO YOU'LL SEE A REDUCTION UNDER MR. MCCORD'S BUDGET OF AROUND 61,000.
AND A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THAT WAS MOVED TO THIS DIVISION, WITH THE REST BEING REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET ALTOGETHER.
ON PAGE 1 32 IS THE OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE STAFF.
THIS DIVISION'S BUDGET IS 1 MILLION 282 527.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 58,522.
AND THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT OF 36,360.
AND THEN RATE CHANGES TO PENSION, HEALTHCARE AND SO FORTH.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 25,000.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF A DECREASE IN ADVERTISING BUDGET BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES, AND MATERIALS DECREASES 10,000.
UH, THAT'S FUNDING DECREASE FOR, UM, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
UH, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, NO CHANGE THERE.
THAT'S, UH, FUNDING FOR MEMBERSHIP FEES TRAINING AND OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL.
AND THEN INTERGOVERNMENTAL, NO CHANGE THERE.
AND THAT'S FUNDING FOR FLEET CARPOOL USE.
AND THEN FINALLY ON PAGE 1 35 IS, IS THE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 35,870.
OVERALL, NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 2000 BASED ON ACTUALS.
THAT IS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES OFFICE BUDGET.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE HAS? ANYONE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.
[01:55:01]
THIS IS NOW MY THIRD BUDGET.I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE ON OUR THIRD COUNCIL LIAISON FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
UM, BUT I DO KNOW THE PREVIOUS TWO COUNCIL LIAISONS ARE STILL EMPLOYED IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
BUT, UM, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IN THAT SHIFT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, SO ONE OF 'EM WAS NEVER, UM, IN, IN THE COUNCIL BUDGET, I THINK, UM, LARRY'S IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET.
SO HE'S UNDER, BUT, UM, SO EITHER WAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT SHIFTING.
HAS THERE BEEN NEW, LIKE POSITIONS CREATED TO ALLOW THAT? OR IS, YOU KNOW, NO.
SO STEVE ACTUALLY WORKS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HE WAS HIRED FOR HIS KNOWLEDGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT IN AN EFFORT TO, UM, HELP STREAMLINE, YOU KNOW, SOME WORK HERE, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.
UM, WE ASKED STEVE TO TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY ALSO, UM, TO, SO IT'S IN ADDITION TO, IN ADDITION TO WHAT HE DOES DOWN, HE, MOST OF HIS WORK IS DONE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, HE DOES THIS AS ANOTHER ADDED TO, UM, TO HELP US OUT.
UM, AND ALSO TO HELP THE COUNCIL OUT.
I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD, UM, PRODUCT NOW WITH HOW WE DEAL WITH YOU GUYS.
I HOPE THAT THE ADDITION OF STEVE HAS HELPED.
UM, I, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WE WERE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFICULTY.
AND I THINK, YEAH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND TO SEEING WHAT HAPPENS, I THINK STEVE'S A A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO HELP THE COUNCIL.
BUT HE, HE WORKS OUTTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND WORKS FOR KAREN HOLT.
AND MR. BENNETT, IF I MAY, IN, IN ALL FAIRNESS, IT, IT IS JUST NOT COMMUNICATION.
WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN DRAFTING LEGISLATION FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS, RIGHT.
AND ALONG WITH, UH, MISS EGS HELP AND MISS, UH, MARY KATE'S HELP, UH, AND ALSO TIM.
UH, THAT HAS GOTTEN MUCH BETTER.
SO AS A WHOLE, YES, IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH BETTER.
AND THAT WAS THE WHOLE EFFORT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO, UH, WE, WE REALIZED WE WERE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH MEMBERS AND WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO TRY TO BRING IN A BETTER, UM, WORK PRODUCT FOR YOU GUYS AND BETTER COMMUNICATION.
UM, AND YES, TIM ALSO TAKES THAT ON AS A SEPARATE DUTY, BUT HE IS IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S JUST OTHER DUTIES AS A SIGN.
THERE'S NO LIKE, STIPEND FOR BEING THE PERSON WHO HAS TO TALK TO US OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO.
UM, WE ACTUALLY, A LOT OF OUR STUFF THAT, THE EXTRA MONEY THAT WAS, WE'RE JUST NOT SPENDING IT.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT OUR SALARY IS, UM, AND NOT REALLY ASKING FOR EXTRA, UM, YOU KNOW, PAY WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, DO EXTRA THINGS.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THOSE.
UH, 'CAUSE IT, IT HAS BEEN KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, AND IN AND OUT OUTDOOR, UH, THE PAST TWO YEARS.
I HOPE THAT THAT WON'T CHANGE.
NOW, I THINK FOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, UM, I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORK PRODUCT.
I HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL IS HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON NOW.
UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE THAT BETTER, UM, FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT DOES MAKE THINGS WORK A LOT BETTER SEAMLESSLY WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE THE, THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH YOU.
UH, I, I AGREE WITH, UM, MR. BENNETT, THAT STEVE, YOU OUGHT TO GET, UH, HAZARD PAY FOR DEALING WITH US.
AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU, YOU ARE, SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.
YOU ARE, YOU ARE A, A VALUABLE ASSET.
UM, ALSO HE TALKS ABOUT THE IN ANDOUT DOOR OF THE, UH, LIAISON.
UH, I THINK YOU GUYS COULD ALSO SAY WE HAVE THAT SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVING AN OUT OUTDOOR UP HERE ON THE, SO
I, I, I THINK I'M GONNA STAY QUIET ON THAT,
UM, ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE FROM CITIZEN? OKAY.
AND I'M NOT A DIRECTOR, SO
UM, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION BEGINS ON PAGE 1 38.
THERE ARE THREE DIVISIONS UNDER THE DIRECTOR WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 6 45, 6 61, ALL FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 1 42.
THE DIVISION BUDGET OF 625,731 IS AN INCREASE OF $42,042.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 1 77 5 0 5.
THAT'S A RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT COST OF 17,058.
TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASED BY 1 0 9 564 DUE TO, DUE TO THE TRANSFER OF LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR DUE THE DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION BUDGET.
THIS POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STATE LEGISLATION AND MACO ACTIVITIES,
[02:00:01]
AS WELL AS ANY FEDERAL ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.THEY WERE ALSO ADJUSTING TO, UH, PENSION RATES, HEALTHCARE AND FICA TOTAL IN 50,883 DUE TO RATE INCREASES, AS WELL AS THE TRANSFER IN OF TEMPORARY SALARIES.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 80,000 DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.
NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES $6,000, UM, FOR PROFESSIONAL BOOKS AND TRAINING COURSES.
UH, OTHER FUNDS HERE PROVIDE FOR COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES AND FUEL.
MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 61,463, UH, DUE TO REDUCING FUNDING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AND MOVING THE COST TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COST CENTER.
AS I'M MENTION, AS I MENTIONED, UH, BEFORE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 1 46, THIS DIVISION'S BUDGET OF 1 91 420 IS AN INCREASE OF 34,168.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 60 2007 93 AS A RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF 44,401, THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT OF 4,718.
AND THEN CHANGES IN BENEFIT RATES TOTALING 18,392.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 20,000 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 3,500.
AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 5,125.
THOSE ARE ALL THE RESULT OF MOVING FUNDS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS TO FACILITIES AND OPS.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, THE DIVISION OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 1 51.
THIS DIVISION'S BUDGET TOTALS 8 28 5 10, AN INCREASE OF $31,025.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS $37,050.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF 5,894, FY 26 COLA AND MERIT OF 25,541.
AND THEN RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR PENSION HEALTHCARE, OPE, RHS, ET CETERA, TOTALING 5,615.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 2,750.
THIS FUNDS PROVIDE FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
UH, FUNDING REDUCED BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 1,500 BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 1007 75.
UH, THIS FUNDING FOR TRAINING SEMINARS AND COURSES TO DECREASE BASED ON ACTUALS.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MCCORD, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THANK YOU BEN, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
UM, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY YOU FOUND MR. RICHARDSON AND MY OFFICE.
YOU CAN FIND MR. RICHARDSON IN MY OFFICE AT THIS POINT WORKING ON STATE MATTERS.
UM, I WORKED WITH HIM ON EVERYTHING FROM THE SOLAR BILL TO ALMOST ANYTHING HAPPENING IN ANNAPOLIS THAT WAS AFFECTING US.
SO, ROB, CAN YOU PULL THAT, MICHAEL, A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU.
I WAS WORKING WITH MR. RICHARDSON, ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS AFFECTING US OR POTENTIALLY AFFECTING US IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
SO HE WAS MONITORING ALL THE STATE BILLS, INCLUDING THE SOLAR BILL, UM, AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKO WAS DOING.
SO HE'S BACK AND FORTH TO MAKO, BACK AND FORTH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
UM, I WAS THERE AT LEAST ONE, MAYBE TWO OF THE DELEGATION MEETINGS, UM, DURING THE SESSION.
I CAN'T BE AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE, BUT HE'S THE BASICALLY EYES ON THE GROUND, UM, EARS ON THE GROUND, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ANNAPOLIS.
SO THAT'S, I MET LARRY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY DOING THAT ROLE FOR THE, THE COUNTY.
AND SO HAVING SOMEBODY DOWN THERE, I, I KNOW THE VALUE OF THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, HE'S NOT HERE.
HE'S WITH ME AND HE'S WITH MAKO AND WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ANNAPOLIS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT MIGHT HURT US.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S, HE'S BEEN IN A SENSE, REASSIGNED TO MY OFFICE.
SO HE'S THE LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR THAT WAS POPPING UP WITHIN THE, UH, AUDITOR'S NOTES? YEAH, I BELIEVE SO.
THE COORDINATOR IN, IN, IN, UM, UNDER DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.
SO THE TEMPORARY SALARY, UH, IN THAT CALL CENTER? YES.
I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR AHEAD OF TIME.
SO ANYBODY WAS ASKING ME THAT LATER ON SEPARATELY.
THAT'S WHAT THAT, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
UM, UM, WE'VE GOT BASICALLY, UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, THERE'S BEEN A TRANSFER TO FACILITIES AND OPS, UM, MARLENA IRELAND.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING, UM, ON EFFICIENCIES, ENERGY EFFICIENCIES MOSTLY IS WHAT MARLENE'S BEEN WORKING ON.
SHE'S NOW IN FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.
[02:05:01]
THE, UM, THE PERSON THAT I PICKED UP WAS MEGAN JANSEN, WHO IS SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING ON OTHER EFFICIENCIES.SHE'S BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH DES, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ACTUALLY SHE'S WORKED ON SOMETHING ABOUT THE DES PROTOCOLS FOR HIRING THE DES, UH, TESTING FOR DISPATCHERS.
SHE'S BEEN ANYWHERE WE'VE ASKED HER TO WORK TO TRY TO FIND OUT CAN WE MAKE THIS PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT, UH, TASK HER WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, HOW WE GET, HOW THE COUNTY GETS OUT OF LEASES.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LEASED PROPERTY HERE AND THERE.
IS THERE A WAY TO CONSOLIDATE THAT? IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PAY THAT MONTHLY COST EVERY MONTH? IS THERE, ARE THERE FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE CONSTRUCTED? ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO GET OUT OF COUNTY LEASES? SO THAT'S JUST TWO OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
UM, THE, UM, THE CONCEPT OF, UM, TRAINING OUR PEOPLE.
UM, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF, OF, OF MARYLAND FOR SOME TRAINING SESSIONS.
UM, AND NOW WE'VE STARTED SOME TRAINING OF OUR INDIVIDUALS AND MEGAN CAN RUN THE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND ASSEMBLE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE TRAINING PROGRAMS. I'M NOT PAYING ANYBODY TO TRAIN DIRECTORS ON HOW TO BE BETTER AT THEIR JOBS AND HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AT OUR JOBS.
SO ALL THE DIRECTORS, OF COURSE, REPORT UP TO ME AND I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND BE BETTER DIRECTORS THAN THEY, THAN THEY'VE BEEN BEFORE.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR, IN, IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
SO ARE YOU READY FOR SOME QUESTIONS OR ARE YOU STILL GOING? NO, I'M, I'M READY FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO EFFICIENCY PERSON AT DES? NO.
THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING THINGS WITH DES, BUT SHE'S NOT AT DES.
SO WHAT IS SHE WORKING ON TO MAKE DES MORE EFFICIENT? I MEAN, WELL, SHE, SHE, THE FIRST THING THAT I ASKED HER TO DO WAS CHECK HOW THE AMBULANCE BUILDING WAS WORKING.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING SHE, BUT NOT ON THE FLOOR WITH CALL TAKERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY OUTTA LINE SEEING SHE HAS NO, UH, UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY DO.
I, I THINK A LOT OF, IN TERMS OF THE DES ACTIVITIES, THERE ARE RELATED TO THINGS LIKE SCHEDULING USE OF OVERTIME, HOW YOU CAN BEST ALIGN YOUR, YOUR CURRENT, UM, EMPLOYEES WITH, WITH THE, WITH SCHEDULING.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OVERTIME IS AS, AS WE CAN ALSO, WELL WE'LL SEE LATER, IS A HUGE COST IN BOTH, UM, THE DISPATCH CENTER AND IN EMS. UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WORKING WITH THE SUPERVISORS THERE IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE SCHEDULING YOUR EMPLOYEES AND NOT, NOT BURNING THEM OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THAT THOSE THINGS PLAY INTO RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AS MUCH AS SALARY DOES.
UM, AND SO DON'T WANNA BURN PEOPLE OUT.
WE DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, TO RACK UP HUGE OVERTIME.
HOW CAN WE ALIGN THOSE THINGS IN BEST, UH, SCHEDULING WISE.
I WAS JUST CONFUSED THERE FOR A SECOND.
UH, WHICH IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN CONFUSED.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, AT PLANNING AND ZONING.
UM, NOTHING HAS BEEN SENT TO THIS COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND THAT PERSON HAS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THIS COUNCIL.
UM, IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET? I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS PERSON HAS BEEN ON A PAYROLL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
IT IS REQUIRED DEPUTY DIRECTOR AS IT IS, IT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE CHARTER WHEN DEPUTY DIRECTORS BECAME EXEMPT.
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE COUNCIL, JUST LIKE DIRECTORS ARE.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN, UH, ALSO AS FAR AS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHEN YOU TOOK, UH, PEOPLE, UH, PROPERTY AGENTS AND MOVED THEM INTO PROCUREMENT, SHOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AS WELL? THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? YES.
PROCURE LAW FROM PROCUREMENT TO LAW, YES.
CAN YOU LOOK INTO THAT? I'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
UM, MS. INNO, I HAVE, UM, THANK YOU.
I HAVE, I'M ON PAGE 1 41 OF THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, BUDGET.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS ADDED A WHOLE ADDITIONAL CHIEF AND A DEPUTY CHIEF TOTALING ABOUT $300,000.
UM, I CAN SEE ONLY ONE OTHER POSITION THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, WHICH WAS PROJECT COORDINATOR.
BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT THOSE ARE VERY DIFFERENT ROLES.
UM, CAN YOU GIVE SOME INSIGHT AS TO YEP.
WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE? SURE.
[02:10:01]
THE CHIEF ROLE, UM, IS THE ROLE THAT WAS, UH, THAT MR. MCCORD JUST MENTIONED UNDER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.UM, THAT'S A, THAT DIVISION ITSELF IS, UM, HAS BEEN SORT OF A LONGSTANDING ONE UNDER A FEW DIFFERENT NAMES.
GOING BACK, UM, TO THE PREVIOUS TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.
IT'S BEEN CALLED, I BELIEVE, EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION.
IT'S BEEN CALLED SUSTAINABILITY, IT'S NOW CALLED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
UM, SO PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS, UM, AN FY 25, JUST THE PROJECT MANAGER.
THAT PERSON WAS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AS IT RELATES TO OUR BUILDINGS LIGHT BULBS AND JUST BEING MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
THAT INDIVIDUAL, WE MOVED AND FOUND, THERE'S BETTER ALIGNMENT MOVING THAT PERSON TO FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.
UH, 'CAUSE THEY'RE WORKING WITH BUILDINGS.
THERE WAS A VACANT POSITION THERE THAT THEY, UH, SLID THAT PERSON INTO, UM, IN, IN PLACE BACK HERE IN ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS WHERE WE ADDED THE CHIEF THAT WAS, HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE EFFICIENCY ISSUES.
SO THERE'S NOT ANY, THERE'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT PERSON DOING A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT JOB.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE DEPUTY CHIEF IS IN THE BUDGET OFFICE.
SO, UM, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S, THERE WAS, UM, A COUPLE RETIREMENTS IN THE BUDGET OFFICE, UM, OF FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
WE DID A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT OF A, UM, RESHUFFLING IN TERMS OF THE HIERARCHY IN THE BUDGET OFFICE.
SO WE HAVE A CHIEF AND A DE DEPUTY CHIEF.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, THREE BUDGET ANALYSTS UNDER THE CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF.
SO AGAIN, THE SAME NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN SALARY TERMS. UH, WE STILL RECOGNIZE TURNOVER SAVINGS.
SO EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL POSITION OF DEPUTY CHIEF, OUR TOTAL SALARY LINE IN THE BUDGET OFFICE IS ABOUT $35,000 LESS THAN BEFORE WE MADE THESE CHANGES.
UH, SO THOSE, THAT EXPLAINS THOSE TWO POSITIONS.
AND THE, THE EFFICIENCY PO POSITION, THAT WAS A CHIEF PRIOR, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WAS THE, UH, THE AARON FERRIER POSITION WE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WHO WAS A CHIEF.
UM, SO SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LEAVE, YOU KNOW, WILL NOT NECESSARILY FILL IT AT, AT, AT THAT LEVEL.
AND THEN WHEN THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS COME BACK, SOMETIMES THE POSITION COMES BACK.
SO IT'S REALLY, IT'S JUST A RESTORATION OF KIND OF WHERE WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND AT, AT VARIOUS VARIOUS POINTS, THIS PARTICULAR DIVISION HAS HAD TWO PEOPLE IN IT, A CHIEF AND A PROJECT MANAGER.
THERE ARE NO PLANS, YOU KNOW, AT THIS TIME TO ADD A SECOND POSITION IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
UM, THIS IS FIRST, UH, GENERAL BUDGET AND FINANCIAL QUESTION SLASH REQUEST.
KIND OF A PET PEEVE I HAVE IN THESE BUDGET HEARINGS EACH YEAR IS WHEN, UM, MONEY IS MOVED BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, BUT IT CAN BE HARD TO TRACK WHERE IT LANDS AND WHAT THE, THE NEW AMOUNT IS WHERE IT LANDS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL AND WAS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR IS WHEN IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS TRANSFERRED TO FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE PAGE NUMBER THAT WE CAN SEE THAT TRANSFER AND WHAT THE, UH, FINAL AMOUNT IS WHERE IT TRANSFERS.
ESPECIALLY, UH, WITH SOME OF THE TRANSFERS WHERE IT SAYS LIKE PARTIALLY TRANSFERRED, IT'S, IT, IT REALLY HELPS US IN CONSUMING THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THAT NEW NUMBER IS AND, AND WHERE IT IS.
AND, AND WITH POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, WHEN A POSITION MOVES FROM THIS DEPARTMENT TO THAT DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE ABLE TO TRACK WITH EASE, WHAT WAS THAT POSITION PAID IN THE FORMER DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS IT BEING PAID NOW? 'CAUSE THAT CAN HELP US WITH SEEING, OH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GOT A $48,000 RAISE OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
BUT, UM, IT JUST REALLY HELPS US, ESPECIALLY THINKING OF HAVING TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO THIS IS THEIR FIRST BUDGET CYCLE.
THAT TRANSPARENCY OF BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY PAGE NUMBERS FOR TRANSFERS HELPS US WHEN LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WAY WHERE WE'RE GOING DEPARTMENT DI BY DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T GET THE FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS FOR SO LONG.
WE'LL FORGET ABOUT LOOKING AT THESE PAGES, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW I CAN FLIP TO THIS PAGE AND KNOW WHERE THIS LANDED.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK YOU COULD PROVIDE, LIKE STARTING TOMORROW?
I, I APP CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SAYING IN ADVANCE BECAUSE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, I JUST KIND OF ASSUMED, BUT, YOU KNOW, KIM RETIRED AND THAT CHANGES THINGS TOO.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA BLAME ANYTHING ON KIM, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
UM, AND THEN, UH, FOR MR. MCCORD, I JUST HAVE A, A GENERAL QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, AS THE PERSON WHO SUPERVISES ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS, WHERE WOULD YOU SAY, UM, MORALE IS AMONGST YOUR DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS, UM, TODAY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO? LIKE,
[02:15:01]
HOW ARE WE DOING AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT YOU WORK WITH? WELL, I, I CAN SAY THAT I THINK THE, I THINK THINGS ARE GOOD AND BETTER THAN I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.I HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HERE.
I WAS IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS AND THEN WITH STATE SERVICE AND NOW HERE, UM, WITH THE REGULAR CABINET MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S A COLLEGIALITY.
UM, THE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY SIT EXACTLY THE SAME PLACES EVERY TIME THEY'RE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE TELLING EACH OTHER WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR AGENCY THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE OTHER AGENCY.
AND YOU LEARN THAT WHEN THAT NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENING OR BEING PRESENTED AT A CABINET MEETING, THERE'S THAT ROUND ROBIN AT THE END ASKING ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU NEED TO TELL THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE ROW OF CABINET MEMBERS AND THEN SOMETIMES DEPUTIES SITTING RIGHT BEHIND THEM.
AND SO EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS KIND OF STEPPING ON EACH OTHER'S TOES OR NOBODY IS TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE DOING THAT.
SO, UM, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
IT'S, THEY'RE BASICALLY A WEEKLY PROCESS.
AND SO THE, THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS ENDS UP BEING, UM, THE SHARING THAT HAPPENS EVEN AFTER THE CABINET MEETINGS.
I CAN NEVER LEAVE THE CABINET MEETING AFTER THE CABINET MEETING BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GOT A QUESTION, HEY, UM, DES AND SOMEBODY AND IT GOTTA TALK TO ME ABOUT SOMETHING.
SO A LOT MORE WORK GETS DONE AND IT GETS DONE IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIAL MANNER BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING EACH OTHER FREQUENTLY AND THEY'RE REPORTING OUT ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO I CAN TELL YOU SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE MY ENTIRE TIME, I'VE NOT SEEN THE CABINET GETTING ALONG THE WAY THEY HAVE AND WORKING AS COLLEAGUES THE WAY THEY HAVE MORE THAN THEY HAVE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, AND THEN LAST QUESTION ALONG THOSE SAME LINES FOR YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS ARE MOST EXPERIENCED, MOST QUALIFIED, UM, BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY'RE, UH, MOST VULNERABLE TO RETIREMENTS AND HAVING ALTERNATIVE JOB OFFERS THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, LEAD THEM ELSEWHERE.
AND JUST THINKING ABOUT LIKE OUR SUCCESSION PLAN AND OUR RUNGS ON OUR LADDER, DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE HAVE, UM, A HEALTHY BASE TO PULL FROM AS WE JUST MOVE INTO FUTURE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS FROM NOW TO CONTINUE TO FILL THOSE UPPER MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FROM WITHIN? WELL, YOU'RE ASKING THE GRAY BEARD ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT LOTS OF THE DEPUTIES ARE EXTREMELY CAPABLE.
SO AS LONG AS THE PERSON UNDER, THE PERSON UNDERNEATH THE DEPUTY THAT'S WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPUTY THAT COULD FILL IN AS A DEPUTY, LOTS OF THOSE PEOPLE COULD DO THAT ALSO.
SO I THINK THERE'S GOOD SUCCESSION PLANNING WITHIN EACH AGENCY.
I HEAR THAT ONCE IN A WHILE FROM A DIRECTOR.
HEY, THIS PERSON'S DOING REALLY GOOD.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY CONTINUE TO TO WORK UNDERNEATH OF ME.
LET'S MAKE DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP THEM HERE.
SO I LIKE THE CONCEPT THAT THE DEPUTIES ARE WORKING REALLY WELL WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR, UM, WITH THE DIRECTORS.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT BODES WELL FOR US, THAT THE DEPUTIES ARE WORKING VERY WELL.
AND IT ALSO BODES WELL THAT I GET REPORTS BACK.
I HEAR, I GET ONE, ONE-ON-ONES WITH I MY DIRECTORS AND ASK HOW, HOW'S IT GOING IN THE REST OF YOUR AGENCY? AND KIND OF LIKE, WHO'S THE STARS? MM-HMM
AND, AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MOTIVATE SOME OTHER PEOPLE OR MOTIVATE THEM OUT THE DOOR IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT MM-HMM
AND MOST OF THE TIME IT'S NOT MOTIVATE OUT THE DOOR.
MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THIS PERSON'S TAKEN ON NEW THINGS AND I LIKE TO REWARD THEM FOR THAT.
I, I HAVE SOME FISCAL CONSTRAINTS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT THE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS HAVEN'T DIMINISHED PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO MORE AND WANT TO SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.
SO I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING SOME ABOUT THAT.
UH, BEN, HOW ARE YOU, ROB? SO QUESTION, HOW MANY DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS THAT ARE NO LONGER DIRECTORS OR DEPUTY DIRECTORS ARE STILL EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY? AND WHAT ARE THEY GETTING PAID AND WHERE ARE THEY EMPLOYED AT? I CAN'T ANSWER.
YEAH, WE, WE COULD, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE, LOOK AT THE LIST AND WE COULD PROVIDE THAT LIST.
HOW MANY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE? IT CAN'T BE THAT MANY, RIGHT? SHOULD SOMEBODY SHOULD KNOW THAT ANSWER? I MEAN, IT'S, IS IT TWO, IS IT FOUR? I'M NOT SURE.
