[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
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EVENING. CHAIR. CALLS TO ORDER. FISCAL YEAR 27. BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR RESOLUTION ZERO 1026. RESOLUTION 01126. BILL 26-006. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO HEAR COMMENTS CONCERNING BILL NUMBER 26006, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR HARFORD COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027, AND ALSO RESOLUTION ZERO 1026, WHICH PROPOSES TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TAX RATE AND RESOLUTION 01126, WHICH IS A CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2032.
COUNCIL ALSO ACCEPTS AND WILL CONSIDER WRITTEN TESTIMONY SUBMITTED IN ADDITION TO OR IN
[2. PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS ]
LIEU OF VERBAL TESTIMONY. WE ARE NOW READY TO HEAR FROM OUR FIRST SPEAKER. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE HAVE 26 SIGNED UP, MR. PRESIDENT. OKAY. SO WITH 26 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE THREE MINUTE TIMELINE AND TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERY SPEAKER. CALL YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SCHMICK, FOLLOWED BY BRIANNA RUTHERFORD FATHER, FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL RUFFINO. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP CODE FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SMITH, ZIP CODE 21132. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, AND WE ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN PLEADING FOR YOUR HELP. WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, CPS WILL NEED TO MAKE DRASTIC CUTS TO FUND TO COVER THE $15 MILLION SHORTFALL THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAVE HAS LEFT THEM TO ADDRESS. AFTER CUTTING 150 POSITIONS LAST YEAR TO MEET MR. CASTELLI'S REQUEST, FINDING ANOTHER 15 MILLION MEANS THAT THE CUTS WILL BE VERY DEEP AND HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR CPS WAS ASKING FOR A BARE BONES BUDGET.NOTHING NEW. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND NONPUBLIC PLACEMENT, BECAUSE THEIR NEEDS CANNOT BE MET IN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING. PRE-K PARAEDUCATORS TO SUPPORT THE PRE-K REQUIREMENTS, AND A SALARY PACKAGE THAT HONESTLY BARELY MEETS THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BLUEPRINT.
THAT'S IT. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING FLASHY IN THIS BUDGET, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE ASKING FOR THINGS THAT WE NEED. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. OUR CLASS SIZES HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH DOES NOT MEET ANY EDUCATIONAL BEST PRACTICE. BUT ALONG WITH THAT, THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAVE GROWN MUCH GREATER POVERTY RATE HAS INCREASED. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL ED SERVICES AND 504 SUPPORTS. WE HAVE MORE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR. OUR STUDENTS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. WHEN YOU PUT STUDENTS IN LARGER CLASSES WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS, IT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. STUDENTS NEEDS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, AS I STATED, AND. AND UNFORTUNATELY NECESSARY. NECESSARY PARENTAL SUPPORT HAS BECOME VERY SPARSE IN MANY CASES. TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, MAKING ADDITIONAL CUTS WOULD MAKE OUR SCHOOLS UNSAFE, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE LEGACY THAT MOST OF YOU WANT TO LEAVE. STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE BEING ASSAULTED EVERY DAY IN SCHOOL, AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN CPS ISSUE. IT IS A NATIONWIDE CRISIS. BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS AND INTERVENTIONS AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE A PRICE TAG. BUT REMEMBER, WHEN CPS HAS TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND IS FORCED TO MAKE UNPOPULAR CUTS, THERE ARE NO ASPECTS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT ARE MANDATED BY THE BLUEPRINT, ASIDE FROM POSITIONS WHICH WILL IMPACT SAFETY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ALSO NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT ELSE IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULARS, WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION, CAN EXPECT TO SEE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN CUTS.
IN ADDITION, THE ATHLETIC FEES THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD ASKED US TO REMOVE IN THE PAST COULD BE REINSTATED, BUT ALSO PROBABLY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, AND MOVE ON TO OTHER EXTRACURRICULARS. TRANSPORTATION IS ONLY NECESSARY TO BE REQUIRED BY LAW FOR STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. SO THAT MEANS THAT HTTPS COULD BE ADJUSTING THE TRANSPORTATION RADIUS AND OR POTENTIALLY CHARGING FEES FOR THIS SERVICE.
PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE CUT. NO ONE THAT SPEAKS TO YOU TONIGHT WILL BE CRYING WOLF BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS DIRE. TO BE CLEAR, WE AREN'T ASKING FOR A TAX INCREASE. THE MONEY IS THERE. THERE IS MORE RAINY DAY FUNDS THAN EVER. AND YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS. YOU CAN TELL CASTLE WHAT YOU WANT OUR STUDENTS TO THRIVE AND PROVIDE TO A CLOSE. THANK YOU. JUST REMEMBER, YOUR CHOICE WILL IMPACT DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ON ELECTION DAY AS WELL. THANK
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YOU. CALL YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, BRIANNA RUTHERFORD. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP.BRIANNA RUTHERFORD TWO 1015. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS BRIANNA RUTHERFORD, AND I'M HERE ASKING YOU TO FULLY FUND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M NOT ONLY A TEACHER IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I'M ALSO A PRODUCT OF THEM. I GRADUATED FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE MY PARENTS BELIEVED THEY COULD PROVIDE ME WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION. AND THEY WERE RIGHT. I RECEIVED AN EDUCATION THAT PREPARED ME FOR COLLEGE, FOR A CAREER, AND FOR LIFE. NOW, YEARS LATER, MY OWN CHILDREN AND EVEN MY NEPHEW ATTEND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY, MY TWO CHILDREN AND MY NEPHEW ARE ALL IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THE EDUCATION THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE. I WORRY WHETHER THEY AND THEIR CLASSMATES WILL RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY EDUCATION THAT I PREVIOUS GENERATIONS RECEIVED. I WORRY ABOUT OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS, LIMITED RESOURCES, STAFFING SHORTAGES, AND THE INCREASING STRAIN PLACED ON EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS ALIKE. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE. EVERY CHILD SITTING IN HARFORD COUNTY CLASSROOM TODAY WILL SOMEDAY BECOME THE NURSES, TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
IF WE TRULY VALUE OUR FUTURE, THEN WE MUST INVEST IN THEM NOW. I'M ALSO FINISHING UP MY 21ST YEAR AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, ALL 21 YEARS RIGHT HERE AT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MY STUDENTS, BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT HAS BECOME HARDER AND HARDER TO MEET THEIR NEEDS WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. LIKE MANY EDUCATORS, I SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MY OWN MONEY TO MAKE SURE MY STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. RECENTLY, I UPDATED OUR SENSORY ROOM, LARGELY USING MY OWN PERSONAL FUNDS BECAUSE I KNEW MY STUDENTS NEEDED A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACE TO REGULATE, REFOCUS, AND SUCCEED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. I GLADLY DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE MY STUDENTS, THEY DESERVE IT. BUT TEACHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTINUALLY FILL FUNDING GAPS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. AND I KNOW THIS CONCERN GOES BEYOND EDUCATORS. I FREQUENTLY SEE PARENTS ACROSS HARFORD COUNTY SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEIR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT RECEIVING THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES THEY TRULY NEED. THESE FAMILIES ARE FRUSTRATED, WORRIED AND EXHAUSTED FROM FIGHTING FOR APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
SPECIAL EDUCATION IS NOT AN OPTION. SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS NOT EXTRA.