SO IF THEY WERE DIRECTORS OR DEPUTY DIRECTORS AND THEY'RE NO LONGER DEPUTY DIRECTORS OR DIRECT, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTORS AND THEY'RE MOVED TO DIFFERENT AREAS, NUMBER ONE, ARE THEY STILL GETTING PAID THOSE SALARIES? AND NUMBER TWO,
[02:20:01]
WHERE ARE THEY AT NOW? WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE THEY WORKING IN? I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE TO ONLY BE A HANDFUL.UM, WE COULD PROVIDE YOU WITH A LIST OF SALARY AS A, IF, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, SALARY AS A DIRECTOR AND THEN CURRENT SALARY AND WHERE THEY ARE.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
AND WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GIMME THAT ANSWER? TOMORROW TODAY? THAT, NOT TODAY.
I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL KIND OF HERE ALL DAY, SO, UH, MAYBE TOMORROW.
ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL? UH, CITIZENS? I ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MOVING FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
UH, ELECTION STARTS ON PAGE FOUR 90.
UM, SO THIS AGENCY'S BUDGET HAS TWO DIVISIONS WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3,939,816, ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DIVISION BEGINS ON PAGE 4 94.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,015,000 7 76, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 89,997 OVER FY 25.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES.
UH, THIS FUNDING PROVIDES FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR OFFICE STAFF.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES $2,000 AND THAT'S DUE TO A REDUCTION IN CONTRACTUAL LEGAL LEGAL SERVICES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 91,997 AND THAT'S TO PROVIDE A INCREASE, UH, FOR 3% COLA STEP INCREASE IN LONGEVITY STEP FOR ELIGIBLE STATE EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THE OTHER DIVISION, UH, IS THE, UH, ELECTION EXPENSE DIVISION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 9 4 97.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,000,924 $40, UH, WHICH IS NO CHANGE FROM, UH, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
UH, NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES, UH, FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR ELECTION JUDGES AND ELECTION DAY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.
UH, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 15,000 AND THAT IS DUE TO MOVING VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT FUNDS TO THIS CHARACTER FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CHARACTER.
AND THERE'S NO NET EFFECT ON THE BUDGET.
SO NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
AND THEN IN MISCELLANEOUS, UM, THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE FUNDS TO, UH, PROVIDED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF 9 97 390 FOR SHARE, BILLING AND STATE EMPLOYEE ADMIN FEES.
AND THEN THERE IS A DECREASE OF 15,000.
AGAIN, THAT'S WITH THE FUNDING THAT WAS MOVED TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, UH, FOR FLEET DAILY CARPOOL RENTALS, UH, MOVED FROM THIS CHARACTER.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE ELECTION.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MORNING, RIGHT? YEAH.
I WOULD LIKE MY OFFICE STAFF TO STAND UP.
I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MOST DEDICATED AND TALENTED ELECTION OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
WE COULD NOT DO OUR JOB WITHOUT THEM, SO THANK YOU.
UM, IN OUR OFFICE, WE DO TRY TO BE VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
UM, WE JUST SIGNED UP YESTERDAY TO HAVE ALL OF OUR LIGHTING REPLACED WITH LED, SO THAT WOULD BE AN ENERGY SAVINGS IN OUR OFFICE.
UM, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO TO CONTROL OUR BUDGET.
IT IS DICTATED BY THE LAW BOOK.
UM, EVERY TIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GOES INTO SESSION, I LOSE, I GET A COUPLE MORE GRAY HAIRS, UM, THINKING WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO TO US THIS TIME.
UM, THERE'S TWO LINE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, ON EACH SIDE.
IT'S, UH, PAYMENTS TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENT STATE PAYMENTS TO OTHER STATE AGENCIES.
THE FIRST ONE IS OUR SALARIES.
AND THAT IS DICTATED BY, YOU KNOW, ANY STEP INCREASES OR COLA INCREASES BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE SECOND ONE IS CONTRACT, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
ANYTHING THEY PURCHASE ON OUR BEHALF.
UH, WE TRY TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE AND AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE FROM THE STATE BOARD IN THAT LINE ITEM BECAUSE IF WE BUY THROUGH THEM, IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
WE, THEY HAVE A STAFFING CONTRACT THAT ALL THE COUNTIES IN MARYLAND, EXCEPT FOR HARTFORD COUNTY, USES A STAFFING CONTRACT BECAUSE IT IS SO EXPENSIVE AND THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT YOU GET IS NOT VERY HIGH.
[02:25:01]
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE TEMPORARY STAFFING ON THE ELECTION SIDE AND WE HIRE THROUGH THE COUNTY TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT WE TRAIN.WE INTERVIEW, WE TRAIN FOR SEVEN WEEKS FOR EACH ELECTION AND WE DICTATE THE SALARY.
UM, WE DO TRY TO REDUCE WHERE WE CAN, AND WE DID TRY THIS TIME, BUT THOSE TWO LINE ITEMS ARE WHAT DICTATED THE INCREASE.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE.
UM, EVERYTHING IS, LIKE YOU SAID, JUST MORE EFFICIENT THAN WE'VE SEEN ANYWHERE ELSE THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MR. RILEY.
UH, WHEN I LOOK AT THE OTHER, UH, SECTIONS HERE, IT SAYS POSITION TITLE, AND, AND THEY BREAK IT DOWN AS TO, YOU KNOW, CHIEF DIRECTOR AND ALL THAT.
I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT HERE.
UH, THE ELECTION STAFF IS ON COUNTY PAYROLL BECAUSE YOU ONLY SEE THAT FOR, UM, AGENCIES THAT ARE ON COUNTY PAYROLL.
YOU WON'T SEE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, EMPLOYEES SEE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR, FOR STATE AGENCY.
SO THE ONLY MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU IS THE TEMPORARY SALARIES THAT, THAT COME IN.
WELL, WE ON A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS, BUT ESSENTIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE DO THE SAME FOR LIKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, HERE'S YOUR FUNDS AND IT'S UP TO THE, THAT AGENCY SPEND IT AND DIVIDE UP ACCORDING.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
YOU REPLACED YOUR, YOUR, UH, LIGHT LIGHTS WITH LEDS.
I KNOW THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT BG E WAS DOING FOR FREE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS? UH, UH, THAT'S AWESOME.
IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND I, I, THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING, I WANT THEM TO HEAR THAT THEY CAN REFIT THEIR WHOLE BUILDING FOR FREE PRETTY MUCH.
UM, I JUST HAD ONE OF THE, ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A, UH, I THINK A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING THEY JUST HAD DONE TOO, SO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF BACK THERE FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK TO COME
ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.
UM, THIS BUDGET YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT IS GOING TO INVOLVE THE 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION.
UM, HOW HAS, UM, ELECTION JUDGE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GONE IN THE PAST FEW, UH, LOCAL ELECTION CYCLES WE'VE BEEN THROUGH? I KNOW, I REMEMBER THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THROUGH 20 20, 20 22 ABOUT THERE BEING A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, MORE RESISTANCE FOR PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER TO DO THAT JOB JUST BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURIZED.
AND, UM, HOW HAVE, HAVE THINGS KIND OF LEVELED OUT OR THINGS GETTING BETTER IN THAT WAY? I'M HAPPY TO SAY IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE WAS THE FIRST ONE, I THINK SINCE 2012, 2014, THAT WE HAD A SURPLUS OF JUDGES.
SO WE HAD, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE CALLED ALTERNATES.
THEY WERE ON STANDBY IN CASE A JUDGE DIDN'T SHOW UP DUE TO ILLNESS OR AN EMERGENCY AND THEN WE WOULD PUT THEM IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE STILL ON TRACK WITH, WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S ALWAYS CHANGING THE TIMING OF ELECTIONS.
DOES THAT IMPACT YOU ALL FINANCIALLY AT ALL? IF YOU KNOW THE PRIMARY'S FARTHER OUT FROM THE GENERAL OR CLOSER TO THE GENERAL, DOES THAT REALLY IMPACT COSTS IN ANY WAY? UM, WHAT IMPACTS US IS IF THEY, LIKE IN 22 WHERE THEY MOVED IT FURTHER INTO THE SUMMER, WE LOST A LOT OF JUDGES 'CAUSE THEY'RE ON VACATIONS THAT WERE ALREADY PLANNED.
UM, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUST PASSED A LAW WHERE, UH, GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY USED TO BE THE LAST TUESDAY IN JUNE.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE TUESDAYS IN JUNE, THAT PUTS US RIGHT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND PEOPLE GO ON VACATION.
SO THE NEW LAW IS NOW THE FOURTH TUESDAY IN JUNE.
SO WE WON'T RUN INTO THAT SITUATION.
THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF FURTHER YOU GET INTO JUNE, PEOPLE ARE OUTTA SCHOOL, THEY WANNA GO ON VACATION.
BUT FINANCIALLY IT'S NOT REALLY AN IMPACT.
AND YEAH, THE LAST THING I WAS JUST GONNA ASK WAS ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR JUDGES, BUT HEARING THAT WE'RE HAVING A SURPLUS OF PEOPLE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WILL BE A NEED, BUT IF WE EVER GET TO A POINT WHERE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT, AGAIN, IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPATION? WELL, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SET A BASE BASELINE FOR JUDGES AND WE PAY ABOVE THE BASELINE.
PLUS THEY ALSO, IF YOU ARE A RETURNING JUDGE AND YOU WORK THE PRIOR ELECTION CYCLE, YOU GET A HUNDRED DOLLARS BONUS FOR EVERY DAY THAT YOU WORK, INCLUDING EARLY VOTING.
SO THAT HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT, UM, FINANCIAL INCREASE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COUNTY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE HOPING THEY WOULD JUST MAKE IT ELECTION DAY, BUT, UM, THEY DECIDE TO BE GENEROUS AND GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH EARLY VOTING AS WELL.
ANYONE ELSE? CITIZEN MR. PARISH? JUST A GENERAL, THIS
[02:30:01]
IS PROBABLY A BEN QUESTION ACTUALLY.UH, JUST A GENERAL BUDGET QUESTION.
SO IN THE OTHER PERSONNEL SERVICES, JUST NOTICE THAT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME CARRIED OVER NUMBER.
SO THERE'S JUST A GENERAL BUDGET NUMBER, NOT ACTUAL COSTS OR ANYTHING.
GIMME, SO PAGE 4 93 IN PARTICULAR, OTHER PERSONNEL SERVICES.
SO THAT'S, SO IN PARTICULAR I'M THINKING HEALTH BENEFITS, RIGHT? LIKE WE HEAR EVERY YEAR HEALTH BENEFITS GO UP AND IN THIS CASE THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THERE FOR HEALTH.
UM, BUT I'M ASSUMING THOSE ARE JUST DRAWN NUMBERS THAT ARE BROUGHT ACROSS FOR YEAH, I THINK, UH, SO THAT'S THE TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR THE OFFICE STAFF, UM, AND ELECTION.
SO THAT'S, SO YOU SORT OF BREAK THOSE UP INTO TWO DIFFERENT, THERE'S THE, UM, PERSONNEL NUMBER UNDER BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UH, WHICH IS I GUESS THE OFFICE STAFF AND THEN IN ELECTION EXPENSE, I THINK THAT'S THE TEMPORARY SALARIES FOR THE ELECTION JUDGES AND ELECTION DAY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE TYPICALLY, WE JUST CARRY THOSE NUMBER FROM THE YEAR BEFORE UNLESS, UNLESS THE AGENCY ASKS FOR AN INCREASE.
SO, SO WE PAY THE, THE ELECTION JUDGES THOUGH DO GO THROUGH OUR, OUR PAYROLL, WHEREAS THE FULL-TIME ELECTION STAFF IS, IS UNDER THE STATE.
SO IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BULK OF THE MONEY JUST KIND OF GOES THERE AND THEN THEY, THEY, THEY PAY 'EM.
BUT YEAH, THE ELECTION JUDGES, YOU KNOW, WE ISSUE THOSE, UM, THOSE, THOSE PAYMENTS.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU'RE GONNA, THAT'S WHY WE WOULD WITHHOLD SAY FICA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT.
SO WE KEEP A LITTLE BIT IN THERE JUST TO DO THAT WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE ACTUAL, WE HAVE THOSE ACTUAL COSTS AS OPPOSED TO JUST, UM, THE STATE HAVING THOSE COSTS IN US HAVING A FUNDING ROLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE ISSUE, UH, YOU KNOW, W TWOS TO THOSE PEOPLE.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO WITHHOLD FICO, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF, ALL OF THAT.
AND, AND THERE'S ALSO PERSONNEL RELATED COSTS ON, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 4 95, UM, UNDER ACTUALLY MISCELLANEOUS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY PAYING THE, UH, THE EMPLOYEE, BUT WE'RE PROVIDING REIMBURSEMENT TO THE STATE.
SO THAT HITS THE, UH, THE LINE ITEM FOR PAYMENTS TO STATE AGENCIES.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE CAN BUILD IN THOSE SORT OF INCREASES FOR ECOLA AND THEN HEALTH INCREASES AND SO FORTH.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. TS? I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAD A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE EARLY ELECTION COSTS AGAINST ELECTION DAY COST? HMM, GOOD QUESTION.
UM, NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT.
I, I KNOW ONCE BEFORE EACH VOTE COSTS SOMETHING LIKE 10 OR 12 BUCKS ON EARLY VOTING AND I WAS JUST, WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BRAG A LITTLE BIT THAT MCFALL ACTIVITY CENTER IS RUN VERY EFFICIENTLY.
WE TOOK OVER THE WHOLE GYM THIS YEAR AND WE WERE THE BUSIEST AND HAVE BEEN THE BUSIEST SITE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO ADD TO, UM, THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S RE REMARK ABOUT OUR SALARIES.
THE, THE ONE ON THE OFFICE SIDE FOR THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, OUR LAST FULL-TIME COUNTY EMPLOYEE RESIGNED LAST MONTH.
SO THAT MONEY WILL BE GOING AWAY EXCEPT FOR WE HAD TO PAY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SO IT'S ABOUT 20 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS WE HAVE TO KEEP IN THERE.
AND, UM, OUR SALARIES WERE NOT FULLY FUNDED, WHICH IS FINE 'CAUSE WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND MOVE IT DOWN TO OUR SALARIES.
SO THEN OUR SALARIES ARE FULLY FUNDED.
CAN ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU STEPH.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I NEGLECTED TO INTRODUCE KAREN PERRY, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
OH, I COULDN'T DO MY JOB EITHER WITHOUT
HEY, KAREN COUNTY COUNCIL NEXT.
OH MY, WE GET TO BEAT UP MS. DIXON.
COUNTY COUNSEL BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR 40.
SO, UM, THERE ARE FIVE BUDGETARY DIVISIONS WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 5 MILLION 444, 678, ALL FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 4 45.
THE OFFICE HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2 MILLION 158 8 0 9 FOR AN INCREASE OF 90,662.
UM, SO THAT'S THE RESULT OF FULL-TIME SALARIES, DECREASE, UH, 8,477 AS THE NET OF TURNOVER.
UH, THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT INCREASE OF 55,494.
THE FY 26 CPI INCREASE FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS OF 13,197.
UH, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASE $8,000.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES IN $3,000
[02:35:02]
BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 5,000, UH, FOR TRAINING AND SEMINARS, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASE IN LODGING AND MEALS AND THEN NO CHANGE IN CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR OFFICE FURNITURE AND FIXTURES.THE OFFICE OF COUNTY AUDITOR BEGINS ON PAGE 4 48.
THERE'S AN OVERALL BUDGET OF 6 55 7 0 4 FOR AN INCREASE OF 32,692 PERSONAL SERVICES.
INCREASE IS 22,692, THE RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT OF 16,059.
AND THEN RATE ADJUSTMENTS TO PENSION, HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA OF 6,633.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 10,000.
THAT'S, UH, FOR THE FINANCIAL AUDIT BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES.
FUNDS ARE ALSO PROVIDED HERE FOR LEGAL NOTICE.
AND THEN NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
BUSINESS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR COMPUTER HARDWARE.
COURT OF APPEALS AND REZONING BEGINS ON PAGE 4 51, TOTAL BUDGET OF 2 96 9 89 FOR AN INCREASE OF 6,768 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 6,368.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT INCREASE OF $5,007.
AND THEN RATE ADJUSTMENTS, UH, TOTALING 1003 61.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR LEGAL NOTICE, CONTRACTUAL LEGAL SERVICES AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 400 FOR PRINTING AND GENERAL OFFICE MAILING.
AND THEN NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
THE OFFICE OF COUNSEL, ATTORNEY AND PEOPLE'S COUNSEL BEGINS ON 4 54.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 263 1 23 FOR AN INCREASE OF 672,116.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 2,315.
THERE'S TURNOVER SAVINGS OF 8,435, THE COLA MERIT INCREASE OF 7,054, AND THEN RATE ADJUSTMENTS TO PENSION, HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA, TOTALING 3,696.
I APPRECIATE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 669,801.
IT'S FOR CONTRACTUAL LEGAL SERVICES.
FUNDS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR LEGAL NOTICE AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
AND THEN THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL COSTS FOR PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PERIODICALS, MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DUES.
AND THEN FINALLY, HARTFORD TV BEGINS ON PAGE 4 57.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,070,053 FOR AN INCREASE OF 33,275.
33,275, THE RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT OF 23,264.
RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR PENSION HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA, UP TOTALING 10,000, $11.
AND THEN NO CHANGES TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR CAPITAL OUTLAY.
THANK YOU COUNSEL, FOR HAVING US ALL HERE TODAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START BY RECOGNIZE SOME, SOME OF THE STAFF WE HAVE THAT MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START WITH JEANETTE AND HEATHER AND WITHOUT THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF OUR OFFICE, IT IS SOMETHING I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO AND FOCUS ON TIMES OF BUDGET AND LEGISLATION AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
MEGAN, MARY, KATE, HAVE BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO THE OFFICE.
THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THEIR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE AIDES.
THEY MAKE YOUR WORLD GO AROUND AND YOUR OFFICE OPERATE DAY TO DAY.
UM, ALSO, KELLY'S TEAM, THE AUDITOR STAFF, AGAIN, EVERYBODY SERVES A PURPOSE THAT IS HERE TO BENEFIT THE CITIZENS AND THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
SO IT'S, IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
I HOPE I DIDN'T FORGET ANYBODY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PREVIOUS, UM, WITH KIM AND IT'S CONTINUED WITH THIS GROUP AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE COOPERATION AND HELP.
AND I WILL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FACILITIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP AND COOPERATION WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THEM.
UM, AS BEEN COVERED IN THE BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE, UM, THE BULK OF OUR INCA OUR INCREASES HAVE BEEN WITH PERSONNEL SERVICES, UM, WITH, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE LEGAL SERVICE THAT, UM, WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED AND, AND AGREED UPON THAT, UM, WE NEEDED TO HAVE IN PLACE IN, IN CASE OF SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE FACED RECENTLY.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, I BELIEVE CRYSTAL'S, UH, BUDGET WAS AS HE DISCUSSED, THE 10,000 JUST FOR THE COST OF THE OUTSIDE AUDIT THAT IS PERFORMED.
[02:40:02]
OTHER THAN THAT, OUR INCREASE, OUR INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD, A LOT OF REORGANIZATION OF MONEY.I'VE MOVED AROUND WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET TO REALLOCATE FOR LODGING REGISTRATIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I HAVE THE, ALL THE TEAM HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
UM, WELL LET ME START BY THANKING YOU, UH, FOR BEING THE, THE, UM, I THAT WE ALL REVOLVE AROUND, UH, HERE ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR.
OBVIOUSLY MEGAN AND MARY KATE HAVE BEEN A HUGE ADDITION TO THIS COUNCIL.
UM, WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING THAT WE DO WITHOUT CRYSTAL'S HELP.
UH, SHE KEEPS EVERYTHING IN CHECK.
WE APPRECIATE IT, OBVIOUSLY, KELLY, YOUR INVOLVEMENT AS WELL.
UH, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND HEAR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS, UH, ON A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, UH, OBVIOUSLY MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE COUNCIL, I REFER TO ALL OF YOU AS MY COUNCIL FAMILY.
SO, UH, YOU ALL ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MY OFFICE.
UM, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE BIGGEST ADDITION, I BELIEVE TO OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL, UM, DEPARTMENT.
AS FAR AS THE ADDITION THAT WE FELT IMPELLED, UH, COMPELLED TO PUT IN, UH, BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD LATELY.
UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, SOME LEGAL ISSUE THAT WAS UNEXPECTED.
UM, NO ONE COULD PREDICT WHAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST EIGHT, NINE MONTHS.
SO, UM, WE FELT COMPELLED THAT WE HAD TO RELY ON OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND WE HAD TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT IF SOMETHING ELSE WERE TO OCCUR AND WITH WHAT WE HAVE ONGOING.
SO, UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR REALIZING THAT AND AGREEING TO, UH, SET OUR BUDGET IN A POSITION THAT IT'S IN, KNOWING THAT IF WE DON'T NEED THOSE FUNDS, THEY'LL FALL RIGHT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
COUNSEL, ANYONE WANNA SPEAK? UM, MR. BENNETT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE DOES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU ALL WHO ARE HERE FROM NINE TO FIVE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY MAKE US ABLE TO FUNCTION.
I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE IF WE SHOWED UP AND NONE OF YOU WERE HERE, WHAT A MEETING WOULD LOOK LIKE AND SOUND LIKE,
UM, BUT I, I JUST AM SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY IN THE OFFICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN US.
YOU, YOU TRAVEL BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIONS, YOU WORK FOR DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU JUMP BETWEEN OFFICES AND DISTRICTS.
UM, AND THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK WITH JEANETTE AS WE'RE EATING LUNCH TOGETHER AND I HEAR HER STORIES FROM THE OTHER BUILDING AND, UM, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME, LIKE, THAT'S REALLY VALUABLE TO US AS A COUNCIL.
AND I GUESS JUST ONE THING, AND I KNOW IT FALLS MORE UNDER HUMAN RESOURCES THAN YOU, UM, BUT JUST A POINT OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT I'VE TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT BEFORE IS I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY AND NORM THE VALUE OF THINGS LIKE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION FOR OUR STAFF.
UM, AS WE TRY AND RETAIN, UH, LEGISLATIVE AIDS AND THE, LIKE, LONG TERM, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO OUT AND GET YOUR MASTER'S, THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT WILL BE WORTH TO YOU AND YOUR SALARY OR IF YOU GAIN THIS EXPERIENCE.
UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY ARE SO VALUABLE TO US AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A WAY FORWARD WITHOUT LEAVING THE POSITION THEY'RE IN TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
I WILL ADD, THERE ARE, UM, POLICIES, UM, IN PLACE, I BELIEVE, I CAN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR HR, THAT DO ALLOW FOR SKILL-BASED INCREASES ONCE SUCH DEGREES IN EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS ARE ARE ACQUIRED.
AND THAT IS A, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE TO ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION, PASS THAT ALONG TO HR AND HAVE THEM REVIEW.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, TO USE MY DAY JOB AS AN EXAMPLE.
I KNOW WHEN I FINISH MY MASTER'S NEXT FALL, I'LL GET A $2,000 RAISE.
IT WON'T BE, UM, I SEND IT OFF TO SOMEONE AND THEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, FINGERS CROSSED AS I FIND OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO I KNEW WHEN I PUT IN THE INVESTMENT TO MY EDUCATION WHAT THE RETURN WOULD BE.
I WORRY WITHOUT A DEFINED ANSWER, IT LEAVES PEOPLE GOING, WOULD IT BE WORTH IT? YOU KNOW, WILL I FIND OUT I'M GONNA GET $5 MORE A PAYCHECK AFTER DOING ALL THAT WORK? UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT MYSTERY, I THINK LEADS PEOPLE TO BE HESITANT TO TAKE THAT STEP.
AND I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO GROW, TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES, TO SEEK OUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, SO IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH HR ON, I WOULD
[02:45:01]
JUST LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOMEONE, IF YOU GO OUT AND DO THIS TO ADVANCE YOURSELF, THIS IS WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE FOR YOU AND YOUR CAREER.AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND HR.
UM, BUT OTHERWISE THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
I BOUGHT PIZZA LAST NIGHT AND THERE'S LEFTOVERS IN THE FRIDGE, SO IF ANYBODY NEEDS LUNCH IN THE OFFICE,
MAY NOT HAVE TIME FOR LUNCH, PIZZA.
SO ANY AUDIENCE MEMBERS WANT PIZZA.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME HAD FOR BREAKFAST,
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I GUESS BEING ON THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU GET TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF, OF THE PEOPLE, BUT I WANT TO THANK, UH, HEATHER, JEANETTE, I WANNA THANK MY AID.
UH, I WANNA THANK CRYSTAL AND HER TEAM.
UM, I WANT TO THANK MEGAN, MARY, KATE, UM, UH, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE JUST CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR ALL THE EFFORT AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN TO, TO KEEP US STRAIGHT.
I MEAN, AS MEGAN SAYS, HER JOB IS TO KEEP US OUTTA TROUBLE.
UM, SHE'S GOT A HEAVY LIFT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT SPEAKING FOR YOU, SPEAKING FOR ME, I'M FIRE AND I'LL SPEAK OUT, SPEAK FOR ME.
BUT, BUT I THINK WE, WE TAKE, A LOT OF TIMES WE TAKE EVERYBODY FOR GRANTED, UM, THAT YOU GUYS COME IN, YOU, YOU DO YOUR JOB, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE FOR US IF WE'VE GOT QUESTIONS.
I MEAN, EVEN, EVEN SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A TEXT MESSAGE AT WHATEVER HOURS AND YOU MIGHT ANSWER THAT AND REALLY DON'T EXPECT IT.
IT'S JUST, IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING, I'LL FORGET TO DO THAT.
SO I JUST WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK, ALL THEIR EFFORTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH COVID N NEVER SOME CHANGES, SOME NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE ON HERE.
IT'S, IT'S A NEW HEALTH OFFICER WE'RE DOING.
IT'S A LOT, A LOT OF WORK, LOT OF, LOT OF LIFT AND, UH, WE, WE COULDN'T REALLY DO IT WITHOUT, WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT YOU AND ESPECIALLY, AND SAM TOO.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SAM, WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT SHE PUTS TOGETHER THAT GIVES US, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT.
I HAVE A QUESTION, ACTUALLY, TWO QUESTIONS.
SO ON PAGE 4 49, UNDER THE SERVICES AND THE FINANCIAL AUDIT, IS THAT INCREASED DUE TO US SWITCHING VENDORS OR SOMETHING ELSE? UH, I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO CRYSTAL BALL.
THOSE, THOSE ARE JUST THE INCREASES THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE CONTRACT.
WE'RE STICKING WITH THE SAME VENDOR GOING INTO THE NEXT AUDIT, BUT THEY'RE JUST PRICE ESCALATIONS.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS ON PAGE, UH, 4 55.
SO, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE LEGAL SERVICES, IS THAT BASED ON ACTUAL, SO WHAT WE'VE DONE OR IS THAT FORECASTING TO GET AHEAD OF THINGS? SO I'LL SPEAK TO THAT IF I MAY.
IT'S FORECASTING BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY OUTLAID AND THE POSSIBILITY OF, UH, CONTINUING LAWSUIT.
A A PORTION OF THAT THOUGH IS TO COVER EXPENSES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE CORRECT.
TO REIMBURSE US FOR WHAT WE'VE ALREADY OUTLAID YES.
AND ALSO, I WILL POINT OUT INCLUDED IN THAT IS A PORTION OF THE, UH, A PF UM, O STUDY THAT YOU GUYS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF.
WE HAD TO, UM, ACCOUNT FOR THE, THE BALANCE OF WHAT WE HAVE LEFT ON A CURRENT PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, I AM GONNA ALSO TOUCH ON MY STAFF, TONY, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THINKING OF, OF THEM.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT JUST SAM, IT'S CYNTHIA AND SUE AS WELL.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR, UM, ZONING APPEALS OFFICE.
ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER, UM, OR PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, I SHOULD SAY.
UM, ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT, UM, SERVE UNDER THE COUNCIL'S UMBRELLA, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO.
AND IF I COULD JUST, I'LL, I'LL ECHO ON THIS, SAM.
UM, WITHOUT SAM, SHE HANDLES A LOT OF THINGS FOR YOUR OFFICE AND THAT BENEFIT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COORDINATION WITH THE RECENT HR, UM, INTERVIEWS THERE.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD, UM, ASSISTING YOU WITH THE CAB.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS SHE DOES THAT BENEFIT AND HELP ME.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HER HELP AND YOUR OFFICE'S HELP.
AND MS. EMMA, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU.
I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANNA GO OVER THE BUDGET IN ANY DETAIL, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UH, SO NEXT WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE
[02:50:01]
5 54.UM, SO, UH, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS THREE DIVISIONS WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 5 MILLION 293 81, ALL FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND FIRST VERSUS THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 59.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2 MILLION 654 69 FOR AN INCREASE OF 1 0 1 23 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 63 98.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 39,559 AND MERIT INCREASE OF 42,197.
TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASE 34,934.
AND THEN RATE CHANGES FOR PENSION HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA, TOTALING 43,708.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASE 63 60 3,600.
THAT'S DUE TO A DECREASE IN 4,000 TO, UH, RENTS AND UTILITIES DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF SWAN CREEK OFFICE SPACE DECREASE OF 10,000 TO ADVERTISING BASED ON ACTUALS, AND THEN A DECREASE OF 50,000 TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES WITH FUNDING REMAINING FOR SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS THE ARMY ALLIANCE, THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE OF GREATER BALTIMORE AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, IT APPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 2020 $5 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR PRINTING AND MEALS.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 2,200 BASED ON INCREASED ATTENDANCE AT TRAININGS AND EVENTS AND THEN NO CHANGE, UH, IN THE MISCELLANEOUS CHARACTER WHERE THIS FUNDING PROVIDES TO ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK, AND SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES.
THE AG AGRICULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION BEGINS ON PAGE 5 62.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 4 67 847 FOR AN INCREASE OF 73 70 3,871 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 8,621.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 2,239, THE FY 26 AND MERIT OF 3,949.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS OF 2,433 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 64,000.
THAT'S DUE TO AN INCREASE IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF 63,000 FOR A MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY STUDY AND DESIGN AND MATERIALS PROMOTING AGRICULTURE.
AND THEN ADVERTISING INCREASES 1000 BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 1,250 FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, PRINTING AND MEALS.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL FUNDING FOR VEHICLE MILEAGE, MEMBERSHIPS AND TRAINING, AND THEN NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FOR AGRICULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAMS. AND THEN FINALLY, TOURISM BEGINS ON PAGE 5 65.
THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET HERE OF 2 MILLION 1 72 65 FOR AN INCREASE OF 1 72 0 65 PERSONAL SERVICES FUNDING OF 1 4 3 0 65.
AND THAT'S THE RESULT OF TEMPORARY SALARIES OF 90,000 FOR EXISTING TOURISM CO COORDINATOR COLA AND MERIT INCREASE OF 4,464, HEALTH BENEFITS OF 21,270 BASED ON FY 26 RATE.
AND THEN PENSION F AND OTHER BENEFIT RATE INCREASES TOTALING 27,000.
UH, 331 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 754,500.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF 730,000 IN FUNDING BEING REALLOCATED FROM MISCELLANEOUS TO ADVERTISING AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING.
AND THEN A 24,500 INCREASE TO SOFTWARE FOR THE PLACER AI PLATFORM BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 4,500 FOR COUNTY VEHICLE USE AND MEMBERSHIP FEES.
AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 730,000, THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE REALLOCATION, UM, OF 730,000 TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR TOURISM MARKETING.
AND THEN A TOTAL OF 1,270,000 IS APPROPRIATED HERE FOR VARIOUS TOURISM GRANT AND CONTRIBUTION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR HOLT.
GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT TI COUNCIL MEMBERS AND BUDGET STAKEHOLDERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'D LIKE ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RAJ COYLE, WHO'S WITH US.
AND I JUST WANNA BRING YOU AN UPDATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND SOME NEW INITIATIVES.
HARTFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS VAST AND IT'S TOUCH POINTS SPANNING SECTORS OF DEFENSE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS, AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM.
[02:55:01]
OUR DIVERSIFICATION IN THESE SECTORS KEEP US AGILE IN CYCLES OF NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY, AND IT'S ALSO CITED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST STRENGTHS IN RETAINING OUR AAA BOND RATING.LAST YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT OUR FOCUSED SHIFT TOWARD HIGHLY SKILLED JOBS AND MANUFACTURING, AND LESS ABOUT BIG BOX LOGISTICS.
TODAY, MANUFACTURING IS ALIVE AND WELL IN HARFORD COUNTY.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DOING BIG THINGS IN OUR NATION'S DEFENSE, HEALTH, TECH, AND OVERALL INNOVATION IN ITS APPROACH AND OUTPUTS.
RECENTLY THE STATE OF MARYLAND AWARDED INDUSTRY 4.0 MANUFACTURING GRANTS.
HARFORD COUNTY BUSINESSES RECEIVED SIX OF THOSE GRANTS AND REPRESENTED 22% OF THE TOTAL STATEWIDE ALLOCATION COMPANIES LIKE VERTECH, WHO IS WORKING WITH LOW TEMPERATURE FAST CHARGE BATTERY PRODUCTION FOR ARCTIC DEFENSE POWER SOLUTIONS, RPM TECH AND ITS 3D PRINTING EQUIPMENT FOR CUSTOM PROTOTYPE SHEET METAL FABRICATION MODULAR COMPONENTS FOR ITS FULLY AUTOMATED ELECTROLESS COPPER PLATING LINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PERFORMANCE CIRCUIT BOARDS, BETTER ENGINEERING AND ITS GRAVIMETRIC TESTING MICROSCOPE.
IT AUTOMATES PARTICLE COUNTING, DUNLOP PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR AND ITS AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AN INDEPENDENT CAN WHOSE MODULAR INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS SOFTWARE PLATFORM, UM, IS ABLE TO AUTOMATE ITS EXISTING PRODUCTION LINE.
THIS REPRESENTS MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS INFUSED BACK INTO HARTFORD BUSINESSES.
STATE OFFICIALS FEEDBACK ON THESE COMPANIES SAID THAT IN HARTFORD, EACH CAN CLEARLY ARTICULATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INDUSTRY 4.0 MANUFACTURING AND WHAT DIGITALIZATION MEANS TO THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
OUR LARGEST ECONOMIC SECTOR IS DEFENSE AND ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND CONTINUES TO BE OUR BIGGEST EMPLOYER.
IT'S THE SIXTH LARGEST WORKFORCE CENTER IN MARYLAND.
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCIES HAVE BROUGHT LOOMING ANGST IN OUR DEFENSE COMMUNITY AND ITS INSTALLATION OF 21,000 DOD CIVILIAN AND CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS THAT A HUNDRED PLUS DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY SUPPORTING DEFENSE ACROSS ALL BRANCHES OF OUR ARMED SERVICES.
THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES ON BUFFERS PROTECTING THE WORKFORCE AND MISSION SETS OF OUR 100 AND 8-YEAR-OLD INSTALLATION.
HOWEVER, I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND ENGINEERING NATURE OF OUR 90 PLUS TENANTS AT A PG IS FIRST AND FOREMOST LETHALITY AND MILITARY READINESS.
THIS IS IN FACT, UM, A FOCUS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S A TARGET, UM, OF EIGHT TO 10% DECREASE IN THE FEDERAL WORKERS.
UM, THE DOD IS FOCUSED ON, WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE EARLIER TOOLS THAT WERE OFFERED, SUCH AS THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM, EARLY RETIREMENT OPTION PROBATION, AND NEW HIRE FREEZES TO REACH THOSE NUMBERS WITHOUT A REDUCTION IN FORCE TAKING PLACE SHOULD THE UNFORESEEN RESULT IN A LOCAL IMPACT.
WE'VE COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESOURCES WITH THE SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK, OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD WHO STANDS READY TO RESPOND.
THEY'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, AS IS OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WITH THE COMMANDING GENERAL.
SO UNIFIED SUPPORT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
THERE ARE HARTFORD COUNTY EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR OTHER IMPACTED FEDERAL AGENCIES AND 13 WORKFORCE BOARDS ACROSS MARYLAND HAVE UNIFIED FOR A VIRTUAL JOB FAIR, TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS ON MAY 1ST.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE IMPACTS OVERALL AS SOME DOD INCENTIVE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED NOW FROM THE APRIL 14TH TO THE JULY 15TH DEADLINE.
ANOTHER AREA WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR WITH DEFENSE ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE OUR ARMY ALLIANCE IS THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER BRAC BASE REALIGNMENT ENCLOSURE AS AN ADDITIONAL MEANS OF COST CUTTING OR CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL PROPERTIES.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, BRAC 2005 HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
$1.3 BILLION CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT AND ADDITIONAL 8,200 POSITIONS.
BUT ALSO THE LOSS OF THE ORDINANCE, SCHOOL AND TRAINING CENTER.
BRAC IS MORE THAN WINNING OR LOSING MISSIONS FOR A DEFENSE COMMUNITY.
BEFORE WE DECIDE WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER BRAC, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS AN EXISTING AUTHORITY THAT ALLOWS FOR TRANSPARENCY, ANALYSIS AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
THE ABSENCE OF A B MAY NOT AND DECISIONS COULD BE MADE WITHOUT LOCAL INPUT.
ONLY CONSEQUENCES IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT SAVINGS.
SO APGS DEMOLITION AND MODERNIZATION EFFORTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE FOR OVER A DECADE HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO PROACTIVE AND IT FREES UP REAL ESTATE FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND REGARDLESS.
DUE DILIGENCE FOR EXISTING MISSION SETS MUST PREVAIL AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR.
UH, MY LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF DEFENSE COMMUNITIES, WHICH SUPPORTS MORE THAN 300 COMMUNITIES LIKE US THAT HAVE A POST AND INSTALLATION OR A BASE, UM, WILL KEEP US ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
THE INSTALLATION HAS ACTUALLY SEEN SOME EXCITING INVESTMENT IN THE PAST YEAR, THE $50 MILLION CHE BIO CENTER MANUFACTURING PILOT
[03:00:01]
FACILITY DESIGNED TO FREE THE NATION FROM FOREIGN SUPPLIERS AND PIONEER CREATION OF ENTIRELY NEW MATERIALS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE NATION'S DEFENSE.AND AT THE US ARMY ABERDEEN TEST CENTER, IT'S A ONE OF A KIND $55 MILLION ACCELERATED VEHICLE DURABILITY TESTING FACILITY.
IT ALLOWS FOR HARDWARE IN THE LOOP SIMULATORS TO, UM, ACCELERATE ACQUISITION PROCESS FOR MILITARY VEHICLES.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT ONCE TOOK A YEAR AND 20,000 MILES ON A TEST TRACK, UH, TO PERFORM A STUDY.
UM, WHAT USED TO TAKE 20 MONTHS FOR SUB-ASSEMBLY TESTS TAKES THREE WEEKS, AND COMPONENT TESTING IS NOW A HUNDRED TIMES FASTER.
JUST A FEW OF THE IMPRESSIVE INNOVATIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR BACKYARD HERE AT A PG.
THE CAPABILITIES COMING OUT OF THE INSTALLATION EITHER DEVELOPED, TESTED, OR ENGINEERED, ARE SIGNIFICANT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND CULTIVATING THAT WORKFORCE CAN RESPOND TO THESE CRITICAL NEEDS AND A FUNCTION AND A RESPONSIBILITY OF A DEFENSE COMMUNITY.
OUR HOMELAND SECURITY MAGNET PROGRAM AND OUR PTECH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRONICS COMMAND, BOTH AT JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, ARE GREAT EXAMPLES, AS IS THE ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATH ACADEMY, WHERE A PG SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS SERVE AS MENTORS FOR SEMESTER LONG CAPSTONE PRO PROJECTS.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS SPEAK TO THE STRENGTH OF GROWING OUR WORKFORCE PIPELINE.
A PG HAS SURPASSED 98% RETURN TO WORK.
THE GATES ARE FULLY STAFFED AND LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS ARE SERVICING THE INSTALLATION FOR LUNCH OPTIONS.
UH, COMMUNITY BUSINESSES LOCATED NEAR THE GATES SHOULD BEGIN TO SEE INCREASED ACTIVITY AS MANY WERE IMPACTED WITH THE FEDERAL WORK FROM HOME POLICY THAT'S RECENTLY BEEN RESCINDED.
THE ARMY IS CELEBRATING ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY BEGINNING JUNE 8TH WITH A PATRIOTIC CONCERT IN SHAMROCK PARK AND BEL AIR.
AND A VARIETY OF EVENTS, EVENTS INCLUDING A 5K RUN, WALK TREE, PLANTINGS GOLF TOURNAMENT AND TOURS WILL BE OFFERED.
WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE FENCE LINE OF A PG IS ALSO CRITICAL TO OUR ECOSYSTEM.
JUST LIKE MILITARY READINESS, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO BE READY AND ABLE TO PARTNER WITH PRIMES, PROVIDE SERVICE AND PRODUCTS, AND KEEP OUR INSTALLATIONS STABLE AND THRIVING THROUGH A GROW MARYLAND GRANT.
IN COLLABORATION WITH FREDERICK AND CARROLL COUNTIES, WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OUR HARTFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INFORM STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
THE STUDY VALIDATES THAT A PG AND OUR DEFENSE SECTOR IS AN AREA TO LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITY.
IN ADDITION TO MANUFACTURING AND SPORTS TOURISM, A TRI-COUNTY STEERING COMMITTEE WILL ASSESS FINDINGS AND LOOK FOR COMMON AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY.
THE GREATER BALTIMORE REGION WAS ONE OF 31 TECH HUBS DESIGNATED ACROSS THE US LAST YEAR, AND THIS WAS A BOOST FOR AWARENESS OF HARTFORD COUNTY'S CAPABILITIES IN THE TECH SPACE AND SPOTLIGHTED A PG.
IN PARTICULAR, THE KIM BIO CENTER'S SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE AREA OF BIOMANUFACTURING.
GBC HAS MADE HARTFORD'S BIOMANUFACTURING PURSUIT OF A SMALL SCALE PRODUCTION FACILITY AND TRAINING CENTER AT THE CONVERGE INNOVATION CENTER.
ITS TOP PRIORITY IN THE PHASE TWO FUNDING EFFORTS.
IN THE INTERIM, A MARYLAND BUILD OUR FUTURE GRANT FOR NEARLY $1 MILLION WAS SECURED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD COUNTY BY EARLY CHARM.
THEY'RE A BALTIMORE BASED VENTURE STUDIO THAT CONVERTS SCIENCE TO BUSINESS AND IT STOOD UP A MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION, WET LAB AND BIOMANUFACTURING INCUBATOR EARLY CHARMS. CURRENTLY ACTIVE AT THE CONVERGE, UH, SITE IN ABERDEEN AND CONVERGE INNOVATION CENTER NOW HOUSES, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE DATA SCIENCE CLASSES FOR THE, I'M TRYING NOT TO USE ACRONYMS. THE COMMAND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTER AND CYBER INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE WHAT WE IN THE COMMUNITY CALL C FIVE ISR, THEY'RE EMPLOYEES AND IT'S HOSTED A WIDE ARRAY OF TECH AND BUSINESS RESOURCE SESSIONS.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CONVERGE, A VETERAN CERTIFICATION CLASS CYBER COMPLIANCE FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING PROJECT, OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS AND MILITARY SPOUSES.
A LABOR EMPLOYMENT LAW CLASS, AN EXPORTING CLASS FOR BUSINESSES, A FOUR DAY TRAINING HOSTED BY THE ARMY FUTURES COMMAND FOR THEIR NETWORK.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM, A DEMO DAY FOR INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR PEO C3 N, WHICH IS COMMAND CONTROL AND COMPUTERS NETWORK.
A SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARTFORD COUNTY CHAMBER.
AN EYE DISRUPTOR ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HOSTED BY THE NORTHEAST MARYLAND TECH COUNCIL AND OUR REGIONAL MANU MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP HELD THEIR TECH SYMPOSIUM ON PROTOTYPING AND PRODUCTION.
TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HELD HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH A PG, UM, IN ADVANCE OF THIS WEEK'S ADVANCED PUBLIC BRIEFING TO INDUSTRY THAT'S HAPPENING AT AT A PG.
AND IN JUNE, WE'LL HOST NAVIGATING PITFALLS OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP PER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.
95% OF THE NATION'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT RUNS THROUGH FIVE OR SIX CITIES.
REGIONALISM IS IMPERATIVE FOR SUCCESS NOW MORE THAN EVER AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
[03:05:01]
FOR BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT, THE MARYLAND SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND HIS ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS TEAM.WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, THE GREATER BALTIMORE REGION, AND THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
NEW THIS YEAR, A MARYLAND COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AFFILIATE WAS FORMED TO BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MORE PROMINENTLY INTO THE FOLD OF MACO AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS.
FROM EACH COUNTY OUR DESIGNATED MEMBERS.
WE'VE DOUBLED OUR WORKFORCE TECHNICAL GRANT PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
AND WE'RE FOCUSING ON TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING TOWARD CAREER MOBILITY IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.
THOSE TRAINING GRANTS HAVE TOTALED MORE THAN 104,000, SUPPORTED 121 EMPLOYEES WITH 20 BUSINESSES, UM, IN RESTORATION SERVICES, ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING, FORESTRY, A VINEYARD DEFENSE, IT NONPROFIT, AUTOMOTIVE HEALTHCARE, CONSTRUCTION, PLUMBING, AND HVAC.
THESE GRANTS ARE REIMBURSABLE AND FOCUS ON CAREER MOBILITY AND A TECHNICAL ASPECT OF THAT EMPLOYEE'S JOB.
THANKS TO THE COUNCIL SUPPORT, WE'VE INCREASED THE ALLOCATION FOR OUR LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH NOW SUPPORTS 75,000 WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE APPROVAL AND 200,000 WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL.
AS YOU CAN APPRECIATE, EXPANDING A COMPANY, ACQUIRING NEW PROPERTY OR BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT COMES WITH A SIGNIFICANT PRICE TAG.
BUT THESE LOANS HAVE HELPED EITHER SUPPORT THAT INVESTMENT DIRECTLY OR SERVE AS BRIDGE FUNDING ALONG WITH OTHER COMMUNITY LENDING.
WE'VE HAD THREE LOANS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED THIS YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF $325,000.
AND THAT SUPPORTS EXPANSION OF A LAW FIRM, AN ACCOUNTING FIRM, WHICH OPENED A SECOND LOCATION AND PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF A HEALTHCARE HEADQUARTERS.
THIS ACTIVITY CREATED 66 JOBS WITH A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $840,000.
OUR EB FINANCE COMMITTEE EXERCISES DUE DILIGENCE WITH OUR STAFF TO BALANCE BOTH THE RISK AND OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WE'VE MARKETED THE LOAN PROGRAM WITH OUR RESOURCE PARTNERS AND AT PROGRAMMED EVENTS, FIVE APPLICATIONS ARE PENDING WITH AT LEAST ONE PLANNING TO COME BEFORE YOU EARLY NEXT MONTH.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE PROCESS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
OUR FAST TRACK 2.0 PROGRAM CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON JOB CREATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND IS DESIGNATED PER PROJECT.
UH, WE HAVE A FAST TRACK COMMITTEE THAT'S COMPRISED OF PLANNING AND ZONING, INSPECTION, LICENSING AND PERMIT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR OFFICE TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATION PROCESS HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED NOW INTO INSPECTION, LICENSING A PERMIT, RECEIVING POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND IT'S SERVING AS A MODEL FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS AS A BEST PRACTICE TODAY, THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFULLY TRACKING 41 PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURES REGULAR TOUCH POINTS TO MITIGATE ISSUES AND KEEP PROCESSES RUNNING SMOOTHLY WITHOUT DELAY.
SEAN KRAUT SERVES AS THE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR AND TRACKS THOSE PERMITS THROUGH INTER GOV, AS WELL AS SERVING AS THE POC FOR LARGE SCALE EVENTS THAT REQUIRE TENT PERMITTING, TRAFFIC PLANS, ET CETERA.
AND YOU MIGHT HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT UNDER DLPS PRESENTATION.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TOWSON UNIVERSITY AT NORTHEAST CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE PIPELINE.
WE'VE ACTIVELY WORKED IN TANDEM WITH AREA BUSINESSES TO PROMOTE APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY STUDENTS.
TODAY MORE THAN 299 STUDENTS, OUR APPRENTICES IN 171 AREA BUSINESSES, HCCS WORKFORCE TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER AT AT WATERS EDGE IS ALSO SHOWCASED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT OF ITS GRADUATES AS WELL AS ATTRACTING INSTRUCTOR POSITIONS.
OUR FIRST TECH CAPABILITIES SHOWCASE WAS HELD IN OCTOBER DURING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK AT THE TUNE CENTER.
IT BROUGHT IN 16 AREA MANUFACTURERS TOGETHER, NOT ONLY TO SHARE CAPABILITIES AND ENCOURAGE DOING WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER, BUT ALSO BROUGHT 75 UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CAREER IN TECH TO EN ENGAGE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER PATHWAYS TEACHERS INCORPORATED THAT EXPERIENCE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR'S EVENT.
THE COMPANY'S EXPRESSED GREAT VALUE IN PARTICIPATING.
A FOCUS ON BUSINESS IN THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR HAS BEEN AN ENDEAVOR THIS YEAR.
IN SUPPORT OF THE SOUTHERN HARTFORD TASK FORCE, WE'VE VISITED BUSINESSES EXTEN EXTENSIVELY ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WE PURSUED AND WAS AWARDED A $200,000 FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH ROUTE 40 AND THE EDGEWOOD ROAD BUSINESS SITES.
UH, THE PROGRAM WILL LAUNCH IN JULY AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE GRANT PROGRAM WILL FIND GREATER SUCCESS THAN THE FACADE LOAN PROGRAM OFFERED IN THE PAST.
THIS WILL REINVIGORATE ACTIVITY BUILD PRIDE AND OPPORTUNITY AMONG OUR BUSINESS OWNERS.
THE SOUTHERN HARTFORD TASK FORCE AREA HAS SEEN AN INFUSION OF ACTIVITY, INCLUDING TWO OUTDOOR CONCERTS IN EDGEWOOD AND JOB PUB COMMUNITIES WITH A GRANT, UH, TO THE 7 55 ALLIANCE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEASONAL FARMER'S MARKET
[03:10:01]
AS A RESULT OF A POPUP EVENT LAST YEAR.AND COPPER PLEX, WHICH IS THE SPORTS COMPLEX IN EDGEWOOD, IS SLATED TO SEE 600,000 PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR WITH YEAR ROUND OPERATIONS.
UH, 41 OF THOSE WEEKENDS ARE BOOKED TO DATE AND 40% OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING INTO COPPER PLEX ARE COMING IN FROM MORE THAN 60 MILES AWAY.
OUR EAB, LAND USE AND FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ARE ALSO EXPLORING SOME CREATIVE INCENTIVES FOR INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
RAJ GOYLE, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, IS WORKING TO BRING INVESTORS FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY INTO OUR EDGEWOOD AND JOPPA TOWN COMMUNITIES FOR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.
AND ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE ENRICHING ENTREPRENEURIAL STARTUP RESOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHERN HARTFORD WHERE RESOURCES HAVE HISTOR HISTORICALLY BEEN LIMITED IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
OUR FULL-TIME AG BUSINESS ASSOCIATE KIMMI DORAN HAS HONED OUR FOCUS AMONG FARMERS, AG SUPPLIERS AND SCHOOLS ON VARIOUS IMPACTS TO OUR FARMING COMMUNITY.
A DOCUMENTED 628 FARMS, 65 LEGACY FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.
WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 63,000 ACRES IN PRESERVATION LEADING THE STATE IN THIS EFFORT, AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY IS UNDERWAY AND THE SUPPLY OF LIVESTOCK FROM HARTFORD FARMS IS AFFIRMING AND SITE SELECTION AND BUSINESS MODELS ARE BEING ASSESSED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT'S A PRIVATE FACILITY, A PUBLIC PRIVATE STRUCTURE, OR A CO-OP THAT'S OPTIMAL TO A MODEL FOR SUSTAINMENT AND GROWTH.
AG EDUCATION'S BEEN INCREASED AS WE FOCUS ON BRINGING AG BUSINESS LEADERS INTO NINE SCHOOLS AND A HUNDRED CLASSROOMS FOR A BOOK.
READING AND EXERCISE ON SOIL NUTRIENTS AND AG NIGHT WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS HELD AT NORTH HARFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND PLANS ARE NOW UNDERWAY TO HOST A SMALLER SCALE EVENT FOR OUR HOMESCHOOLERS.
SUPPORT FOR OUR FARMER MARKETS HAVE LED AN EIGHT WEAKENED EDGEWOOD MARKET THAT WILL START IN MAY.
AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING WILL BRING FRESH PRODUCE FROM THREE AREA FARMS TO 10 SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE ACCESS AND EDUCATION ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION WHILE ALLEVIATING TRANSPORTATION IMPEDIMENTS.
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD, OUR AG ADVISORY BOARD, COMPRISED OF 22 AG BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVOCACY POLICY AND OPPORTUNITY TO HELP HARTFORD'S FARMING COMMUNITY THRIVE.
HARFORD COUNTY WILL HOST A BOOTH AT THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S TASTE OF HARTFORD EVENT ON MAY 18TH, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
TOURISM IS BEING DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL MARKETING PLATFORMS, BRINGING ENGAGEMENT WITH TARGET MARKETS LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS THE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, A DESIGNATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE AND A RESIDENCY WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT IS COMMON FOR THE MAJORITY OF TOURISM ENTITIES ACROSS MARYLAND.
HARFORD COUNTY TOURISM IS DIGITIZED AND DATA DRIVEN.
A RE-BRANDING AND STRATEGIC MARKETING INITIATIVE WITH A NATIONALLY RENOWNED BALTIMORE BASED MARKETING FIRM HAS TRANSFORMED THE COUNTY'S APPROACH TO TRAVEL CONSUMERISM.
WE'RE FINDING THE KAYAK FOODIE FESTIVAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH NICHE MARKETING AND WE'RE HELPING THEM FIND US.
WE'RE ALSO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR HOTELIERS AND OUR AREA TOURISM ATTRACTIONS, TAKING TOURISM ON THE ROAD WITH IN-PERSON VISITS ALREADY MEETING WITH 80% OF ALL LODGING MANAGERS AND 95% OF ATTRACTION SITES.
WE'RE STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES, OUR MAIN STREETS, OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS, CHAMBERS AND TOURISM REPS.
WE'RE BRINGING NONPROFITS TOGETHER FOR COLLABORATION ON TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTION.
A VALUE ADDED APPROACH AND A MORE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE VISITOR.
MUNICIPAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM TEAMS MEET QUARTERLY WITH OUR OFFICE FOR UPDATES AND SYNERGIES TO PROMOTE AND ATTRACT OUR E DAP MARKETING SUBCOMMITTEE GUIDES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM INITIATIVES.
WE'VE STREAMLINED COSTS AND INVESTED IN TECH PLATFORMS AND APPS TO HELP TELL HARTFORD'S STORY THROUGH METRICS AND VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE'VE INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN INFORM OUR PARTNERS, WHO ATTENDS THEIR EVENTS, SPENDING PATTERNS ACROSS THE COUNTY DURING THEIR STAY AND FROM WHERE VISITORS ORIGINATE.
THIS RESULTS IN MORE TARGETED OUTREACH INTO MARKETS THAT CHOOSE HARTFORD COUNTY AS A DESTINATION.
WE KNOW OVERNIGHT STAYS GENERATE MORE REVENUE THAN A DAY TRIPPER AND MORE THAN JUST THE COST OF THE HOTEL ROOM.
OUR RESEARCH AND BRANDING STRATEGY DEMONSTRATES A STRONG REGIONAL MARKET.
WE'VE ALREADY LAUNCHED A DIGITAL SPRING CAMPAIGN OUTSIDE THE STATE AS FESTIVALS AND EVENTS UNIQUE TO HARTFORD ARE ROBUST, THERE'S SOMETHING EVERY WEEKEND.
WE HIRED JODY MARSH HAUSER, OUR TOURISM MANAGER WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AN EVENT PLANNING EXPERIENCE, A RESIDENT WHO KNOWS HARFORD COUNTY AND IS ENGAGED WITH HARFORD WITH UH, TOURISM GROUPS LIKE THE MID-ATLANTIC, UH, TOURISM PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MARYLAND TOURISM COUNCIL.
WE LAUNCHED HELLO HARTFORD.COM WEBSITE EARLIER THIS MONTH TO TOUT THE DESTINATION'S
[03:15:01]
DINING AND EVENTS IN HARTFORD COUNTY.ITS INCLUSIVE DESIGN HAS OUR TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS IN MIND.
YOU'LL SEE LOCAL ADS ROLLING BY ON HARTFORD TRANSIT, BUSES AND YARD SIGNS IN PARKS, AND ALONG WALKING TRAILS WITH QR CODES, PROMOTING FUN THINGS TO SEE AND DO.
WE'VE WORKED WITH LOCAL EVENT PLANNERS WITH THESE PLATFORMS AT THE BEL AIR CHOCOLATE BREW AND WINE TOUR AND THE HAVERTY GRACE ICE FESTIVAL TO CROSS PROMOTE EVENTS HAPPENING IN A WEEKEND AND PROVIDE DATA TO SHOWCASE WHO'S IN ATTENDANCE.
WE'VE REALLY EXCITED TO HOST ON MAY ONE, THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF HELLO HARTFORD AT SWAN HARBOR FARM.
YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE RECEIVED INVITATIONS AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AS WE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTING HARTFORD TOURISM AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE OVERNIGHT STAYS TO MAKE HARTFORD A STANDOUT DESTINATION IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS A TALENTED TEAM OF EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE LEAN BUT MIGHTY AND I'M PROUD OF THE FOCUS THAT THEY ALL BRING IN SUPPORT OF BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.
WE HAVE VISITED 956 BUSINESSES, 700 DURING FY 25 ALONE.
WE'VE HAD THE CREATE SEEN THE CREATION OF 854 JOBS, 1.8 MILLION SQUARE FOOT OF ADDITIONAL SPACE, AND $561.6 MILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
IN CLOSING, CREATING A CULTURE OF A TECHNICALLY SKILLED WORKFORCE SHOULD BE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM.
WITH THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BEING MADE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WITH OUR COM COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE EFFORTS, ALL ROADS POINT TO LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GRADUATES.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CHAMBERS, SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE IN THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO ENSURE THAT A SUITE OF SERVICES FOR ALL BUSINESS NEEDS ARE AVAILABLE.
PROSPECTING CONTINUES TO BE POSITIVE EVEN IN A CAUTIONARY INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT.
UH, WE'RE SEEING, UH, BIOMANUFACTURING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS AND ENERGY AS A SERVICE IN MID-MAY.
UH, BOTH RAJ AND STEVE WILL BE ATTENDING SELECT USA, WHICH IS, UM, A FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT EXPO AT NATIONAL HARBOR AND GIVES US A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH MORE THAN 5,000 ENTREPRENEUR AND STARTUP COMPANIES INTERESTED, UM, IN OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE HIS HISTORICALLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AT 3.1%.
UM, WHEN MOST EMPLOYERS WILL TELL YOU, FIND ME A CANDIDATE, I WILL HIRE THEM TODAY.
UH, BUT GIVEN THAT OUR REGIONAL LABOR SHED OF 12 PLUS JURISDICTIONS, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WITH GOOD SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY PARK, AND AMENITIES COMPLIMENTED BY STRONG WEEKLY WAGES, SLOW AND STEADY POPULATION AND JOB GROWTH AND OUR EDUCATED AND SKILLED WORKFORCE, ALL STRONG INDICATORS OF A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, COUPLED WITH OUR ABILITY TO OFFER THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION, GROWTH, AND PROSPERITY REPRESENTS THE HEALTHY BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM THAT EXISTS HERE IN HARTFORD TODAY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE IN YEARS PAST, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORT, YOUR PRESENTATION TO MS. DIXON SO SHE CAN DEMMER DISPERSE IT AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS.
I DID MAKE PUT PACKETS TOGETHER THAT HAS THIS PRESENTATION AS WELL AS SOME STATS SHEETS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION ON HOLLOW HARTFORD.
OH, SO YOU HAVE THAT DONE THEN? MM-HMM
UM, AND THEN I'M GONNA DIVE RIGHT INTO TOURISM.
SO IN THE PAST, UM, IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT A GRANT RECIPIENT CREATE AN EVENT THAT PUT HEADS IN BEDS.
IS THAT STILL THE PRO, IS THAT STILL PART OF THAT PROCESS? SO IMPERATIVE IS A VERY SPECIFIC WORD.
WE HAVE CONTINUED WITH OUR TARC PROCESS TO FOCUS ON, UH, PROMOTING OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAYS.
BUT I MEAN, IT'S NOT IMPERATIVE.
LIKE WE, WE, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE RECEIVED MONEY THAT CANNOT PROVE BEYOND A DEFINITIVE POINT THAT HOTEL STAYS, BUT THE INTENT OF THAT PROGRAM NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON CREATING OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAYS.
THAT'S WHY WE WENT INTO THE PARTNERSHIP CATEGORY, BUT WE STILL RETAIN THE STRIDES.
UH, WE HAVE CALLED THE STRIDES SOMETHING D DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
IT'S LIKE AN ECONOMIC, UH, PROMOTING COMMUNITY IMPACT FOR THIS ONE.
SO IF THEY ARE NOT AT A POINT WHERE THEY CAN BE SUSTAINABLE ENOUGH TO PARTNER WITH ANOTHER ENTITY AND TRY AND BRIDGE A WEEKEND EVENT THAT WOULD KEEP PEOPLE HERE, THERE ARE STILL SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO HELP THEM GROW TO THAT STAGE.
DO YOU HAVE A GRANT RECIPIENT LIST READY FOR PUBLIC? SO THE CURRENT TARC UM, PROCESS ENDS MAY 16TH AND WE WOULD CONTINUE THE SAME PROCESS.
IT ALWAYS A PRESS RELEASE COMES OUT, ITEMIZE THE LIST OF AWARDEES, THE AMOUNT THEY RECEIVE, AND US
[03:20:01]
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ALL RECEIVE THAT MAY 16TH.WE'VE CONDUCTED TWO WORKSHOPS, UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE RECORDING, SO HOW TO, HOW TO UPLOAD, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS.
IS THAT FROM THE TIME THE ADMINISTRATION CAME IN TO NOW THIS ADMINISTRATION? CORRECT.
AND THEN 1 MILLION SQUARE FOOT YOU SAID OF UH, 1.8? YES.
AND AGAIN, I'LL HAVE THIS ALL LISTED OUT FOR ALL.
AND THEN JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, VERTECH, HOW MANY JOBS? VERTECH? UM, SO THEY'VE GOT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, BUT I WOULD SAY 20 TO 20, ALL 20 HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND VER OR RPM TECH? ABOUT THE SAME.
AND MODULAR COMP LARGER, I, I'D HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU.
UM, THE INTERESTING WAY THESE PLAYED OUT TOO, THEY'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
I MEAN, RPM IS IN FOREST HILL, UM, TAKING ON, UH, HAS AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN THAT REGARD.
UM, ALL OF THEM ARE VERY SKILLED.
THEY'RE EITHER ENGINEERS OR, OR TECHNICIAN LEVEL POSITIONS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL VERY IMPORTANT.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS TRYING TO GET AN IDEA LIKE BETTER ENGINEERING.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, LAST WEEK WE'RE AT A PG TOGETHER, UH, FOR THE OPENING OF SAIC, I BELIEVE.
AND, UM, OUTSTANDING, UH, PRESENTATION OUTSTANDING.
CEOI COULDN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HER POSITIVE IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I MET HER.
AND UM, SO I KNOW THEY'RE BRINGING, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY JOBS.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A HUGE WORKFORCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT HOW MANY SPECIFIC JOBS WILL THEY CREATE IN THAT LOCATION TO THAT SITE? 25 TO 30.
AND VERY COMMITTED TO STEM INITIATIVES AND THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THEM GROW HERE.
AND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH SOME EMPLOYEES AT A PG THAT ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS.
THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOB, JOBS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED, WHATEVER.
UM, AND I HEAR IT'S AS MANY AS 1200.
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT? SO WE'VE HEARD EIGHT TO 10% DECREASE ACROSS DOD.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE TARGET THAT LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN ASSIGNED.
FROM A PG OR JUST ALL OVER? ACROSS DOD.
SO AGAIN, MY EMPHASIS ON THE LETHALITY OF MILITARY READINESS IS BECAUSE IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE MISSION SETS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC HERE THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT THROUGH THOSE EARLIER TOOLS, THEY WILL HIT THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT IT DOES CERTAINLY HAVE IMPACTS, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A PROBATIONARY ROLE.
UM, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, AND INCENTIVIZED TO TAKE RETIREMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY DOES HAVE AN IMPACT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE STRONG INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S OFFICIALLY GOOD AFTERNOON,
UM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, TWO THINGS I THINK ABOUT, AND IT'S RATHER SIMPLE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT WE WANT MONEY TO STAY IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I CHOOSE TO ORDER A SPATULA ON AMAZON, INSTEAD OF BUYING ONE AT, UH, JOSEPH'S, THAT'S LOSING HARTFORD COUNTY MONEY.
UH, BUT WE ALSO WANT MONEY FROM OUTSIDE OF HARTFORD COUNTY TO FIND ITS WAY INSIDE OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT SOMEBODY WHO LIVES UP IN LANCASTER COUNTY TO FEEL THE NEED TO DRIVE DOWN HERE, TO DO THEIR SHOPPING, THEIR DINING, THE ENTERTAINMENT, UM, AND ON THE FRONT OF KEEPING MONEY IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
IF I CAN JUST SPEAK PERSONALLY, I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN HAPPY GRACE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE FINISHING THE DOWNTOWN RESTORATION WORK, WHICH IS AMAZING BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS ARE WIDE ENOUGH THAT MY WIFE AND I CAN WALK SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR STROLLER AND DON'T FEEL THIS NEED TO JUMP INTO THE ROAD WHEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE COMES DOWN TOWARDS US.
UM, AND WE LOVE DOWNTOWN HAV GRACE BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE A DATE NIGHT WHERE WE SHOP, WE EAT, WE SEE A SHOW.
UM, BUT WHEN WE WANNA TAKE A BREAK FROM OUR TOWN, THE NEXT CLOSEST OPTION FOR US THAT GIVES US THAT SAME EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO THE AVENUE IN WHITE MARSH WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF DATE NIGHTS.
AND THEN BEYOND THAT, WE GO TO FELLS POINT IN BALTIMORE, WHICH GIVES A LOT OF THE SAME OPTIONS.
AND WHEN WE GO TO THOSE PLACES, WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT LOOK LIKE US, THE AGE OF US, YOU KNOW, THE STAGE OF LIFE OF US.
UM, AND I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I THINK IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT'S ALL SO INTERDISCIPLINARY.
[03:25:01]
ZONING, IT INVOLVES, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, IT INVOLVES, UM, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH.AND WHEN I COMPARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE AVENUE IN WHITE MARSH TO THE CONSTANT FRIENDSHIP AREA OR TO BELL CAMP, I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR COUNTY THAT ARE DEVELOPED IN SUCH A WAY.
UM, THERE ARE LIKE, LIKE STUCK IN A PAST THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE NEVER KNOWN.
WHEREAS WHAT PEOPLE MY AGE REALLY WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO PARK THEIR CAR, SHOP, DINE, AND BE ENTERTAINED AND HAVE THE WHOLE PACKAGE ON THEIR FEET.
UM, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE AND THE ROLE OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY IN DESIGNING OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE FUTURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WANT SO THAT MONEY STAYS HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES TRAVELING OUT OF COUNTY FOR THEIR SATURDAY ACTIVITIES? SURE.
SO FIRST TO COMMENT ON HAVERTY GRACE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A MOVIE PREMIERE THERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, THAT WAS A FILM THAT WAS FILMED LOCALLY HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UM, A CELEBRITY CHEF THAT HAD CAME IN AND DID A MAKEOVER AT MCGREGOR'S, UM, STANDING IN THAT LINE FOR THE MOVIE PREMIERE THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING.
IT WAS PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK, FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
SO THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS, AS YOU'RE GOING OUT, OTHERS ARE COMING IN.
AND HANNITY GRACE IS, IS GREAT.
BUT WE NEED, IT CAN'T JUST BE HDY GRACE THAT HAS THAT OFFERING.
SO YOU CAN APPRECIATE MOST OF OUR DOWNTOWNS, OUR MAIN STREETS FALL WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE INSTATED IN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS REGULAR MEETINGS WITH OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS.
UM, I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY ALL RECENTLY ATTENDED, YOU KNOW, A MAIN STREET CONFERENCE AND WAS LOOKING AT NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BRING FOLKS INTO THAT, INTO THEIR AREAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MORE COLLABORATION ON GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD FOCUS IN THOSE TARGET MARKETS.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR RETAIL IS STRONG HERE.
WE HAVE LIKE 4% VACANCY IN RETAIL, SO THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.
AND WE DIDN'T SEE A MAJOR DIP EVEN DURING COVID OTHER PLACES SAW BUILDINGS BEING BOARDED UP.
WE WERE DOING RIBBON CUTTINGS EVEN WITH A MASK.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT DOES SPEAK VOLUMES THAT IT'S COMING HERE.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING A YOUNGER POPULATION INVEST IN STARTUP STOREFRONTS TOO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY EMULATE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO.
THEY'RE STARTING TO OPEN THOSE SHOPS AS WELL.
BUT I MEAN, WE'RE COGNIZANT OF IT AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY WORKING WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO REALLY AUGMENT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MAIN STREETS AND OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS.
AND, AND MAYBE JUST TO PUSH AND EXPAND ON YOUR THOUGHTS.
YOU KNOW, THE AVENUE IN WHITE MARSH IS NOT A MUNICIPALITY.
THAT'S, UH, A PURPOSE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT THAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF ANY GOVERNMENT EXCEPT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT IN THE BUSYNESS OF THEIR A MC TO OUR SHUTTER, SHUTTERED, REGAL IN CONSTANT FRIENDSHIP AND THE WAY THAT AREA IS LAID OUT MM-HMM
UM, AND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE TAKEN UP BY, FOR INSTANCE, PARKING VERSUS OPTIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING AND SHOPPING, UM, I JUST THINK WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING OF THE FUTURE OF REDESIGNING OUR COMMUNITY TO MEET, UH, THE ECONOMY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.
UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER BIG REASON I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN CAVITY GRACE IS BECAUSE FOR ME, AND IT'S TRUE OF PEOPLE, OF MY GENERATION AND YOUNGER, THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE PLACED ON WHAT CAN I DO ON MY FEET.
YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER MY WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, MY FRONT YARD, UH, WHEN I WALK TO THE PARK, WALK TO THE DENTIST, WALK TO SHOPS, WALK TO A SHOW, THREE THEATERS AND WALKING DISTANCE IN MY HOUSE.
BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN BELL CAMP.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE THERE.
AND YOU CAN MAKE BELL CAMP HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE.
SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN ABINGDON.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE THERE.
YOU CAN MAKE ABINGDON HAVE MORE OF THAT EXPERIENCE WITHOUT IT HAVING TO BE WITHIN ABERDEEN BEL AIR OR HAVE DEGREE.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND THEN MIGHT SECOND PRONG OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS GETTING MONEY OUTSIDE IN.
AND SO ALONG THOSE LINES, DO YOU THINK YOUR OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US FOR FY 25? SO WHAT WE'RE WRAPPING UP WHERE, UM, TOURISM DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY WENT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY WAS BROUGHT IN FROM THE HOTEL TAX AND THEN WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO, JUST SO WE CAN KIND OF, UH, SEE THE DOLLAR TO DOLLAR TRANSFER THERE TO, TO KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WAS SPENT.
WOULD THAT BE A REASONABLE ASK THAT YOU'RE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER? UM, AND THEN THE HOTEL TAX IS 2.7.
UM, BUT WANTING TO KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, MR. SANLI, WHERE DID IT ALL YEAH, I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE MAYA
NOW I CAN TAKE THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON
AND THEN, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU KNOW, WE DID PASS BILL 24 DASH 0 3 1, UH, AND THEN IT WAS VETOED AND WE OVERRODE THE VETO.
AND THAT BILL TOOK EFFECT IN FEBRUARY.
AND PART OF THAT BILL WAS REGULAR DISBURSEMENTS
[03:30:01]
TO, UH, VISIT HARTFORD, UH, WHICH IS A, UH, TOURISM AGENCY HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.UM, ARE WE CONTINUING WITH THOSE DISBURSEMENTS AS THE BILL PASSED SAYS MUST BE DONE.
SO I REALLY CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT MATTER AS IT'S TIED WITH LITIGATION, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HOTEL TAX THAT IS PART OF MY BUDGET HAS BEEN SPENT SPECIFICALLY ON TOURISM.
BUT YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER IN YOUR BUDGET IS SCHEDULED DISBURSEMENTS TO VISIT HARTFORD.
THERE'S THERE, THERE'S NO APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY IN IN HER BUDGET FOR, FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING SET ASIDE TO FOLLOW THE, THE LAW SET.
UM, AND THEN I GUESS MAYBE COULD YOU SPEAK TO YOUR REASONING AND RATIONALE? 'CAUSE I, I WILL GIVE CREDIT.
RAJ AND I MET, UH, LAST SUMMER AND WE'RE TALKING, AND RAJ SAID, GIMME TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE ARE TODAY.
AND TIME HAS GONE AND YOU'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE TODAY THAN YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, 10 MONTHS AGO WHEN WE MET, UH, THE WEBSITE FOR HELLO HARTFORD.
THE DESIGN OF THE LOGO IS GREAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A LOT, IT DID NOT LOOK PROFESSIONAL LIKE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
BUT THE RATIONALE AND REASONING BEHIND SPENDING ALL THAT TIME AND MONEY AND ENERGY TO, UH, REINVENT THE WHEEL TO COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, A NEW, UH, AGENCY FROM FRESH VERSUS CONTINUING WITH WHAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO I, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT WAS, IT WAS REPETITION OR TIME NOT WELL SPENT.
WE SPENT A, A LOT OF TIME ENGAGING WITH OUR TOURISM COMMUNITY HERE.
LIKE WHEN I TALK ABOUT VISITING 80% OF ALL OF OUR LODGING MANAGERS AND 95% OF OUR AREA ATTRACTIONS, IT WAS ARTICULATING LIKE WHAT OUR INTENT WAS AND HOW WE COULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY.
WE DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANNA DO A LAUNCH TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO.
THAT'S WHY MAY ONE WAS SO IMPORTANT.
WE WANNA BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE WHAT IS BEING DONE, WHAT IS IN PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE SPRING CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED AND THAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE, THE STATE RIGHT NOW.
BUT BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THAT THERE'S INTERACTION THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE NOT JUST USING THAT CALENDAR OF EVENTS, BUT ARE PARTICIPATING AND, AND, AND ADD ADDING TO IT.
SO I THINK IT WAS A VERY INTENTIONAL METHOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WON'T SAY THAT WE WERE AS ROBUST AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS YEAR AHEAD, BUT IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL IN ITS INTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT A QUALITY PROJECT PRODUCT CAME FORWARD THAT OUR ENTIRE STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY COULD UTILIZE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I SHARED WITH RAJ WHEN WE MET LAST YEAR WAS CONCERNS OVER THE PROCESS OF WHAT GETS PROMOTED AND WHAT DOESN'T.
YOU KNOW, UH, THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL GETS A, A BANNER ON THE COUNTY BUILDING, THE BARBECUE BASH GETS A BANNER ON THE COUNTY BUILDING.
UH, BUT UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU GET TO BE THAT PERSON WHO GETS A BANNER VERSUS NOT GET PROMOTED.
AND TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, 'CAUSE IT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME WE MET LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE FESTIVAL, AND H GRACE IS THE LARGEST FESTIVAL OF ITS KIND IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND.
BIGGER THAN ANNAPOLIS, BIGGER THAN BALTIMORE.
UH, AT THAT TIME, RAJ DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DETERMINE AND WHAT PROCESSES ARE IN PLACE TO DETERMINE WHAT'S WORTHY OF OUR PROMOTION AND SUPPORT VERSUS, UH, WHAT WE'RE NOT GONNA, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MONEY'S LIMITED, TIME'S LIMITED.
UM, HOW DO WE DECIDE WHO GETS TO HAVE THE BANNER ON THE BUILDING VERSUS NOT? BECAUSE I CAN SPEAK FROM MY EXPERIENCE WORKING TO VISIT HARTFORD CLOSELY AND HELPING, YOU KNOW, LOCAL EVENTS AND UH, AND UH, UH, UH, LOCAL EVENTS AND BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A WHOLE, UH, SHEET TO FIGURE OUT VIABILITY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO PUT FORWARD ON THEIR END.
LIKE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU ALL? MM-HMM
SO CERTAINLY, I MEAN, WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP A CALENDAR TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THAT REGARD.
BUT THAT IS ALSO ONE OF THE, UH, THE FOCUS POINTS FOR THE, UH, MARKETING SUBCOMMITTEE OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR BOARD.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THOSE DECISIONS LIKE IN A VACUUM.
IT REALLY IS LOOKING AT THE ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE FROM MUNICIPALITIES, FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS TO HELP US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND PRIORITIZE WITH A FIXED AMOUNT OF MONEY HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF EVENTS.
DO YOU THINK HELLO HARTFORD WOULD BE, UH, WILLING AND ABLE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE AT SOMETHING LIKE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE THIS YEAR IN OCTOBER, UH, WHEN, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF HARTFORD COUNTY ARE GONNA
[03:35:01]
BE IN H GRACE MAYBE FOR THEIR FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE, UH, TO GET THEM CONNECTED WITH HARTFORD COUNTY? SO, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SCHEDULING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE TRYING TO BE AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.THIS PAST WEEKEND WE WERE AT THE BIG 10 NCAA AT BULLY ROCK FOR WOMEN'S, UM, GOLF TOURNAMENT.
WE WERE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.
SO IT IS OUR INTENT TO HAVE A PRESENCE AT IS AT MUCH MORE EVENTS IN THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD.
UH, WE'VE GOT BRANDING FOR ALL OF OUR GIVEAWAYS ARE IN.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT, THAT CAPACITY.
NOW IF, IF SCHEDULING ALLOWED IT, WOULD THAT BE AN EVENT THAT YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER, UH, ATTENDING AND BEING A PART OF AND SUPPORTING? I, I REALLY COULDN'T SAY AT THIS POINT, BUT I KNOW THAT WE WOULD USE THAT PROCESS AND BRING IT FORWARD TO OUR SUBCOMMITTEE.
CAN RAJ SAY AT THIS POINT, IS THAT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO, YOU'VE HAD 10 MONTHS, YOU'VE TALKED WITH ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
IS AN EVENT, UH, LIKE THAT SO LARGE, SO PROMINENT, YOU KNOW, RUNNING NOW FOR FIVE YEARS.
IS THAT LIKE, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DETERMINING FACTOR TO DECIDE IF UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE IS AN EVENT WORTH PROMOTING, BUT ALSO BEING PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT, TO BRING PEOPLE TO KEEP COMING BACK AFTER THEY COME FOR THAT DAY TO VISIT IN RESPONSE? UH, COUNCILMAN, I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, ECHO MAKE SURE YOU USE THE MIC COUNCILMAN IN RESPONSE.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR A SET PROCESS USING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD MARKETING COMMITTEE.
SO CERTAINLY EVENTS, THE ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED AND ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS, WHICH IT BECOMES A VERY ACTIVE TIME IN SUMMER INTO THE FALL.
UH, ALL OF THAT WILL BE, WILL BE, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PROVIDE LIKE A WRITE OUT OF WHAT THAT PROCESS IS TO TRY AND HELP DEMYSTIFY IT IN CASE PEOPLE REACH OUT AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHY AM I NOT GETTING SUPPORT? WHY AM I, YOU KNOW, WHY DID I NOT GET A BANNER ON THE COUNTY BUILDING? COULD YOU, UM, HELP PROVIDE THAT PROCESS IN MAYBE A MORE, UH, WRITTEN OUT FORM FOR MYSELF TO UNDERSTAND? WE'LL BE HAPPY TO, UH, TO SHARE THE, THE, THE, UH, THE PROCESSES OF THE COMMITTEE AS THEY EVALUATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, SO I'M NEW TO ALL THIS, SO I'M TRYING TO GET CAUGHT UP.
IS THE HELL HARTFORD WEBSITE, THE FINAL PRODUCT? I'M REALIZING NOW THAT IT IS NOT PHONE FRIENDLY.
SO IT HAS BEEN IN A, IN A BETA FORMAT FOR, FOR FEEDBACK, UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TRIED IT ON APPLE IPHONE, SMARTPHONES, SAMSUNG
UM, SO I, I'M AN ANDROID USER AND I JUST PULLED UP, I CLICKED ON THE LINK TO PLAN MY VISIT UHHUH.
AND IT IS NOT, IT IS NOT PHONE FRIENDLY.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE LAYOUT.
IT VERY MUCH MIMICS THE VISIT MARYLAND PAGE.
UM, ONE THING THAT I DO APPRECIATE ABOUT THEM THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES ESPECIALLY PLAN THEIR TRIP IS IF THERE WAS A MAP THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED WHERE EACH OF THESE PLACES WERE.
SO IF I'M GONNA BE IN CAVITY GRACE FOR THE DAY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A VINEYARD NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE, BUT OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA.
I MEAN, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE COUNTY FOREVER AND HAVE NO IDEA WHERE EVERYTHING IS.
UM, BUT YES, ON THE PLAN, UH, YOUR TRIP, IT IS, IT'S A WORK IN PRACTICE.
NO, THAT, THAT'S VERY GOOD FEEDBACK.
AND I EXTEND THAT TO ALL OF YOU.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF FEEDBACK WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO TURN THINGS AROUND VERY QUICKLY AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF EYES ON IT, BUT CERTAINLY IF THERE'S AN EVENT THAT HAS BEEN CANCELED OR TRANSPOSED, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THAT IN REAL TIME FEEDBACK FOR ACCURACY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M JUST, UM, QUESTIONING, UH, WITH THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE FOR OTHER ADVERTISING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, MARKETING, ET CETERA, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON, YOU KNOW, FINDING THESE BUSINESSES BUT ALSO BRINGING IN THOSE WHO MAY WANNA START BUSINESSES? A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
UM, AND WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD A SMALL SHOP, A SMALL, UM, BEAUTY SHOP, WE'LL JUST THROW IN ANYTHING.
UM, BUT IN MY AREA, I, I'M WITH MR. BENNETT.
I GO TO, I GO TO WHITE MARSH MORE AND I GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, EVERYTHING'S THERE FOR ME.
UM, I STOPPED GOING TO SUNSET COVE, NOT BEFORE IT CLOSED RECENTLY, BUT BECAUSE FLYING POINT WASN'T IN EXISTENCE.
BUT NOW AT FLYING POINT IS WHERE I GO AND GET THAT WATERFRONT PROPERTY.
SO IT STOPPED ME FROM GOING TO BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR THAT.
HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT GROWTH? AND I'M GONNA REALLY FOCUS ON THE SOUTHERN END BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A MUNICIPALITY AND I LOVE HAVING A GRACE.
I LOVE BEING ABLE TO WALK THERE AND I LOVE BELLA, BUT I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT MY BACK DOOR AND GET THE SAME
[03:40:01]
BOWLING ALLEY, THE SAME OTHER EXPERIENCES.AND RAJ AND I HAVE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FEEL FROM YOU, HOW CAN WE GET SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE, GET BUSINESSES ADVERTISED, GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE THE COPPER PLEX.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE TONS OF PEOPLE COMING IN.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE GETTING AN INCENTIVE FOR COMING INTO OUR AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATING I COME BETWEEN YOU AND LUNCH.
I MEAN, WE COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WERE NOT COVERED HERE, BUT WE DO ENGAGE IN, YOU KNOW, UM, THE, UM, ICC AND OTHER, OTHER ACTIVITIES WHERE RAJA'S GOING TO PHILADELPHIA AND SOME OTHER PLACES TO LOOK AT ATTRACTION TO BRING PEOPLE IN.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR BROKERAGE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST HERE IN, IN OUR COUNTY, IN OUR STATE, BUT REGIONAL ENDEAVORS TO LOOK AT SOME, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL NAMES AND THINGS TO COME INTO THIS AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL USING THE SAME SET.
LIKE THEY NEED DATA THAT SHOWS 33,000 CARS GO BY THIS LOCATION, OR WE DON'T EVEN FIT THE CONVERSATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN OUR MAJOR AREAS AND THAT PUTS US INTO A DIFFERENT CATEGORY AND A, AND A NEW OPPORTUNITY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN REFERENCE TO YOUR SMALLER PEOPLE THAT WANNA MAKE AN INVESTMENT OR, YOU KNOW, START A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, APRIL COOK AND EDGEWOOD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
SHE IS LIKE OUR POSTER CHILD OF SOMEONE WHO USED THE RESOURCES THAT WERE IN PLACE AND CONTINUES TO BUILD, UM, WITHIN THAT.
AND WE WANNA STAY IN TOUCH BECAUSE IT'S THE, IT'S THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE THAT CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND THAT TRULY REPRESENT LIKE THE BASE OF OUR, OF OUR, OUR, OUR SUCCESS.
UM, SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE OUT TALKING WITH OTHER PLACES AND TRYING TO BRING IN THAT ATTRACTION, BUT WE'RE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, BALANCING THE GROWTH THAT CAN HAPPEN IN PLACE.
I KNOW EVERYONE'S READY TO GO TO LUNCH.
AS IT RELATES TO ADVERTISING AND MARKETING, ARE THOSE BUSINESSES, ARE THEY HARTFORD BASED BUSINESSES? IF NOT, ARE THEY HIRING HARTFORD RESIDENTS? HMM.
WITH REGARD TO ADVERTISING DOLLARS? NO.
UH, THE ADVERTISING FIRMS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH MM-HMM
OR THE MARKETING FIRMS, ARE THEY HARTFORD COUNTY BASED BUSINESSES? IF THEY'RE NOT, ARE THEY HIRING HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS? OKAY, GOOD QUESTION.
SO FOR THE, UM, THE MARKETING, UH, PROJECT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF OUR LAUNCH FOR TOURISM, THAT'S A BALTIMORE BASED COMPANY YEP.
BUT DOES HAVE REPRESENTATION OF HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS, UM, WITHIN ITS, UH, WITHIN ITS RANKS.
UM, OUR DIGITAL MARKETING, SOCIAL MARKETING, WE USED A LOCAL HARTFORD COUNTY FIRM, UH, FOR THAT ACTIVITY.
WE'VE TRIED TO USE LOCAL ENTITIES HERE IN THE COUNTY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE, THE LOCAL LAUNCH AS WELL.
IT IS SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE, PARTICULARLY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO HOW ARE YOU FINDING THESE BUSINESSES AND HOW ARE THEY FINDING YOU? SO WE KIND OF, WE CALL, WE HAVE A, A DATABASE THAT WE KEEP ALL OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT, LOOK AT CHAMBER MEMBERS AND, AND OTHERS IN THE AREA.
UM, THAT WE HAVE A FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS OVER CERTAIN NUMBERS.
SO THAT WOULD CERTAINLY GO OUT TO, YOU KNOW, MARYLAND MARKETPLACE AND OTHERS AS WELL.
UM, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE DIRECT OUTREACH TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN OPPORTUNITIES, UM, THAT FALL BELOW A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.
MR. PARRISH, I'LL BE QUICK TOO, I PROMISE.
UH, A COUPLE QUICK, QUICK QUESTIONS.
UH, LEAN, BUT MIGHTY, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF RESTRUCTURING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE THERE CURRENTLY IN THE DEPARTMENT? 10.
UM, JUST TO, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I ACTUALLY THINK WE'RE VERY WELL POSITIONED FOR FUTURE BRACK.
I THINK ABERDEEN'S DONE A REALLY NICE JOB OF THAT.
UH, AND YOU TOUCHED ON THAT, THE, THE REDEVELOPMENT, SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
HOW DOES LIKE A PAX RIVER CLOSING POTENTIALLY AFFECT ABERDEEN IN THAT INSTANCE? LIKE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME UNIQUE MISSION SETS, RIGHT? CHEM BIO TEST CENTER, AND THEN MAYBE EVEN TOUCH ON THE DRONE TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOME REZONING OF, UH, HARTFORD AIRFIELD, HOW THAT HAS HELPED US IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
SO TO GIVE CONTEXT, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, UH, LET'S JUST SAY IN THIS COMMUNITY, TIED TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, THERE'S 43 RESIDENTS PER 1000 THAT ARE TIED TO A FEDERAL JOB IN PAX RIVER, THAT'S 89.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, UM, TO THEIR COMMUNITY THAN TO HERE.
THERE ARE SOME TOUCH POINTS, BUT, UM, I SPENT LAST NIGHT AT THE, UH, UM, THE ADVANCED PUBLIC BRIEFING TO INDUSTRY.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO PRESENT ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES THAT WE CAN HELP.
AND THEN I SPENT THE EVENING AT A, UM, KIND OF LIKE A PRIMES AND MEETUP BETWEEN DEFENSE COMPANIES AND THEN A SOCIAL.
AND THE FEEDBACK THAT THAT I GOT WAS REALLY STRONG.
THEY'RE LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE BASED IN EX OTHER COUNTIES IN MARYLAND.
THEY SAID, WE NEVER SEE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THERE WAS, UM, SOME, SOME DIRECT LINKAGES THERE.
UM, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF WORK THAT IS DIVERSIFIED.
OUR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS IN THIS COMMUNITY AREN'T NECESSARILY JUST WORKING
[03:45:01]
FOR A PG.UM, THEY'RE WORKING WITH PICKNEY, THEY'RE WORKING WITH VAR, THEY'RE WORKING WITH, UM, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, SO I THINK THE DIVERSIFICATION AND THE FACT THAT THEY STAY HERE RATHER THAN MOVING TO THOSE LOCATIONS SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE, THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM, THERE IS SUCH POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
UM, SERVICE ENGINEERING HAS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE.
UH, WE WERE ACTUALLY OUT VIDEOTAPING WITH THEM FOR A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO TO KIND OF SHOWCASE WHAT THAT WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY IS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT ROOM TO GROW.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, A LARGE NAVAL CONTRACT, OR I'M SORRY, MARINE CONTRACT, BUT ALSO NOW ANOTHER ARMY CONTRACT THAT WILL BE TRIPLE WHAT THAT IS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS, THERE'S SYNERGIES BETWEEN, I THINK THERE'S SEVEN ALLIANCES ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT ALL WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, PARTICULAR INSTALLATIONS.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S SYNERGIES ACROSS THEM FOR ALL THE CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING OUT OR WHAT COULD BE IMPACTED AT A PG.
IT'S A DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY THAT'S GONNA BE CATCHING THAT WORK.
UH, HOW'S ROAD B COMING ALONG? ROAD B? IT IS, IT IS MOVING ALONG.
IT HAS BEEN A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS, BUT IT IS ON TRACK AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE DEFINITELY HEADING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, SOME FINAL PIECES IN LOOKING AT, UM, UM, THE SUPPLY, THE POWER COMPANY OUT THERE.
UM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, THERE'S A WORK GROUP BETWEEN A PG AND RDPW AND, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A GREEN LIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD.
YESTERDAY AT THE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS MEETING, UH, WE APPROVED A, UH, FEE FOR THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, DIRECTOR SEAMAC ANTICIPATES SHOVEL IN THE GROUND AS MR. MCCORD WILL ATTEST TO, AND MR. SANDLES THAT, UH, SHOVEL IN THE GROUND IN 26.
WE WILL CELEBRATE, UH, WE TOUCHED ON SPORTS TOURISM A LITTLE BIT.
600,000, UH, PARTICIPANTS, 41 WEEKENDS BOOKED.
UM, PART OF THAT COMPLEX WAS, UH, A ROAD THAT WAS GONNA GO FROM WILLABY BEACH, UH, ROAD IN, INTO THAT COMPLEX THAT WAS GONNA BE COUNTY BUILT.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THAT MIGHT BE DONE? THAT MAY BE ACTUALLY A ROB QUESTION.
UH, I KNOW THERE'S PLANS FOR IT.
I JUST DUNNO WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS.
UH, ANY, UH, USE OF THE GROVE FOR AGRICULTURE OR ANYTHING? WE ARE CERTAINLY EXPLORING IT AS SOME OPTIONS.
UM, AND THEN JUST GENERAL TOURISM QUESTION.
I MEAN, IT, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH, UH, TOURISM'S A A PRETTY EXPENSIVE LINE ITEM.
UM, BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT ACTUALLY COMES OUT OF HOTEL TAX DOLLARS? RIGHT.
SO DO WE DO A BUDGET SHIFT LINE ITEM FOR HOTEL TAX OVER TO COVER IT? 'CAUSE IT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE KIND OF WERE GETTING A DEAL BY, BY FUNDING IT OUT TO, TO A NON-PROFIT VERSUS KEEPING IT IN HOUSE.
BUT, SO WE HAVE THE, THE, THE EXPECTED AMOUNT FOR HOTEL TAX, 2.2 $0.7 MILLION.
AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE BRING IN.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ONE THAT AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO ABERDEEN, INTO A LESSER EXTENT, INTO INTO ITY GRACE.
UH, AND THEN WE BUILD A BUDGET AROUND THAT.
UM, BUT THEN IF AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE TAKE WHAT WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED IN TOURISM AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY SPENT ON TOURISM, AND IF, UM, THERE'S MONIES LEFT OVER, WE PUT THAT INTO FUND BALANCE AND SAVE IT FOR A FUTURE YEARS.
SO YOU MAY REMEMBER, UM, UM, LIKE DURING, DURING A FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE BUILT UP A BALANCE.
AND THEN I THINK IN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION WE KIND OF USED IT FOR SOME ONETIME THINGS THAT, UM, UM, AT CEDAR LANE AND, UM, UH, TO THE MOM PORE AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THIS BUDGET, IT'S JUST WHAT'S EVER IN THAT TOURISM BUDGET VERSUS WHATEVER WE COLLECT.
AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE WE WOULD PUT INTO, UM, UH, IF WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY, WE WOULD PUT IT INTO FUND BALANCE RETAIN.
YOU'LL SEE THAT AS A LINE ITEM.
IF WE WERE SHORT, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD JUST EAT IT.
SO WE DON'T LIKE, MAKE 'EM PAY IT BACK.
SO LIKE, DURING COVID, WE HAD SOME YEARS WHERE WE WERE SHORT, SO WE DON'T GO BACK AND BE LIKE, WE GOTTA PAY US BACK FOR THOSE.
SO IT'S, IT'S, UM, TOURISM GETS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, UM, AND GETS TO KEEP ALL OF THE MONEY RELATED TO IT.
SO, UH, UM, ON THE LOANS, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT.
WELL, I, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
I'M GLAD WE'VE GOT A COUPLE LOANS IN.
UH, NUMBER ONE, UM, WORKING ON SOME OTHER THINGS TOO, FOR SOME PEOPLE.
JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
UH, NUMBER TWO ON, ON THE JACOBS THING, THERE WAS A LONG TIME AGO, A PROPOSAL TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THE, UH, WHITE MARSH, THE AVENUE IN BEL AIR, UH, THAT NEVER GOT TO FRUITION.
UH, DEVELOPERS CAME IN, DID STUFF WITH, UM, THE WALGREENS IS OVER THERE AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
BUT I ALSO DO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE KIDS LIVING IN THE CITY MOVE UP HERE, UH, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO COME UP, THEY WANT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
[03:50:01]
OF THEM THEN GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORTS, SPORTS TOURISM.UM, THERE IS SOME THINGS IN THE TOWN OF BEL AIR, THERE WAS ONE THAT JUST GOT APPROVED THAT'S GONNA GO INTO WHERE, UM, UM, MANNY MO AND JACK PEP BOYS MM-HMM
THAT WHOLE FACILITY'S GONNA BE, UM, A KIND OF LIKE A KID ZONE OVER THERE TO GO ALONG WITH THE, UH, GOLF ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SOME OTHER STUFF.
SO THERE IS SOME STUFF FOR, FOR KIDS, BUT IT ALSO COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, AN ENTREPRENEUR WANTING TO PUT THE MONEY IN TO SEE WHAT COULD BE SPENT AND WHAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO WE HAD A BOWLING ALLEY IN BEL AIR.
WELL, THAT'S GONE AT BOWLING ALLEYS IN, IN FOREST HILL.
SO IT, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THESE THINGS, BUT THE BUSINESSES HAVE TO BE SUPPORTED AS WELL.
UM, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT.
SO LISTEN, KAREN RAJ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A RECESS.
WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK.
WE HAD A MOVIE THEATER AND A BOWL OUT.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AT RECESS, MR. J? WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UM, WHERE ARE YOU, JIM? WE'RE GETTING STARTED ANYWAY, RIGHT? YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO, UH, MARY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD FOR THE LIBRARIES, JOIN IN LATER.
SO, I'LL, I'LL JUST, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THE, THE BUDGET BOOK REAL QUICK FOR THE LIBRARY.
SO THE, THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE 16.
THE TOTAL ALLOCATION FOR FY 26 IS 21 MILLION 512 0 8 4, WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 6 26, 6 77 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, DECREASE BY $906 FOR THE LIBRARY'S OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY SELF-INSURANCE FUND PER ACTUARIALS.
AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS CHARACTER INCREASES 627,583 TO PROVIDE FOR 3% COLA FOR LIBRARY SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND FOR CORRESPONDING BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS.
AND THEN ALSO NOTE THAT THERE'S ONE CAPITAL PROJECT FOR LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY TOTALING 200,000 OF PEGO.
AND THAT APPEARS ON PAGE 1 28 OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CEO MARY HASLEY.
THANK YOU BEN, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M MARY HASLER, AND, UH, THIS IS ALWAYS A FUN TIME TO COME AND TALK ABOUT BUDGETS AND NUMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WITH ME TODAY IS KATHY KOGER, OUR CFO.
BEHIND ME IS JENNIFER BUTTON, MY ABLE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.
AND IN FRONT OF ME IS IBU, WHO'S OUR ORIGINAL AI PUPPY AND HIS NEW BABY SISTER ESPRESSO.
SHE'S ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD NOW.
AND AS YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE MET IBU BEFORE.
THEY ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS THEY GET TO MEET YOU.
LIKE THEY KNOW, UH, TONY G QUITE WELL.
THEY KNOW BARRY, THEY KNOW PAT FROM MAKO.
SO YOU MAY MEET THEM TWO OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW, AND THEY WILL REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.
SO, AND THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE MAKO, THE LAYOUT OF ALL THE VENDORS, AND THEY EXPLORE THE WHOLE THING.
SO, UM, AND IBU IS QUITE POPULAR DOWN THERE, SO I HAVE TO ALWAYS BRING HIM DOWN EVERY YEAR.
UM, MY REMARKS WILL BE VERY BRIEF THIS YEAR.
UH, ONE OF OUR KEY PRIORITIES WAS, AND IS THE 3% PAY INCREASE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.
UM, NOT TO CORRECT BEN, BUT IT IS NOT A COLA.
WE'VE NEVER DONE COLAS BECAUSE COLAS, UH, WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT TYPE OF FUNDING.
BUT THIS IS A PAY INCREASE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.
WE DO HAVE A MERIT BASED SYSTEM.
UM, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY INCREASE FOR STAFF WHO ARE MEETING EXPECTATIONS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UH, DESCRIPTOR FOR THAT.
BUT WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS TEAM FOR PROVIDING THIS.
AND OUR STAFF ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT IT DOES COVER SOME OF THE BENEFIT COSTS TOO.
LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, OUR, WE DO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH INFLATION OR THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS SUCH AS ENERGY SUPPLIES AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE, PREVENT MADE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND GENERAL UPKEEP OF OUR FACILITIES REMAIN ESSENTIAL.
AND WE WANNA THANK HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR DOING THAT.
ALL THE REPAIRS DO COME OUT FROM, UM, HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND WE DO HAVE 12 FACILITIES AND THEY ARE AGING.
WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION OF $200,000 IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 CAPITAL BUDGET TO SUPPORT OUR ONGOING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.
WE LIVE AND BREATHE TECHNOLOGY AT THE LIBRARY, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY.
HELP US MEET COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS, CLOSE THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE
[03:55:01]
AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY BROADBAND AND INTERNET EXPERIENCES.WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING CHANGES IN FUNDING STREAMS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, PARTICULARLY WHERE SHIFTS IN RESPONSIBILITY MAY IMPACT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THESE DYNAMICS ARE AFFECTING MANY OF OUR PARTNERS AND MAY MAY INFLUENCE FUTURE SERVICE PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY, BUT WE ARE MONITORING IT CLOSELY, PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.
OUR PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET ALSO ADDRESSES INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ON OUR MATERIALS BUDGET.
AND OUR MATERIALS BUDGET ARE OUR BOOKS, BUT IT'S ALSO OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS, OUR EBOOKS, OUR EMO, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT AND BORROW FROM A LIBRARY.
CONTINUED SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING ROBUST COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF EARLY LITERACY, PRE-LITERACY, AND STEM, WHICH ARE FUN, FOUND FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENTS OF OUR PRESCHOOL LEARNING AT THE LIBRARY.
LOOKING AHEAD THIS YEAR MARKS A MILESTONE, A VERY SPECIAL MILESTONE FOR HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE WILL KICK OFF A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION ON JUNE 30TH WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES RECOGNIZING THE LIBRARY'S VITAL ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE LIBRARY IS PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE TO HARTFORD COUNTY'S ECONOMIC VITALITY, ITS EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE, WHILE FOSTERING LIFELONG LEARNING AND DISCOVERY FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES.
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THE LIBRARIES WE SERVE.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO CLOSE WITH A QUOTE.
SO THIS ONE IS FROM KAITLYN MORAN, A BRITISH AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST WHOSE WORDS PERFECTLY CAPTURE THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.
A LIBRARY IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMMUNITY IS A CROSS BETWEEN AN EMERGENCY EXIT, A LIFE RAFT, AND A FESTIVAL.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO LIKE TO PARTY IN HARTFORD LIBRARY.
THANK YOU, MARY, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND BEYOND THE COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER.
UM, COUNCILMAN GINGER DANNER, I'M GONNA START WITH YOU.
SO, UH, WELL ANYWAY, ALL THE STUFF THAT THE LIBRARY DOES, UM, I FORGOT THAT YOU GUYS RENT MOVIES.
SO, FOR PEOPLE LISTENING, HOW DO YOU RENT A MOVIE? THERE ARE SOME YOU HAVE TO GO IN OR CAN YOU DO IT? YOU COULD DO IT BOTH WAYS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY ROBUST COLLECTION OF DVDS, WHICH IF YOU HAD ASKED ME THIS FIVE YEARS AGO, I WOULD'VE SAID THAT WOULD'VE BEEN SUNSETTED BY NOW.
AND IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, DVDS, BECAUSE OF THE COST OF CABLE AND FIOS AND THINGS, PEOPLE HAVE REALLY RETURNED TO USING DVDS.
SO WE HAVE AN AMAZING COLLECTION, NOT JUST YOUR TYPICAL MOVIES, BUT ALSO LIKE BRITISH MYSTERIES.
IF ANYBODY WATCHES ALL THE, UM, MPT, WE HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE IT STREAMING.
AND YOU CAN DO THAT FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME THROUGH OUR PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE ONLINE.
AND DO YOU GUYS STREAM FROM A DIFFERENT SER FROM A SERVICE, OR IS IT JUST YOUR LIBRARY? WHOSE LIBRARY ARE WE STREAMING FROM? WE PURCHASE THE PRODUCT FROM VENDORS WHO OFFER THE SERVICE FOR US.
AND YOU USE YOUR LIBRARY CARD, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CURRENT LIBRARY CARD, WHICH I KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM DOES, SO IF I ASK YOU TO OPEN YOUR WALLETS, YOU COULD HOLD IT UP.
WE HAVE DIGITAL CARDS TOO, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY COME IN IN ORDER TO BORROW ANYTHING ONLINE.
YOU CAN DO IT FROM YOUR HOUSE AND YOU CAN SIGN UP AS DONALD DUCK.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE DONALD DUCK AND YOU CAN BORROW THAT MOVIE TONIGHT IF YOU WISH.
BUT THEN WE ALWAYS HOPE YOU COME IN AND CONVERT IT TO A REGULAR CARD.
WELL, MARY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR FOR ME IS THE FAIRYTALE.
YOU KNOW, WE GET TO COME IN, SEE THE KIDS, UH, TALK, UH, READ A STORY FOR THEM.
SO THE LAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE DONE MOP TOP.
I, I ACTUALLY LOVE DOING THAT.
AND THEN JUST ABLE TO PARTICIPATE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN, IN THE UPCOMING EVENT THAT YOU HAVE.
AND YOU HAD ME DRESS UP AS, UH, JAKE FROM, UH, THE BLUES BROTHERS.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.
AND, UH, GOT SOME VIDEOS FOR THAT.
BUT, UH, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW, UM, ALL THE AREAS AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE.
IF YOU NEED INTERNET, YOU CAN GO AND YOU GUYS HAVE INTERNET AND ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE INTERNET, SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE.
DO YOU STILL HAVE, AND I PROBABLY ASKED THIS EVERY YEAR, MAGAZINES, DO YOU OR THEY DWINDLING, HOW MANY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE, ARE THERE LEFT? THAT, THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOWN TO MAYBE? OH, ASKS KATHY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
IT IS DWINDLING, BUT NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T BUY THEM.
IT'S 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE AMAZING ONLINE PRODUCTS WHERE THOSE MAGAZINES ARE AVAILABLE 24 7.
WE ALSO HAVE IN SOME OF THE BRANCHES, LIKE HOWARD DE GRACE DARLINGTON, WE HAVE A STATION WHERE YOU CAN VIEW IT ELECTRONICALLY RIGHT THERE IN THE LIBRARY.
SO, UM, WE BUY AS MANY AS WE CAN AND MAKE AVAILABLE.
SO WE STILL HAVE A REALLY GOOD COLLECTION FOR IT.
[04:00:01]
DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU.I LIKE READING A MAGAZINE IN PERSON.
WHEN I READ IT THROUGH OUR PRODUCTS ONLINE.
I ZIP THROUGH IT SO FAST AND IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
WHAT ABOUT NEWSPAPERS? DO YOU, DO YOU GUYS WE HAVE A LOT OF NEWSPAPERS TOO.
WE ALSO HAVE THEM AVAILABLE ONLINE.
AND WE ALSO, THIS YEAR WE ADDED THE BANNER, THE BALTIMORE BANNER.
UH, THAT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAD TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF STRUCTURAL UPDATES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
AND, UH, WE HAD THE BALTIMORE SUN, THE BANNER, WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, ALL THE MAJOR NEWSPAPERS.
AND YOUR CLOSED SUNDAYS, WE ARE STILL CLOSED SUNDAYS.
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT IN THE FUTURE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE OPEN? SUNDAYS? IT MAY BE, BUT WE WERE LOOKING AT NUMBERS AND HARTFORD COUNTY'S UNIQUE.
WE'RE A VERY FAMILY ORIENTED TYPE COMMUNITY.
SO OUR SUNDAYS WEREN'T AS ROBUST AS WARRANTED THE COST.
SO I KEEP LOOKING FOR THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL NEVER REOPEN ON A SUNDAY.
UM, BUT, AND JACOB AND I TALK QUITE FREQUENTLY ABOUT THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS EVENTUALLY OPEN EARLIER IN THE MORNING FOR OUR YOUNGER MOMS, GRANDMOMS, NANNIES, DAYCARE PROVIDERS, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN I'M WITH MY GRANDKIDS, SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE ARE READY TO HIT THE ROAD AND DO SOMETHING.
SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO CAPTURE THAT GROUP AND SUPPORT THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND WHAT TIME DO YOU OPEN NOW? WE OPEN AT 10.
SO YOU'D LIKE TO GO TO WHAT, NINE PROBABLY.
AND THAT I THINK I CAN DO PRETTY AFFORDABLE.
UM, AND WHAT YOU AND AND COUNCILMAN TONY WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, TOUCHES A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT.
UM, BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, UH, TWO IDEAS WITH SUNDAYS.
ONE IS IF, IF EVEN, UH, CERTAIN BRANCHES WERE OPEN FROM ONE TO FIVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE POST RELIGIOUS TIME, BUT YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS TO PRINT SOMETHING BEFORE THEY GO TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY OR NEEDS TO MEET UP WITH PEOPLE TO WORK THROUGH SOMETHING, JUST TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOUR HOURS OF, OF OF TIME AVAILABLE.
AND WITH SUNDAYS, MAYBE, UH, IF, UH, YOU KNOW, EACH BRANCH HAD LIKE ONE SUNDAY A MONTH.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE H GRACE WAS OPEN THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, ARINE WAS OPEN THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH.
UH, THAT COULD HELP CUT DOWN ON COSTS AND YOU JUST KNOW LIKE IT'S, IT'S ROTATING, UH, FOR SUNDAYS.
UM, AND THEN EARLY, UM, IN THE MORNING I WAS THINKING ABOUT, UM, IF EVEN AGAIN, IF IT WAS JUST LIKE ONE DAY A WEEK FOR EACH BRANCH THAT THEY HAD, ALMOST LIKE HOW WHEN YOU GO DISNEY, THERE'S EXTRA MAGIC HOURS, BUT LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE EARLY BIRD HOURS, YOU KNOW, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE BOOKWORM.
UH, BUT, UH, AND JACOB, WE DO DO THAT.
UM, WE HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT OPEN EARLY IN THE MORNING OR STAY OPEN LATER AT NIGHT.
YEAH, YOU'LL SEE THEM IN THE, IN THE MAGAZINE IN OUR NEWS.
UM, BUT I GUESS MY THOUGHT WITH ALL THAT IS JUST LIKE, EVEN TO ADD, UM, LIKE ONE SUNDAY A MONTH, IF YOU COULD GUESS THE NUMBERS OF HOW MUCH THAT ONE EXTRA DAY A MONTH WOULD COST, I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW THAT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS NOT JUST TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE, BUT TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND WHAT WE OFFER.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND FINANCIALLY, STRUCTURALLY, WHAT IS THE COST OF THAT INVESTMENT IF WE WANTED TO HELP YOU, NOT JUST TO, YOU KNOW, STAY AS WE ARE, BUT TO GROW.
WE'LL HAPPILY GET THAT TO YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? MARY, YOU'RE GETTING OUTTA HERE.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THE PUPPIES TO DISTRACT YOU.
YEAH, WE HAVE PLENTY OF DISTRACTIONS.
AND I WILL SEND A COPY OF THIS WITH YOUR ANSWER INCLUDED.
GLEN DISTRACTED THE WHOLE TIME.
UM, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEGINS ON PAGE 5 0 8.
SO THERE ARE TWO BUDGETARY DIVISIONS WITH A TOTAL ALLOCATION OF 20 MILLION 180 1 3 98, ALL OF WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
ON PAGE FIVE 11 IS THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARD HCCS OPERATING BUDGET TOTALING
[04:05:01]
19 MILLION 881 8 0 6, WHICH IS THE SAME AS FY 25 24.ON PAGE FIVE 13 IS A NEW BUDGETARY DIVISION FOR HCC SUPPORT CREATED FOR BETTER COUNTY OF COUNTY OF COUNTY FUNDS.
THIS SHOWS AN ADDITIONAL 299,592 IN COUNTY FUNDS FOR THE STATE MANDATED COST SHIFT TO THE COUNTY FOR HCC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS.
AND THEN ALSO NOTE THAT THERE IS ONE CAPITAL PROJECT FOR A REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
THERE'S 9 MILLION INCLUDED IN THE, UH, FY 26 CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, AND THAT'S 8 MILLION IN COUNTY BONDS.
WHAT'S THAT PAGE NUMBER, BEN? UM, BACK THIS BOOK.
UM, SO THAT'S 8 MILLION IN COUNTY BONDS AND 1 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING WITH AN ADDITIONAL 38 MILLION PLANNED IN THE CIP FOR FY 27
IT'S IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET UNDER THE, UM, I GOT IT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
UM, I HAVE WITH ME MY, UH, CFO, CORINA JACKSON, MS. JACKSON, HOW ARE YOU? SHE SAID SHE'S MY ARM CANDY TODAY.
SO IT'S, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, YOU HAVE, UH, THE PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
BASICALLY, I WANT TO, I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND THEN TALK ABOUT, UH, THE BUDGET.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FIRST PAGE, UM, WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON BEING A GREAT PARTNER IN, UH, CREATING ECONOMIC STABILITY IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND OF COURSE WE DO THAT AND SEE OUR ROLE AS WORKFORCE DEVELOP YOUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
UM, I LIKE TO SAY THERE'S NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
SO WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES BY ENSURING THAT WE, THAT YOU HAVE THE WORKERS THAT YOU NEED.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS STAY IN THE COUNTY.
UM, I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT WAS, UH, EDUCATED IN A STATE THAT SHE STAYED, UM, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND SO SHE'S NOT WITH ME.
UM, BUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS STAY IN THE COUNTY AND THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, AT, FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT, OH, AND I HAVE MY LOVELY, UM, SHE'S OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, VICE CHAIR SHARON MARKLEY SCHREIBER.
UM, AND SHE'LL ADDRESS YOU, UH, AS I AFTER I GO THROUGH THIS.
UM, SO, UM, FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TOTAL EMPLOYEES OF ABOUT 1400.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN ON HOW THEY'RE CLASSIFIED, CLASSIFIED.
OUR FACULTY AND INSTRUCTORS MAKE UP, UM, A LARGE PORTION OF OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.
UM, FROM AN ENROLLMENT STANDPOINT, UM, OUR ENROLLMENT ON THE CREDIT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THAT'S OUR TRADITIONAL, UM, UH, TRAIN OR EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, WE HAVE 6,800 STUDENTS PER YEAR THAT WE SERVE.
AND AN ADDITIONAL 7,700 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE ON THE WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
SO, UM, WE SERVE OVER 15,000 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR.
OUR AVERAGE AGE, ON THE CREDIT SIDE, IT'S 23.9.
SO OF COURSE WE HAVE TRADITIONAL STUDENTS THAT COME TO US STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO US TO GET RETRAINED, RE-SKILLED, OR MAY DECIDE LATE IN LIFE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION.
SO OUR AVERAGE AGE IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN YOU WOULD FIND AT A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE ETHNICITY, WHICH, UM, PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THE COUNTY.
UM, AND, UH, AS FAR AS LOCATION, 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN COUNTY.
SO AGAIN, WE ARE SERVING THE COUNTY POPULATION.
UM, JUST BRIEFLY, I WANNA TOUCH ON A STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, MANY YOU'VE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES.
SOME OF YOU, UM, OTHERS OF YOU, IT MIGHT BE NEW.
BUT OUR, WE STARTED OUR FIRST YEAR OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR.
AND THE TWO THINGS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS INCREASING ACCESS, MEANING, UM, THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS COUNTY, UM, THAT ARE NOT, UH, WE ARE NOT SERVING WELL, THAT THEY ARE NOT COMING TO US.
AND MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE, THE, THE MAPS THAT I OFTEN SHOW WHAT PARTS OF THE COUNTY ARE NOT COMING TO THE COLLEGE.
THEY'RE NOT TRAINED AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING EDUCATION.
AND I SHOW A SECOND MAP THAT HAS A CORRELATION THAT SHOWS MANY TIMES THOSE ARE THE PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
OR I INTRODUCED NEW DATA FROM UNITED WAY, UM, AROUND, UH, FAMILIES THAT ARE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE.
UM, THEY'RE ALICE, THEY'RE WORKING POOR.
[04:10:01]
UNITED WAY DESIGNATES AS AN ALICE POPULATION ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, BUT NOT MAKING ENOUGH, NOT MAKING A LIVING WAGE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE ARE TARGETING.
UM, AND WE ARE BEING STRATEGIC IN TARGETING SPECIFICALLY THOSE AREAS WITH OUTREACH EFFORTS.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS SUCCESS, IMPROVING SUCCESS.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO IMPROVE ACCESS IF WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE PARTNERING, UM, WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH OUR, UM, SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE, TO ADDRESS HOUSING INSECURITY, FOOD INSECURITY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RAISE MONEY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
IF A STUDENT'S CAR BREAKS DOWN AND, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, THAT COULD BE THE FACTOR THAT PUSHES THEM OUT OF, OF THEIR TRAINING.
SO WE WILL PAY TO HAVE A VEHICLE REPAIRED, UM, AND WE RAISE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO FREE TUTORING AND ALL THE ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, WE HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO FOUNDATIONAL DIRECTIONS THAT WE TOOK IN CREATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THE NEXT PAGE THAT YOU SEE IS THE FULL STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE REVISED OUR MISSION AND VISION AND THE, THE, UH, TRUSTEES LED THE CHARGE, UH, AND WE ENGAGED THE ENTIRE COLLEGE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD A COMMUNITY GATHERING TO ALSO VET OUR MISSION AND VISION.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING.
AGAIN, ACCESS AND SUCCESS, A FOCUS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.
WE LOOK AT OUR ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
ARE WE OPERATING IN A, IN A WAY THAT, UH, IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT? UM, AND THEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO HAVE THE IMPACT THAT WE KNOW WE WANT TO HAVE IN THIS COUNTY.
IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO PARTNER AND I MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL SERVICES, OUR NONPROFITS, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OUR PROGRAMS SHOULD LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, AND THEN WE HOLD OURSELF ACCOUNTABLE BY HAVING, UH, DATA, UH, SUCCESS INDICATORS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THOSE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ARE.
JUST QUICKLY, YOU CAN SEE, I WON'T, UH, GO INTO ALL THIS, BUT WE OFFER OVER 90 DEGREES AND CER CERTIFICATIONS, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED HERE.
UM, AND THOSE ARE ON THE CREDIT SIDE.
AND THEN ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE, THERE ARE, AGAIN, ARE OVER 50 PROGRAMS IN WORKFORCE, UM, THAT WE OFFER.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE BIG CATEGORIES AND SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED A LOT ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE, IN THE YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND I JUST HAD MY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN, IN JANUARY.
AND I CAME HERE, UM, WITH THAT FOCUS TO EXPAND OUR WORKFORCE OFFERINGS AND TO TAKE THAT TRAINING CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST.
WE STARTED WITH THE LEADING EDGE TRAINING CENTER, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE, THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN EDGEWOOD.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER TRAINING THERE.
UM, AND, UH, THAT TRAINING CONTINUES TO GROW.
THAT WAS STARTED WITH A ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS GRANT FROM THE RATCLIFFE FOUNDATION.
AND WE STILL HAVE DOLLARS FROM THAT GRANT.
WE'RE STILL OFFERING FREE TRAINING IN THOSE AREAS THAT YOU SEE THERE.
THIS PAST YEAR, THIS PAST FALL, WE, UH, WE EXPANDED THAT TRAINING TO WATER'S EDGE.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE, THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AT WATERS EDGE.
AND THAT IS AGAIN, ON THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR.
BOTH OF THESE ARE LOCATED ON THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR.
AGAIN, WITH THE INTENT TO BRING THIS TRAINING CLOSER TO THE POPULATIONS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO SERVE BETTER, WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
AND YOU HEARD MENTION OF THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE CENTER THAT THE COUNTY HAS AGREED TO PARTNER WITH US ON.
UM, THAT BUILDING AND PARKING LOT IS ABOUT $7 MILLION OF THE COST THAT WAS MENTIONED.
IT'S OUR NEXT CAPITAL PROJECT.
AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE IT'S LOCATED, UM, RIGHT OUTSIDE THE NORTH GATE, UM, NEAR ABERDEEN.
SO AGAIN, ON THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR.
UM, AND THERE WILL BE A TRANSPORTATION HUB AS PART OF THAT PROJECT THAT THE COUNTY IS, UM, CONSIDERING, WHICH MEANS THERE WILL BE DIRECT ACCESS, UM, FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY TO THIS LOCATION, WHICH WILL BE A HUGE ADDITION.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING ALL OF THE TRADES THERE.
SO, UM, THERE WILL BE PLUMBING, ELECTRICIAN CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
UM, AND, UH, AND AGAIN, PUTTING ALL THE TRADES THERE AS WELL AS IT TRAINING YOU.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, THERE IS AN INTENT FOR MARYLAND TO BECOME A HUB FOR CYBERSECURITY.
[04:15:01]
TRAINING THERE.WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN EARLY COLLEGE TO SUPPORT, UH, THE ABERDEEN HABER DE GRACE AREA, UH, WHERE THEY CAN COME AND GET SOME OF THEIR COLLEGE CREDITS THERE AT THIS LOCATION.
UM, SO, UH, DOCTOR, UH, WE'VE, I'VE TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT THIS.
UM, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OVERCROWDING, I THINK AT A ABERDEEN.
UM, AND SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SERVE, UH, THE, THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BOLSON AND I ARE PARTNERING THERE, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO, WE HAVE AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
OUR, OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM, OF COURSE, IS VERY POPULAR.
OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE DO GED AND ADULT ED, UH, THERE AS WELL.
UH, AND JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON CHE CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN BY IT, YOU SHOULD.
UM, AND READY TO MOVE IN THERE ABOUT AUGUST.
AND OUR CONFERENCE CENTER WILL OPEN IN ABOUT OCTOBER.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND IT, AGAIN, WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT WILL BE THE FRONT DOOR FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO, UM, THE CONFERENCE CENTER IS INTENDED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR CONFERENCE SPACE, AN EXPANDED THEATER.
UM, IT WILL BE A HUB FOR THE ARTS.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET THAT, THAT OPEN AS WELL.
SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET, AS I SAY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, OUR INTENT IS WE HAVE THREE REVENUE STREAMS. THAT'S, UM, WE ARE, UH, FUNDED BY THE STATE, BY THE COUNTY, AND TUITION FROM OUR STUDENTS.
THE INTENT FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IS THAT THAT WOULD BE A THIRD, A THIRD AND A THIRD.
THAT'S THE GOAL THIS YEAR FOR OUR ASK.
WE KNEW COMING INTO THIS YEAR THAT THE STATE REBASED THE FORMULA FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES SO THAT, UH, IN THE PAST, IF THE FORMULA WAS FULLY FUNDED, IT WAS 29 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WENT TO THE FOUR YEARS.
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES GOT 29 CENTS.
IF YOU ALL MAY BE AWARE, LAST YEAR WAS A BIG BATTLE AND WE, UM, WERE RE-BASE TO 27 CENTS AND THEN NOT FUNDED FULLY.
SO IT WAS A DOUBLE HIT FOR US LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR THE RE REBATE STAYED IN PLACE, SO IT'S 27 CENTS, BUT THEY DID FULLY FUND IT.
SO WE KNEW COMING IN WHAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE.
SO THAT WAS GOING TO PUT US AT ABOUT 29%.
WE TRIED TO, AGAIN, WE WANTED THE TUITION FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE HELD AT 33%.
UM, AND OUR ASK OF THE COUNTY WAS, UH, A 5% INCREASE, WHICH WOULD'VE COVERED OUR COLA, OUR 3% COLA, WHICH WAS $1.1 MILLION.
THAT WAS OUR ASK OF THE COUNTY.
UM, WE WERE, AS YOU KNOW, LEVEL FUNDED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, UM, FROM THE COUNTY.
SO OUR CURRENT NUMBERS, THEN WE INCREASED OUR TUITION SO THAT THE STUDENTS ARE PAYING 34%.
UM, THE STATE AT 29%, THE COUNTY'S AT 32%.
THAT INCREASE FROM FOUR TO 5% MEANS WE ARE BALANCING OUR BUDGET FROM OUR FUND BALANCE.
UM, THAT'S WHY THAT PERCENTAGE WENT UP.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
UM, THE FUND BALANCE, WE DO, UH, HAVE, UH, DOLLARS IN THE FUND BALANCE TO COVER DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, TO COVER OUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE ASSIGNMENTS FOR ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS.
OUR TRUSTEES REVIEW THAT FUND BALANCE TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE ARE, UM, APPROPRIATING DOLLARS AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, UM, WITH THOSE DOLLARS.
SO, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE A POINT THERE.
WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY, BUT WE WERE DISAPPOINTED IN BEING LEVEL FUNDED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.
UM, SO I'VE INCLUDED THE TUITION, UM, AND FEES, UH, THE INCREASE, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, $4 INCREASE.
AGAIN, WE TRY TO KEEP TUITION AFFORDABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND IF THE STATE AND THE COUNTY DON'T COME THROUGH, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
AND IF WE HAVE TO PULL DOLLARS OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T INCREASE THOSE DOLLARS BY TOO MUCH, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
AND OUR, UH, TRUSTEES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT APPROACH.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST PAGE I JUST WANNA RUN THROUGH SO YOU UNDERSTAND OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSES ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
UM, WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE RIGHT NOW IN THE BUDGET OF $1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT JUST TUITION COSTS.
WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE GROWING OUR ENROLLMENT, THAT WE ARE,
[04:20:01]
UM, PROJECTING AT LEAST A TWO AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.AND SO YEAR OVER YEAR, THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, UM, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ENROLLMENT GROWTH.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL IN THAT AREA.
OUR WORKFORCE AND CONTINUING ED, WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF FOCUS THERE.
SO WE'RE, UM, ESTIMATING A 6% GROWTH THERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE STATE NUMBERS THERE.
THE COUNTY, AGAIN, UH, $0 EXPECTED FROM THE COUNTY.
UM, THAT MISCELLANEOUS IS MAINLY INTEREST.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT INTEREST RATES HOLD.
UM, BUT THAT'S A NET OF TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, THE LARGEST PART OF OUR EXPENSE IS PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES.
UH, WE HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO RETAIN, UH, ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO PAY THEM.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S A 3% COLA, UH, INCLUDED THERE.
AND OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS, WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE ONLY A 2% INCREASE.
THERE ARE NOT MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SEEING INCREASES THAT LOW, BUT WE'RE DOING THINGS TO MAINTAIN OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS, UM, SO THAT THEY, UH, DO NOT BECOME UNMANAGEABLE CONTRACTS BUILT IN EVERY CONTRACT.
THERE'S REGULAR, THERE'S YEARLY ESCALATION.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THAT.
EVERYBODY'S UTILITIES ARE GOING UP, WE'RE NO DIFFERENT.
BUT I WANNA POINT OUT THESE CATEGORIES OF OVER A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN REDUCTION THAT WE INTENTIONALLY LINE BY LINE, CUT THE BUDGET WHEREVER WE COULD.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT THAT WENT INTO REDUCING THE BUDGET.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT NET INCREASE OF 2.5, MOST OF THAT IS SALARIES, AND THAT'S A MODEST 3% INCREASE.
SO WE'VE DONE OUR PART TO MANAGE OUR BUDGET, UM, AND IT'S CHALLENGING WHEN THE STATE AND THE COUNTY, UH, DON'T DO THEIR PART.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT, THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO A TRUSTEE IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD SOME.
FELDER, MR. PRESIDENT AND HONORED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY TO OUR BUDGET AND FOR LISTENING DEEPLY TO THE PERSON WHO'S CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY TODAY.
WHAT? YOU KNOW THAT 39, RIGHT? YEAH.
CAN YOU, UM, PULL THE MIC? OH, I'M SO SORRY.
MY NAME IS SHARON MARKLEY SCHREIBER.
I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I AM IN MY FIFTH YEAR AS A TRUSTEE WITH THE COLLEGE.
HOWEVER, I AM A PROUD NATIVE OF HARTFORD COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED IN JARRETTSVILLE, AND NOW A RESIDENT OF ABERDEEN.
AND MY MOTHER WAS ONE OF THE FOUR FIRST GRADUATES OF HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE BACK IN 1950, BELIEVE SEVEN OR EIGHT, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE YEAR RIGHT IN MIND.
UM, SO VERY STRONG CONNECTION TO THE COLLEGE.
IT EXISTS TODAY AS THE PREMIER PROVIDER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND IN A COUNTY WHERE THERE'S NOT ANOTHER ESTABLISHED FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION.
WE WORK WITH TOWSON UNIVERSITY AND OTHER PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THAT ACCESS AND SUCCESS THAT DR.
BUT THEY ALSO COME FROM ALL KINDS OF PATHWAYS, AND THEY PROCEED ON MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO THE CAREER SUCCESS THAT WE ENABLE FOR THEM.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE AS WELL.
BUT IT IS ONLY WITH THAT, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE.
FINALLY, AS YOU SEE HERE, AND WORKING WITH CORINA AND WITH THE TEAM AT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE PRIORITIES OF HARTFORD COUNTY, THE GROWTH OF ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS, AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL CITIZENS IN HARTFORD COUNTY ARE ABLE TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF THE FOCUS THAT YOU SAW IN VISION 2030.
OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM OR TO EXPLAIN MORE DEEPLY ANY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE TALK ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, I I YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY ONE OF OUR, UH, TOP PARTNERS IN EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT IN WORKFORCE TRAINING IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, AND I, I ADMIRE YOUR VISION TO MOVE FORWARD DOWN ON ROUTE 22 AT THE GATE.
UM, AS MR. PARISH WILL TELL YOU, THAT BUILDING'S BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A LONG TIME.
I PROBABLY, SINCE IT WAS BUILT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S EVER HAD ANY TENANT IN IT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
[04:25:01]
BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD.UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE STEPS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY, BUT ISN'T THE STATE GONNA BE INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL? YES.
UM, BE, BECAUSE WE'RE INVOLVED IN IT, WE CAN, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAM AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO THE STATE WILL PAY, UH, HALF.
SO THE COUNTY IS MATCHING STATE DOLLARS, SO THE TOTAL COST OF THE BUILDING AND THE BUILD OUT, UM, HALF OF THAT WILL BE PAID BY THE STATE.
SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
AND THEN I, AGAIN, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GOING TO THE AREAS WHERE THE TRAINING'S NEEDED, UH, RATHER THAN TRYING TO LET THEM COME TO YOU.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A, A BIG PUSH ON YOU IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE, UH, AND ALONG WITH DR. HILL.
SO, UH, GREATLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU AND THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE UP.
I KNOW, UH, MR. RILEY ASKED THE, UH, INDIVIDUALS EARLIER TODAY ABOUT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AND THEY WERE DOWN.
SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE UP AND, UH, WE CAN JUSTIFY THE MONIES THAT ARE BEING SPENT THERE IN THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND, AND I'M SADDENED TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE LEVEL FUNDED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD YEAR, BUT A PART OF ME IS HAPPY THAT THE COUNTY'S INVESTING IN YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WELL MOVING FORWARD.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WILL SUPPORT YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, AND WITH THAT, UH, MR. BENNETT, HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY PHONE CALL THE OTHER WEEK.
UH, WHEN THE BUDGET CAME OUT, I WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY.
AND, UM, FOR, I JUST THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING CALENDAR CONTEXT FOR THREE YEARS OF LEVEL FUNDING.
THAT MEANS THAT IT WAS FY 23 THE LAST TIME YOU HAD AN INCREASE IN FUNDING, WHICH MEANS THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF THAT YEAR ARE GOING TO BE TWO GRADUATES FROM, UH, THIS BUDGET CYCLE COMING THROUGH, THROUGH MM-HMM
SO IN THE TIME THOSE, UH, STUDENTS ENTERED THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GRADUATED FROM THE FOUR YEAR PROGRAM, THAT'S AN ARM OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU ALL WILL HAVE SEEN $0 IN INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY, WHICH IS JUST, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLE.
BUT NOT IN THE POSITIVE SENSE TO, TO THINK OF, OF THAT TIME.
UM, AND TO THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS, I, I GOTTA STOP MYSELF FROM CALLING THEM CHILDREN, THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE COME THROUGH IN THAT TIME.
UM, AND THAT, UH, THE IMPACT ON, ON, ON YOU ALL.
I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED ON THE PHONE, YOU HAD SHARED THAT, UM, TUITION WOULD HAVE TO BE INCREASED AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATE DUE TO THE LACK OF INCREASE.
WE, WE TRY TO, WE ALWAYS DO A SMALL INCREASE SO THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO DO A LARGE INCREASE.
THIS YEAR WE, WE PUSHED IT A BIT TO 3%, UM, TO, TO HELP BALANCE THINGS OUT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UM, LIKE HOW MUCH, UH, MONETARILY THAT 1% DIFFERENCE IS, UH, VALUED AT? LIKE, HOW MUCH DOES THAT BRING IN TO GO FROM 2% TO 3%? SO IT'S ABOUT A DOLLAR A CREDIT HOUR.
SO THE, UH, A STANDARD STUDENT SAY 30 CREDIT HOURS A YEAR, SO THAT TIMES THE, UM, POPULATION.
SO IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR US, A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO OUR BOTTOM LINE.
BUT THE EFFECT FOR THE STUDENT WOULD BE AN EXTRA $30 A YEAR.
SO, UM, IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, GET THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT FOR EVEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT COULD RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURE YOU ALL HAVE ON, UH, TUITION COSTS.
IF WE HAD AN EXTRA A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WE WOULD DROP IT BACK TO 2%, UM, INCREASE AS OPPOSED TO THREE.
I, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS IN A ROW OF NOT GIVING YOU ALL EVEN A DOLLAR MORE IS, UH, AND I APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT, BUT OPERATING, YOU GOTTA HAVE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA HAVE STAFF, YOU GOTTA HAVE FACULTY, UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY YOU'RE ASKING, WE ARE ASKING SO MUCH OF YOUR FACULTY WHO ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE TEACHING SO MANY MORE 16 YEAR OLDS THAN THEY EVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE.
THERE'S A REASON THEY CHOOSE NOT TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IT'S NOT THE PAY 'CAUSE HIGH SCHOOL PAYS MORE OFTEN, PAYS MORE DOES.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE ASKING 'EM TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE FACULTY.
UM, AND SO, UH, I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADVOCATE TO GO BEYOND $0 INCREASE, UH, IN RESPECT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
I, I WILL JUST SAY AT $0 OVER TIME, THAT COMPOUNDS MM-HMM
YEAR OVER YEAR, IF YOU'RE FLAT THIS YEAR AND THEN FLAT, IT'S, IT'S A COMPOUNDING ISSUE.
UM, AND SO THE ASK BECOMES BIGGER JUST TO MAKE UP FOR THE YEARS THAT WE WERE LEVEL FUNDED.
[04:30:01]
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, THAT THE ASK BECOMES BIGGER THE NEXT YEAR, UM, IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE TO RAISE TUITION OR CONTINUE TO, TO, UH, FILL THE GAP WITH FUND BALANCE.AND, UH, FOR MR. SANLI AND MR. MCCORD, DID YOU HEAR THAT FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO NOT, UH, RAISE TUITION BEYOND THEIR ORIGINAL EXPECTATION FOR TUITION? PERFECT.
UM, IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE ALL THE PROGRAMS OF STUDY THAT YOU HAVE HERE.
UM, SOME I KNEW ABOUT, SOME I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
I'M, I'M CERTAINLY GLAD TO SEE, UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE ON, THE WORK ON THE WORKFORCE AND NON-CREDIT ESPECIALLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING AT.
UH, AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION REPAIR, BRICK, UH, MASONRY, UM, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, EMT, WE TALK ABOUT THE EMTS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE'VE HAD TO ADD EMTS HERE.
UM, I THINK YOU SAID YOU'RE GONNA ADD PLUMBING.
THERE'S WELDING, THERE IS, IS DEFINITELY DEFICIENCY AND WELDERS, UH, AROUND, UM, BUT I EVEN SAW SOLAR TO SOLAR INSTALLER.
UM, AND I KNOW SOMETHING, MY SISTER WORKED ON INSURANCE PRE-LICENSING.
THERE'S REALLY NOT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE GOTTA BRING PEOPLE IN AND DO THAT.
AND THERE THAT, THAT'S A JOB THAT'S AVAILABLE.
GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVE, GET THAT AND MAYBE OBVIOUSLY EXPAND ON THAT.
DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT FOR THREE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN FLAT FUNDED.
AND I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN JACOB JUST SAID A HUNDRED THOUSAND WILL ELIMINATE YOU GUYS GOING FROM 3%, FROM 2%.
BUT HE DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM ROBBIE OR MR. MCCORD AS TO WHY YOU GUYS HAVE FLAT FUNDED FOR THREE YEARS AND, AND JUST SOME KIND OF AN ANSWER WHY? WELL, I THINK THIS YEAR, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OBVIOUSLY IT'S JUST BEEN BECAUSE ALMOST ALL THE BUDGETS WERE, WERE HELD FLAT.
SO EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THE, UM, PROPOSAL CAME FORTH FOR, FOR THE COUNTY TO KIND OF EXPEDITE ITS SUPPORT OF THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE, UM, COMMUNITY COLLEGE ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO GO AND PURCHASE THE, UM, UH, PURCHASE THE LAND THEM THEMSELVES.
AND THAT WE WERE THEN GONNA HELP WITH THE, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THE BY, IF THE COUNTY AND THE STATE WERE TO BOTH PARTICIPATE, THAT THOSE LAND COSTS COULD BE, COULD BE ABSORBED.
SO WHAT THAT IN ESSENCE DID THOUGH IS IT SAID THAT THE COLLEGE, WHICH WAS PREPARED TO SPEND $8 MILLION OUT OF THEIR FUND BALANCE, WAS NOT, UH, WOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY WOULD BE ABSORBING ALONG WITH THE STATE, UM, THAT COST AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROJECT.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S CAPITAL PROJECTS IS TOMORROW'S DEBT SERVICE.
SO IF THE COUNTY IS PUTTING FORTH, WE HAVE IT RIGHT NOW IN THE BUDGET OF, OF, UH, $26 MILLION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS ON AN ONGOING WAY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT $2.6 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE KIND OF OVER THE NEXT, THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF GET TO THEIR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, DOVETAILS INTO OUR EARLIER DISCUSSIONS TODAY.
YOU KNOW, IN A PERFECT WORLD, NONE OF US WOULD BE USING FUND BALANCE TO FINANCE, UM, KIND OF ON ONGOING COST AT THE COLLEGE, NOT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT THE LIBRARY, NOT THE, NOT THE COUNTY.
WOULDN'T WE PUT A BOND IN FOR THE BUILDING THEN? YEAH, BUT THAT'S BUT BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY BACK THAT BOND, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I MEAN IS THAT, IS THAT WHEN, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS SOMETIMES I THINK UNFORTUNATELY GETS LOST WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS IS THAT YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TO, IT'S LIKE YOU PUT SOMETHING ON YOUR CREDIT CARD AND THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE COSTS, BUT THAT NEXT MONTH ROLLS AROUND AND YOU'RE LIKE, HMM, WHAT'S THIS
AND THAT'S LIKE, THAT COMES OUTTA THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS, IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, $2.6 MILLION A YEAR REALLY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
UM, AND THAT WAS JUST KIND OF THE, THE TRADE OFF, UM, IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THE COLLEGE, AND AGAIN, JUST LIKE WITH OUR FUND BALANCES, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH WATER AND SEWER, UM, YOU, THEY, THEY ARE INTENDED IDEALLY FOR CAPITAL PURPOSES OR, OR ONE-TIME COST.
UM, BUT I THINK IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN NOW, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT OKAY, YOU HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES TO GET YOU THROUGH.
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT OUR BUDGET WAS THIS YEAR, AND, AND MAYBE IT WOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IF WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO ABSORB ALL OF THIS, UM, THESE, THESE NEW PENSION COSTS FOR THE, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM, FROM THE STATE.
AND WE, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
UM, SO, BUT WE, WE TOOK ON $3.7 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL PENSION COSTS FROM, UM, THE STATE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
AND WE'RE TAKING ON, UM, UH, $300,000, UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
UM, NOW WE TOOK ON STATE PENSION COSTS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF AROUND $12 MILLION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOW PAYING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE RETIREMENT COSTS OF OUR, UM, OF OUR TEACHERS.
AND NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, UM, OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES.
AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU, WE, WE ONLY HAVE KIND OF SO MUCH MONEY TO WORK WITH.
I, I THINK ULTIMATELY IN THIS BUDGET, THE EMPHASIS BECAME
[04:35:01]
ON TRYING TO FUND THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS REQUEST, UM, BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT THEY WERE IN.AND, AND WE DO REALIZE THAT, I THINK IN AN ONGOING WAY, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA NEED TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENT, I THINK TO KEEP IT FLAT FOR, UM, THE, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR FOREVER.
BUT THAT TO SAY, OKAY, THEY HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES, WHEREAS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS KIND OF BEEN USING THEIR FUND BALANCES THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH IN THE WAY OF THE FUND BALANCES AS THEY, AS THEY ONCE DID.
UM, AND IT'S KIND OF JUST TO KIND OF GET US THROUGH TO THAT, TO THAT NEXT MARK.
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN FIND SOME MONEY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND IT UP HERE TO TRANSFER IT? BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE'RE GONNA PUT AN AMENDMENT IN AND PROBABLY MOVE SOME MONEY.
WELL, YOU CAN'T TRANSFER IT, BUT WE CAN MOVE MONEY AROUND.
YOU CAN CUT, WE CAN CUT, YOU CAN CUT, YOU CAN CUT, BUT THEN IT'LL FALL.
SO I MEAN IT, BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU, THE, AND, AND WE, WE DID WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND AGAIN, YOU, THEY, THEY HAVE THEIR, THEY THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY WANNA DO WITH THAT FUND BALANCE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF A FUND BALANCE EITHER.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT.
OUR UNASSIGNED NOW IS, IS $6 MILLION.
AND, AND, AND WE HAVE ALL, THIS IS THE ONE THING WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE ALL OF THE RISK ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
UM, NOW THE COLLEGE, THE COLLEGE DOES HAVE SOME VOLATILITY IN THE SAKE OF TUITION.
YOU KNOW, ENROLLMENT CAN GO UP OR DOWN, BUT IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT COUNTY HAS WHEN IT COMES TO INCOME TAX, WHEN IT COMES TO, TO OUR REVENUE STRUCTURES.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE ALSO THE ONES WHO HOLD ALL THE DEBT.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTY HAVE HAS THESE FUND BALANCES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND IT'S AN IMPORTANT, IT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, EXPENDITURE.
I WENT TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY SPENT MORE TOO MANY YEARS THERE, MORE THAN TWO.
UM, BUT IT IS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND OUR, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND ALL WE'RE JUST ASKING HERE IS THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S GONNA BE ABSORBING, UM, IN ESSENCE, YOU KNOW, $2.6 MILLION OF ONGOING DEBT SERVICE.
UM, AND THEN THE COLLEGE DOES HAVE AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE TO USE THAT, THAT WE WORK WITH IT, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, UM, BUILD OFF OF THAT GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
FELDER, WHAT IS YOUR FUND BALANCE? RIGHT NOW? IT'S A 33.
AND HOW MUCH IS UNASSIGNED? THAT ALL OF OURS IS TECHNICALLY UNASSIGNED.
UM, BUT AGAIN, DESIGNATES, WE DO HAVE DESIGNATIONS FOR ALL THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
HOW MUCH IS UNDESIGNATED?
I MEAN, I MEAN, WE COULD GIVE YOU CATEGORIES.
AGAIN, IT'S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
WE DO HAVE SOME GRANTS, RIGHT? BUT WE DO HAVE SOME GRANTS THAT ARE COMMITTED, SOME OTHER THINGS.
SO THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 18 THAT WE REALLY HAVE ON THOSE.
YOU CAN RESPOND BACK TO MR. BENNETT'S QUESTION AND GIVE HIM A, AN ANSWER DOWN THE ROAD.
MS. ROBERT, YOU HAD A QUESTION? OH, YEAH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I COME FROM WORKING WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE, UM, GOES TO COLLEGE.
SO I'M LOOKING MORE AT THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PORTION OF IT.
AND I LOVE SEEING, UM, LIKE TONY, ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
UM, AND YOU MENTIONED INCREASING ACCESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT, ARE UNAWARE OR DON'T KNOW WHERE TO DO TO DO, UM, HAVING THE FLAT FUNDING, IS THAT GONNA CREATE MORE BARRIERS FOR THAT TO, TO CONTINUE FOR THAT OUTREACH? OR DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER BARRIERS TO THAT? WELL, I MEAN, WE, IT'S SUCH A, IT'S, AGAIN, AGAIN, FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS INCREASING ACCESS.
SO SOME OF THE DOLLARS AND WE DESIGNATE IN OUR FUND BALANCE FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
SO TO THAT POINT, UH, THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, WE ALLOCATE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FULFILLING OUR MISSION AND CERTAINLY INCREASING, UM, ACCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE ALLOCATE DOLLARS, UM, AND AGAIN, WE CUT WHAT WE CAN IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO, UM, UH, REDUCE, UH, THOSE AREAS THAT WE KNOW ARE CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS, THIS STRATEGIC DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE.
ROBBIE, I COULD, I COULD ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
ONE OF THE, I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR THREE YEARS NOW, AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, IT'S EASY ON THE DAYUS BECAUSE YOU GUYS GOT A MONEY TREE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE YOU CAN JUST PLUCK OFF.
UM, BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS, IT'S ALL SPELLED OUT HERE.
29 MILLION FOR THE, UH, SCHOOLS, UH, SEVEN MORE MILLION FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 3.8 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS IT'S EASY FOR UP HERE TO SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO THROW MORE MONEY TO DR.
FELDER, WHICH I WOULD LOVE TO, BUT WE GOTTA FIND THAT MONEY.
THEY YELL ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE IS TOO LOW.
SO AGAIN, YOU'RE IN A NO WIN SITUATION.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY.
ALL WE GOTTA DO IS JUST SAY, GIVE HER MONEY.
GIVE HIM MONEY, GIVE THEM MONEY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROBLEM YOU'RE IN, KIM.
HE'S GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT, DON'T HE?
[04:40:01]
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO THAT, IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE ASKED FOR, YOU KNOW, $10 MILLION ADJUSTMENTS, YOU KNOW, $30 MILLION LISTS.THERE'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET WHEN YOU LOOK AT BUDGETED VERSUS ACTUALS THAT LEMME FIND IT
I'LL SAY THE ONE, THE ONE THING THOUGH, AND THIS GETS, YOU KNOW, COUNTY EXECUTIVE MADE THIS POINT EARLIER ABOUT HOW 65% OR SO THE BUDGET IS HUNDRED, THAT'S 113 GRAND.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, IF ANYTHING THAT WE PROVIDE, SAY TO THE SCHOOLS OR TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR TO THE LIBRARY, AND IF THEY DON'T SPEND IT, YOU KNOW, THEN IT FALLS IN ESSENCE TO, TO THEIR FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT GENERALLY BECOMES KIND OF PART OF THEIR BASELINE BUDGET, UM, WHICH IS KIND OF THEIR, THEIR ONGOING LEVEL, LEVEL OF FUNDING.
WHEREAS IF YOU DO HAVE WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, UM, A, A BUDGET FOR, I DON'T KNOW, A CONTRACTUAL SERVICE OR SOFTWARE OR WHATEVER THAT WAS BUDGETED AT, YOU KNOW, AND HAD A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF LEFTOVER OF, OF, OF LEFTOVER, WELL THEN THAT FALLS BACK TO THE COUNTY'S, YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCE.
AND THE MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW, SO IN, BECAUSE WE ALSO USE FUND BALANCE IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET EACH AND EVERY YEAR, THE MORE WE SHRINK THAT, THAT NUMBER.
AND WE ALSO, BY DOING THAT, YOU ALSO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY, UM, UH, KIND OF ASPECTS OF, OF, OF, OF, OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHERE, WHICH YOU DON'T EVER WANNA GET INTO THAT.
WE, AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE HERE, BUT THEY HAVE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNANCE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT USER TO LOSE IT MENTALITY.
BUT IF YOU KIND OF START CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SPENDING UP TO YOUR ACTUALS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS COME JUNE, EVERY DIRECTOR IS GONNA BE LIKE, WELL, I GOTTA, I GOTTA SPEND THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, KNOW MY WIFE SELLS TO THE, TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, NO VACATIONS OR ANYTHING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S WORKING WITH HER AGENCIES WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY.
WHAT CAN I SPEND? THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE THE CASE THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENT STORY.
BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A MENTALITY THAT WE REALLY DON'T TRY TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HAVE.
AND I, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS IT ON THEIR END OR THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, EITHER.
BUT, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THE DOWNSIDE OF, OF JUST LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BUDGET TO ACTUALS AND, AND SAYING, OKAY, WE DON'T NORMALLY SPEND THIS, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA REMOVE IT.
AND THEN TWO QUICK THINGS TO YOU ALL, AND I'LL JUST STATE BEFORE THAT, I'LL BE AT ALL FOUR DAYS OF BUDGET HEARINGS, LOOKING OVER THE ENTIRE BUDGET PIECE BY PIECE, AND I KNOW MANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL AS WELL.
BUT, UM, UH, HAVE YOU ALL IN THINKING ABOUT HOW ONE OF YOUR MAJOR GOALS IS RETENTION FROM SEMESTER TO SEMESTER, I'VE READ SOME ABOUT COLLEGES THAT MOVE FROM SEMESTERS TO TRIMESTERS WITH THE THEORY BEING THAT IF YOU NEVER LEAVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, YOU STAY.
UM, HAS THAT BEEN ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE CONSIDERED AND ALSO IN TRYING TO BE IN BETTER ALIGNMENT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE SO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS ARE IN BOTH SCHOOLS AT THE SAME TIME? YEAH, IT IS TRUE THAT CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT IS, UH, A, A RETENTION INITIATIVE.
SO OUR PUSH THEN IS TO GET MORE STUDENTS TO TAKE A SUMMER CLASS, EVEN IF IT'S ONE.
UM, WE, WE KNOW FROM OUR DATA THAT STUDENTS THAT DO TAKE SUMMER ARE MORE LIKELY TO COME BACK IN THE FALL.
AND SO AGAIN, A STRATEGIC USE OF OUR DOLLARS, WE'RE OFFERING SUMMER MOMENTUM SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN GPA MEANING YOU'RE PERFORMING WELL, UM, WE WILL SCHOLARSHIP YOU TO TAKE A SUMMER CLASS KNOWING THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO NOT ONLY, UH, INCREASE YOUR RETENTION, BUT GET YOU FURTHER TOWARD COMPLETING YOUR DEGREE.
SO CERTAINLY TO YOUR POINT, UM, CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT IS A RETENTION INITIATIVE AND WE ARE UTILIZING, UM, STRATEGIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
AND THEN MY OTHER THOUGHT SLASH QUESTION, I USED TO SERVE ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD FOR PILLAR ONE OF THE BLUEPRINT, UH, AND WHICH IS EARLY CHILDHOOD.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR PARTNERS TO OFFER, UH, AVAILABLE SPACE FOR PRE-K.
AND THINKING ABOUT YOUR, UH, EARLY LEARNING CENTER MM-HMM
HAVE YOU ALL LOOKED INTO AND THE, I THE BLUEPRINT PAYS LIKE $20,000 AHEAD FOR ANYBODY YOU GET IN, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY CHILD IN A PRE-K PROGRAM, HAVE YOU ALL CONSIDERED USING ONE OF THE ROOMS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EARLY LEARNING CENTER AS A, A FULL DAY PRE-K OPTION? IS THAT ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN LOOKED AT? WE HAVE FULL DAY PRE-K AVAILABLE, AND WE HAVE CAPACITY.
YEAH, WE DON'T OFTEN, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE CAPACITY, BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST, CORINA AND I JUST LOOKED AT THAT ACTUALLY BEFORE WE CAME HERE, THERE IS CAPACITY FOR MORE CHILDREN IN OUR EARLY LEARNING.
AND IS THAT IN PARTNER? IS THAT LIKE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLUEPRINT OR SEPARATE FROM THAT? JUST SEPARATE.
IT'S JUST AN ONGOING COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE HAVE.
FELDER, UH, MR. JAN JUST ASKED ME A TIMELINE MM-HMM
ON THE, UH, REGIONAL WORKFORCE CENTER.
[04:45:01]
POINT.SO WE, UM, ARE HOPING THAT THE DESIGN COSTS ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR FY 27 CONSTRUCTION COSTS 28.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT, UM, THE BUILDING WOULD BE DONE AROUND SOMETIME IN FISCAL YEAR 29.
SO IT'S, IT'S A PROCESS TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE TO GET IT IN THE BUDGET CAPITAL CYCLE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE LIKE 27, 28, 29 BEFORE THE DOLLARS APPEAR.
HAS THE MOU OR WHATEVER YOU'RE GONNA DO AS FAR AS THE PURCHASING THE BUILDING, HAS THAT HAPPENED YET? THAT IS IN PROCESS, UM, RIGHT NOW.
SO THE COUNTY, UM, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT, ROB? I CAN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT'S UNDERWAY CURRENTLY WE ARE, UH, WRAPPING UP THE LETTER OF INTENT WITH THE, UM, SELLER AT THIS POINT, UH, FINALIZING A COUPLE OF, UH, MINOR LEGAL TECHNICALITIES, JUST GETTING THROUGH THAT.
UM, AT THAT POINT WE WILL ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE.
THERE'S PERIOD OF TIME WITH THAT, WITH A DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD AS WELL.
AND I, I DO WANNA, AGAIN, SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIPS.
STEVE AND I TALK FREQUENTLY, UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UH, AGAIN, I KNOW THIS PROPERTY'S BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE COLLEGE IS INVOLVED, WE CAN ACCESS STATE FUNDING.
SO I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN, UH, FOR THE COLLEGE AND FOR THE COUNTY.
MS. LICH, AND MAYBE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
MINE'S RELATED TO THE WORKFORCE, UH, PIECE.
AND THIS MAY BE EMBEDDED IN THE IT AND, UH, COMPUTER PROGRAMS IN ORDER FOR OUR STUDENTS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, HAVE WE STARTED BRIDGING A GAP WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THINGS SO THAT AS WE'RE GETTING MORE DOD CONTRACTS HERE, THEY'LL THEY'LL HIRE OUR STUDENTS AND WE CAN KEEP THE MONEY IN HARTFORD COUNTY? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT'S ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ADDING AGAIN TO OUR WORKFORCE, UH, AREA AS WELL AS OUR CREDIT, UM, PROGRAM.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A TASK FORCE, UH, AT THE COLLEGE THAT HAS STARTED IDENTIFYING WAYS TO, UM, ADD AI IN THE CURRICULUM.
UM, SO WE'RE A LITTLE EARLY IN THAT PROCESS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ON OUR RADAR.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIPS? THANK YOU DR.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, HOW MANY DUAL STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE IN THE COLLEGE? DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS? YES, MA'AM.
UH, IT'S OVER A THOUSAND STUDENTS.
I, I KNEW IT WAS GETTING UP THERE PRETTY GOOD.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND I KEEP TELLING ALL THESE KIDS THAT COME TO ME THAT WANT TO GO OUTTA STATE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, I SAY, GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, GET YOUR TWO YEAR DEGREE, MAKE SURE THOSE CREDITS WILL TRANSFER, AND YOU WILL HAVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AT A LOT LESS COST THAN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FUND.
AND DO APPRECIATE THE COLLEGE WORKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE TOO.
UM, EARLIER TODAY, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS HERE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS PFAS, UH, COMMITTEE, GROUP, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT MM-HMM
UM, AND I ASKED HIM TO IDENTIFY ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
UH, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED MANY TIMES ABOUT ISSUES OFF AND ON RIGHT.
SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE, UH, TRYING TO GET SOMEONE ON THAT COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR WE, WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT, UM, REPRESENTS THE COLLEGE AND TALKS ABOUT OUR, OUR SPECIFIC ISSUES.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHO GOING FIRST? SO I BELIEVE NEXT WE HAVE THE HARTFORD CENTER, UM, AND I'LL JUST GO OVER THERE, THEIR BUDGET, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THEM COME FORWARD.
SO, UH, HARTFORD CENTER IS ON PAGE 2 67 AND THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING FULL FUNDING OF THE HARTFORD CENTER'S REQUEST OF 721,341 FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THIS REPRESENTS NO CHANGE FROM FY 25, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CEO SHERRY TI BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? GO AHEAD.
I KNOW WE SUPPORT THE HARTFORD CENTER WITH CAPITAL COSTS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS FORMALLY LISTED
[04:50:01]
IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET, OR IS IT WITH, UH, DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO? I THINK MOST OF THE SORT OF ONGOING REPAIR TYPES OF THINGS COME OUT OF FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS THAT IT WON'T NECESS, IT WON'T APPEAR IN, UM, EITHER THE CAPITAL BUDGET OR UNDER HARTFORD CENTER IN THE OPERATING.THERE IS SOME, THERE IS SOME GRANT FUNDING, THANK YOU, UM, THAT, THAT PROVIDES FOR IT.
BUT IN TERMS OF, UH, COUNTY OPERATING FUNDS THAT GO TOWARDS FACILITIES, UM, THOSE WILL APPEAR IN FACILITIES AND OPS AND THOSE, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY SPELLED OUT IN THE BUDGET, BUT THEY JUST, AS THEY CROP UP DURING THE YEAR, FACILITIES WILL GO OUT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE FOLKS AT THE HARTFORD CENTER TO FIX WHATEVER NEEDS FIXED.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I AM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE HARTFORD CENTER.
I SEE SOME NEW MEMBERS FACES, SO I JUST WANNA TAKE JUST A QUICK COUPLE MOMENTS JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HARTFORD CENTER.
WE ARE, UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
WE SUPPORT ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, DIFFERING ABILITIES, SPECIAL ABILITIES, AMAZING ABILITIES.
WE, UH, SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE SERVICES AROUND DAY HABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT OUT OF THE TON SITE.
WE PREVIOUSLY HAD TWO SITES, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING OUR HIGHLAND LOCATION, UH, FOR LOTS OF REASONS.
UM, MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT FOR A LONG TIME THAT BUILDING WAS INHOSPITABLE, UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
AND WE FOUND THAT IN THAT TIME PERIOD WE COULD BETTER SERVE OUR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT OUT OF ONE SITE.
THE COUNTY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE HARTFORD CENTER OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS.
TRULY, THEY REALLY HAVE, THEY HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER TO US THIS YEAR.
WE ARE REQUESTING FLAT FUNDING, WHICH I KNOW, UM, IS PROBABLY, PROBABLY GONNA, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE AN EASY PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY.
THE REASON BEING IS THE COUNTY HAS REALLY STEPPED UP FOR US THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AROUND OUR BUILDING.
UH, WE ARE LOCATED IN HAIDA GRACE IN THE OLD CHURCH, UH, RIGHT NEAR 95.
AND THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN, UH, GIVEN TO US ESSENTIALLY RENT FREE, UH, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE DO THE MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LIVED IN YOUR HOMES FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW, THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS IN TERMS OF WHICH GOES FIRST, ROOF, AIR CONDITIONING.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ELEVATOR THAT HAS BEEN, UM, A BIT OF A THORN IN OUR SIDE.
UH, WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONIES TO ANSWER YOUR, UH, QUESTION.
UH, COUNCILMAN BENNETT, IN ADDITION TO, UH, MONIES THAT THE COUNT THAT THE COUNTY HAS HELPED US IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPERATIONAL FOR OUR ELEVATOR, UH, ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH US ON A CAPITAL PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, MOVE SOME OF OUR OFFICES, UM, OUTSIDE TO A MODULAR.
AND THEY'RE HELPING US TREMENDOUSLY WITH THAT INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL THEN ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE PROGRAMMING SPACE INSIDE THE BUILDING.
WE ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
UM, AND THE COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH US, UM, TRULY HAND IN HAND.
UH, AND DUE TO THAT, WE FEEL THAT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEIR GENEROSITY.
UM, AND IN LIGHT OF VERY TOUGH FISCAL SITUATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE STATE, UM, AND NATIONALLY THAT RESPECTFULLY, WE ARE REQUESTING LEVEL FUNDING.
UM, AND JUST, JUST FOR FULL, FULL DISCLOSURE, UM, WE ALSO RECEIVED AND DID NOT ASK FOR, BUT WE RECEIVED LEVEL FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED LEVEL FUNDING IN MY TENURE THERE.
UM, USUALLY WE GET ANYWHERE AND SURE, SURE.
UM, SEAN CROSS WILL ALSO ECHO THIS BECAUSE, UH, WHILE WE ARE IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE CERTAINLY FACING THE SAME STRUGGLES.
WE ARE SERVING THE SAME POPULATION.
AND SEAN AND I ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MUTUALLY SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES.
WE ARE ALSO VERY, VERY STRONG PARTNERS IN SHARING, UH, RESOURCES, INFORMATION, UM, AND SUPPORT.
UH, USUALLY WE RECEIVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN A FOUR TO 7% INCREASE, UH, SO LEVEL FUNDING ACROSS THE COUNTY.
AND THE STATE HAS CREATED A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT FOR FY 26 OF $170,000.
UM, IN THE PAST, MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UM, AND, AND COUNCILMAN BENNETT SITS ON MY BOARD, HAS ALLOWED US TO USE OUR
[04:55:01]
FUND BALANCE, UM, THIS PAST YEAR FOR STRUCTURAL DEFICITS THIS YEAR, OUR BOARD HAS SAID NO, DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR INVESTMENTS ARE NOT PRODUCING WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ALLOWING US TO HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.AS A RESULT, WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE SOME VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CUTS, UM, AND DECISIONS THAT WE ARE TRYING AT OUR BEST TO NOT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF SERVICES, UH, FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF.
AND WE SEE THEM REALLY ONE, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS HERE IN STAFF RIGHT AFTER.
IF WE DON'T HAVE HAPPY, WELL-PAID, WELL-TRAINED STAFF, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO THE, TO THE FOLKS AT THE HARTFORD CENTER AND THE HARTFORD COUNTY CITIZENS.
AND I, THERE'S A ONE PAGER IN THERE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WELL, I, I DON'T, I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE HARTFORD CENTER DOES AMAZING THINGS.
WE ARE SUPER PROUD AND I I I, I WON'T SIT HERE AND MAKE A A LIST.
I, I, YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR PACKET IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT 'EM.
OUR CHALLENGES ARE OUR, OUR FLEET OF VEHICLES.
I'D SAY IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR.
WE DRIVE OVER 400,000 MILES A YEAR, 300,000 MILES A YEAR.
UM, BUT AS SOON AS WE GET A NEW ONE, ANOTHER ONE UNFORTUNATELY HAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THIS FLEET OF HOW MANY, WE HAVE 20, 21, 21 VEHICLES.
UM, IN ADDITION TO OUR, OUR AGING BUILDING.
AND EVEN WITH SUPPORT, WE ARE STILL PULLING MONEY OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE AND PULLING MONEY OUT OF OUR, UH, CAPITAL IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A, A FULLY OPERATING BUILDING.
UM, DID I MISS ANYTHING, TIM? YEAH, I THINK WE PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT.
WELL, SHERRY, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
UH, APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
APPRECIATE THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS.
UM, I LOVE BEING ON THE HARTFORD CENTER BOARD.
UM, IT'S SUCH A INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO DO THE JOB WELL, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO SERVE YOUR WORKERS JUST AS WELL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL WHO WASN'T AWARE, THE INITIAL BUDGET PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR THIS YEAR HAD TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS CUTS TO DISABILITY SERVICES.
I PERSONALLY SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND REACHED OUT TO OUR STATE PARTNERS TO SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO CUT, UH, MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE, UH, THE COUNCILMAN RILEY'S POINT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE OF WHERE THAT SUMMER IS.
AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT ABILITIES ARE NOT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DESERVE TO BE IMPACTED.
UM, SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UH, ADVOCATING FOR COLLECTIVELY MAYBE IN A, A LETTER SOMETIME NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER, JUST BECAUSE A CERTAIN POPULATION OF PEOPLE CAN'T SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES MEAN THAT THEY'RE EASY TARGETS.
AND SO, UM, I JUST THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THE ARC AND WE SUPPORT THE HARTFORD CENTER, NOT JUST LOCALLY, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, MS.
WELL OPENING UP THIS, UH, FOLDER.
I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE MY SISTER.
MY SISTER IS THE ONE IN THE PIG.
UM, AND SHE HAS BEEN A CLIENT OF THE HARFORD CENTER FOR, THAT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.
UM, SO I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE REMARKABLE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY LIVES ON ONE FAR SIDE OF THE COUNTY COMPARED TO WHERE YOU GUYS ARE LOCATED, AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE HER IN SUCH A REMARKABLE PROGRAM IF YOU GUYS DIDN'T PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION THAT YOU GUYS DO AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU DO.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE INCREDIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR HER.
UM, AND I WOULD ARGUE WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT, BUT GOOD, GOOD PLAY IN HAVING MY SISTER POP OUT OF THE FOLDER.
SO, HI, SHERRY, HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD, THANKS.
SO I SEE YOU GUYS HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT.
IS IT SOLD OUT? NO, I CAN FIT IN.
WELL, YEAH, I, I'M, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO KNOW.
I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS SOLD OUT OR NOT.
SO I CAN TRY TO PROMOTE THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU A SPONSORSHIP FROM ONE OR TWO OF THE GROUPS THAT I KNOW.
WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING THIS YEAR WITH, WITH SPONSORSHIPS, SO I, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, I WILL WORK ON THAT AND, UM, SEE IF I CAN GET YOU SOME SPONSORSHIPS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
WE DO HAVE FOURSOMES OPEN, SO ANY GOLFERS, IT'S ON CINCO
[05:00:01]
DE MAYO.WE HAVE OYSTERS, UH, RAW OYSTERS ON THE COURSE, NOT JUST MR. PRESIDENT.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION,
SO IT'S, UH, OUT IN MOUNTAIN BRANCH.
SO, UH, EVERY BIT OF SUPPORT HELPS BECAUSE THAT $170,000 DEFICIT, SOME OF THAT WILL BE A LIFT FOR FUNDRAISING.
HOW MANY GOLFERS DO YOU HAVE NOW? WE HAVE 107.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, SHERRY.
OH, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND, SHERRY, JUST, JUST REALLY QUICK.
ARE WE GONNA GET THE PACKET AS WELL? OH, I CAN CERTAINLY EMAIL IT TO YOU.
AND I HAD EXTRA SITTING IN MY CAR TOO, SO I, I APOLOGIZE.
I WILL CERTAINLY EMAIL THE PACKET.
WHO SHOULD I EMAIL IT OUT TO? WHY DON'T YOU SEND IT TO COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR? SHE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS OUT TO THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS.
I THINK, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TODAY, WE HAVE THE ARC, UH, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 2 69.
AND SO THE, THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING FULL FUNDING OF THE ARCS REQUEST OF 2 MILLION 3 17 0 6 7, UH, FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, IN BUDGET TERMS, THIS REPRESENTS A 67,487 INCREASE, ALTHOUGH LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED A SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRIBUTION IN THAT SAME AMOUNT TO MATCH LAST YEAR'S INCREASE TO THE HARTFORD CENTER.
UM, THOSE OF YOU THAT REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR THAT THERE WAS A BIT OF A, UM, DISCREPANCY THERE, BUT WE, WE, WE DON'T WANT TO TREAT ONE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER, SO WE PROVIDED THEM WITH AN INCREASE.
SO IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THEIR BUDGET IS FLAT AS REQUESTED.
UH, SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CEO SEAN CROSS.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, BEING HERE TODAY.
AND I ALSO JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THIS YEAR AND MAINTAINING OUR BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR AND MAKING THAT WORK OUT.
SO, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'VE HANDED OUT OUR ANNUAL REPORTS, HOT OFF THE PRESS.
ACTUALLY, THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE GETTING IT, IT WAS SITTING ON MY DESK WHEN I GOT IN THIS MORNING.
AND, UM, SO OUR MISSION AT THE ARC IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY ALLOWS US TO ACTIVATE OUR MISSION AND MOVE FORWARD WHILE NAVIGATING THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE GONNA BE FACING IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
AND COUNCILMAN BENNETT, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, NEXT YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET COMES AROUND, WE'RE HEARING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION IN OCTOBER, AND OUR BUDGET'S GONNA BE ON THE LINE AGAIN IN THE FALL.
SO I APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DURING THAT TIME.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT THE RANGES OF SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, ALONG WITH THE NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT.
I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY SOME OF THE STORIES THAT ARE IN THERE.
UM, THEY'LL GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE OF WHO WE SUPPORT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, SHERRY STATED EARLIER THAT SHE WAS THAT FLAT FUNDED DDA, WE ACTUALLY DID RECEIVE A CUT BECAUSE WE PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.
SO WE RECEIVED, UM, A 1% CUT, UM, BASED ON A PROPORTION.
IT'S ABOUT A $300,000 HIT TO OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THAT, UM, IMPACT IS COMING FROM.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A BUDGET CONCERN THAT WE'RE FACING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT, UM, AND HOW THE COUNTY DOLLARS ARE GONNA CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIATIVE.
SO DUE TO CHANGES THAT MARYLAND MADE LAST YEAR IN THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT FUNDING, OUR REVENUE DROPPED ABOUT 40%, WHICH IS ABOUT $500,000 IN OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, LEAVING OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED.
SO JUST LAST YEAR YOU'LL SEE THAT WE SUPPORTED ALMOST 300 PEOPLE TO EITHER MAINTAIN OR GET JOBS, AND WE'RE ON TRACK THIS YEAR TO PASS THAT NUMBER.
UM, EVEN WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES, UM, THE PROGRAM IS BEING COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURED TO ADJUST TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
UM, AND THANKS TO THE RESILIENCY AND CREATIVITY OF THE TEAM, THE PROGRAM IS NOT JUST SURVIVING, IT'S ACTUALLY GROWING STRONGER.
IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR MULTIPLE IN DEMAND FIELDS, WE'RE EXPANDING OUR DEDICATED TRAINING SPACE TO PROVIDE MORE HANDS-ON REAL WORLD LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WITH A NEW OFFICE SPACE AT WATER'S EDGE.
THIS INVESTMENT ALLOWS THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT TO PRACTICE JOB SKILLS AND SETTINGS THAT MIRROR THE ACTUAL WORKPLACE.
[05:05:01]
SUCH AS BENEFITS COUNSELING, SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND CLINICAL SUPPORT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.AND THESE, ALL THESE CHANGES WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE EACH PERSON HAS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT NATIONWIDE, 23% OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WORK 23%.
SO WE SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK, GET JOBS AND WORK.
UM, AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT AT THE ARC WANT EMPLOYMENT.
I WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THE STORY OF A GENTLEMAN.
UM, WHEN HE GRADUATED, ACTUALLY DIDN'T GRADUATE.
HE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE FROM, UM, SCHOOL AND HE WAS 21.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS WITH HIM.
IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE I'VE KNOWN HIM.
HE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT, UM, NOT ONLY IN THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEARS, BUT ALSO IN OUR FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.
HE GOT JOBS, HE'D LOSE THEM, HE GOT JOBS, HE'D LOSE THEM.
BUT OUR TEAM WAS THERE TO SUPPORT HIM.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THOSE 15 YEARS, HE HAS NOW MAINTAINED HIS JOB FOR THE LAST 10.
AND SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT OUR SUPPORTS DON'T HAVE TO BE 24 7 ALL THE TIME.
IN FACT, IF WE CAN PROVIDE INTENSE SUPPORTS IN THE BEGINNING, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE LONG TERM.
SO HE IS INDEPENDENT, PAYS HIS OWN BILLS.
WE DO DROP-INS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS MAKING SURE THAT THE BILLS ARE BEING PAID ON TIME AND THAT HIS RENT IS DONE AND ALL OF THAT.
SO IT'S JUST A, IT'S A GREAT STORY AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF JAMES.
ALSO, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MY JOB IS WHEN I GET A NOTE THAT SAYS SOMEONE JUST GOT THEIR FIRST JOB, IT REALLY IS, WHEN DID SOMEONE GET THEIR FIRST PAYCHECK? SOMETIMES, UM, THEY'LL STOP BY MY OFFICE AND BE LIKE, SHOW ME A PICTURE OF THEIR PAYCHECK.
DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT YOUR FIRST PAYCHECK? I DO.
UM, AND SO IT'S NO DIFFERENT FOR THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT.
A SHOUT OUT TO A FEW OF OUR EMPLOYERS, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, HARFORD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, THE LIBRARY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND OVER 60 OTHER BUSINESSES, UM, HAVE SEEN A VALUE OF EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW BUSINESSES.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE, PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT BUSINESSES LOOK THE ONES THAT ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL WITH US.
AS THEY LOOK AT THEIR HIGHEST TURNOVER POSITIONS IN THEIR BUSINESS, THEY REACH OUT TO US.
PEOPLE WE, UM, SUPPORT, LOVE THOSE JOBS.
UM, FUN FACT, THE ARC, NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE REGIONS, 73 YEARS OF EXISTENCE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, HAS BEEN THE LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAM.
AND IT STARTED WITH A MAKESHIFT WORKSHOP IN A PRIVATE HOME PRODUCING RUBBER DOORMATS IN 1965.
I REMEMBER MARY CHANCE SAYING SHE HAD ONE OF THOSE RUBBER DOORMATS, AND SHE WAS GONNA TRY TO FIND ME ONE.
SO IF ANYBODY KNOWS WHERE ONE IS, I'D LOVE TO HAVE IT.
IT WOULD MAKE A REALLY GOOD STORY.
UM, IT'S ENRICHED SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES OVER THOSE YEARS.
JUST TO WRAP UP, THE COUNTY FUNDING IS VITAL.
IT'S THIS FUNDING, UM, THAT THE ARC NCR CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OVER 500 FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE SUPPORTS MEAN THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE SEEN, THEY'LL BE VALUED AND EMPOWERED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
HARTFORD COUNTY IS AN AMAZING COMMUNITY, UM, ONE THAT WE MAKE HAPPEN TOGETHER.
PLEASE KNOW, WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE ARC NCR, IT MAKES ALL OF US STRONGER.
WE'RE BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS AT WORK IN LIFE AND IN OUR SHARED COMMUNITY.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN US, SEAN.
UM, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE GREATEST ASSET THAT BOTH, UH, THE ARC AND THE HARTFORD CENTER HAVE IS ITS TWO LEADERS.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU, UH, FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, COUNSEL, MS. ROBERT, I WAS GONNA SAY, HI SEAN AND THANK YOU.
I, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY I WAS AT THE ARC AND MET WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MET WITH EACH DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S SUCH A WELL-OILED MACHINE THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON, AND IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE NEEDS OF THOSE COMING THROUGH THOSE DOORS ARE BEING MET AND THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING SUCH GREAT FOLLOW THROUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EMPLOYMENT.
I WAS JUST IMPRESSED TO HEAR HOW WELL THE EMPLOYMENT PIECE WAS GOING.
AND, UM, YEAH, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF YOU AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING IN OCTOBER.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO WORK AND FEEL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE DISABILITIES AND FEEL THAT YOU ARE, UM, WANTED IS A GREAT THING.
AND THAT IS WHY THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE WORKING AND MAINTAINING IN THOSE JOBS.
SO I'VE KNOWN SEAN FOR OVER A DECADE.
I'M ON THE ARC STANDING COMMITTEE, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT
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THE STUFF THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE SEES IS THE STUFF THAT THEY WANT TO LEARN FROM WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE THEIR SERVICES BETTER.UM, SO I WOULD BE AMISS WITHOUT GIVING YOU GUYS THE PROMPTS AND PRAISE THAT YOU DESERVE.
UM, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. BENNETT.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE MANY OF YOUR PARTICIPANTS AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL THIS YEAR.
UM, AND IT MIGHT NOT BE MY PLACE TO DO SO, BUT I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR HOW HARD IT WAS TO MAKE THE SPACE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T GET DISABILITY PARKING, WHO HAD DIFFICULTY ENTERING THE BUILDING, HAVING SPACE TO BE, UM, IT WAS EYE-OPENING TO SEE THAT STRUGGLE, BUT ALSO IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THAT STRUGGLE TO HAVE TO BE FACED WHEN IN, WHEN TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, PUBLIC GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT MEETINGS LIKE EVEN TODAY, ARE WE MAKE ACCESSIBILITY A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, UM, SO THAT ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY CAN ENTER THAT SPACE.
SO, UM, THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT, UM, REALLY HAS STUCK WITH ME EVER SINCE IT HAPPENED.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO VOCALIZE TO YOU TODAY, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T ORGANIZE THE MILL, UH, THE MEETING, I APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, THAT THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE FOR SO MANY THAT NIGHT.
UM, AND LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN, ROBERT SAID, JUST LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU ALL.
UM, TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK IN THE FALL AND SAY, YOU KNOW, NOW'S OUR CHANCE TO CUT.
JUST AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.
SO LET US KNOW AND WE'RE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU ALL.
SO TELL EVERYBODY YOU GOT A BIG EVENT COMING UP.
MAY 9TH SOLD OUT OR NOT? NO, THERE'S STILL TICKETS.
SO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT IT IS SO THEY CAN HEAR.
SO IT'S OUR 20TH AFTER DARK GALA, SO IT'S A BIG CELEBRATION.
AND OF COURSE, SINCE, SINCE OUR 20TH, IT'S GONNA BE THE THEME OF, UM, THE, THE ROARING TWENTIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE SPEAKEASIES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENING.
UM, AND OUR FUND, THE NEED THAT EVENING IS GONNA BE AROUND OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.
SO THE VIDEO THAT YOU'LL SEE IS PEOPLE WORKING AT SHOPRITE.
SO YOU GOT SARAH KLEIN WHO IS GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT, UM, WE DO THERE.
UM, AND ALSO OUR CIRCUIT, UM, CLERK IS ALSO GONNA BE TELLING HER STORY ABOUT WHY SO COME.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT EVENING, GREAT FOOD, GREAT DANCING.
UM, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT THREE 90 RIGHT NOW, SO NOT SOLD OUT YET, SO IT'S NO, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A SEATED DINNER, SO WE CAN OH, OKAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
AND FELLOW, UM, HARTFORD LEADERSHIP.
WHAT WAS THAT? 2014, I THINK, RIGHT? I THINK IT WAS 14.
GOSH, THAT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
IT'S GONNA CONCLUDE TODAY'S HEARINGS AND WE'LL START TOMORROW MORNING.