THESE STUDENTS DESERVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. EXCUSE ME. FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS AND A BUDGET. IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE. IT IS ABOUT CHILDREN. IT IS ABOUT GIVING EVERY STUDENT IN HARFORD COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE AND GIVING EDUCATORS THE TOOLS WE NEED TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. PLEASE INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS, SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, AND FULLY FUND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP. CRYSTAL RUFFINI 21014. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I AM A THIRD GENERATION HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AND EDUCATOR. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE WILL CONTINUE TO FACE DEVASTATING CUTS IF ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NOT SECURED. HTTPS PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE IN WHICH THEY STATED THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE RISING COSTS OF MAINTAINING CURRENT SERVICES, MEETING STATE REQUIREMENTS, ADDRESSING STUDENT NEEDS AND FUNDING THE WAGE PACKAGE. CONTRARY TO EXECUTIVE STATEMENTS, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT FULLY FUND TEACHER SALARIES BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE REQUIRED NON-DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION, NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS AND OTHER STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS THAT WE NEED TO MEET FIRST. AT A RECENT BOARD MEETING, IT WAS SHARED THAT THE TRADE OFFS AT STAKE INCLUDE CLASS SIZE AND OFFERINGS, EMPLOYEE SALARY AND BENEFITS, ATHLETICS, TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY AND SECURITY. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR, OUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY DIFFICULT. ANY SUCCESSES THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO CPS ARE LARGELY IN PART TO EDUCATORS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. IF WE WORKED TO CONTRACTUAL HOURS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD LOOK NOTHING LIKE IT DOES. AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF EACH OF EXECUTIVE CASTLE'S BUDGET WAS PROVIDED TO EDUCATORS IN A WORK GROUP THAT I'M A PART OF. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS REPORT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS WELL. PLEASE REACH OUT IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE AND WE'LL
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MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE IT. I DO HAVE A BIG ASK OF YOU AND THAT IS TO FIND THE MONEY. THE MONEY IS THERE. IT'S CHALLENGING DUE TO THE FUNDS THAT ARE MOVED BETWEEN CATEGORIES. THERE'S FUNDS THAT GO UNSPENT YEAR TO YEAR. THERE'S VARIANCES IN HOW PLANNED AND SPENT EXPENDITURES ARE REPORTED BETWEEN VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND AUDITS. ACTUAL UNASSIGNED FUNDS AND REVENUE HAVE BEEN GROSSLY UNDERESTIMATED. ASKED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AMEND HIS BUDGET, OR IF IT'S WITHIN YOUR ABILITY TO MOVE OR REALLOCATE FUNDS, PLEASE HELP US BRIDGE THE CRITICAL $15 MILLION GAP. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THIS, IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. MIKE SCHIAFFO, FOLLOWED BY DAVID BAUER. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP CODE, PLEASE. MIKE TUFO 21014. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I KNOW YOU'VE SPENT WEEKS AND LONGER PROBABLY WORKING THROUGH THIS BUDGET, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY DREAMING ABOUT ESTIMATED FUND BALANCES AND FISCAL STABILIZATION FUNDS. SO I WANT TO START BY GENUINELY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT THAT YOU ALL PUT INTO THIS IMPORTANT PROCESS. BUT AS WE DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED FY 27 BUDGET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW REALITIES AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT COULD IMPACT US LOCALLY. AND HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, WE'RE PREPARING FOR A REDUCTION IN INCOME TAX DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE STATE AFTER REPORTEDLY RECEIVING OVER DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS. THOSE ARE REAL CHALLENGES AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HOWEVER, IN RESPONSE TO THESE CHALLENGES, THE ADMINISTRATION'S FY 27 BUDGET PROPOSES USING APPROXIMATELY $67 MILLION OF THE COUNTY'S $96 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A FISCAL STABILIZATION RESERVE OF ROUGHLY $45 MILLION AND CREATING AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION IN REVENUE VOLATILITY FUND. AND AFTER SETTING ASIDE FUNDS FOR THESE RESERVES, STILL PROJECTING AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $29 MILLION AT THE END OF FY 27. SO THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS. BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IN PRACTICAL TERMS IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TO HOLD NEARLY $100 MILLION IN VARIOUS RESERVE ACCOUNTS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION BY ROUGHLY $15 MILLION. NOW, I'M A CPA PROFESSIONALLY, AND AS A CPA, ONE COULD SAY I AM A FAN OF PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.IN FACT, I BELIEVE MY WIFE WOULD DESCRIBE ME WELL, SHE WOULD PROBABLY SAY I'M CHEAP, BUT I PREFER SENSIBLE. BUT HAVING NEARLY $100 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY SITTING IN RESERVES WHEN WE ARE UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION BY $15 MILLION. TO ME, THAT'S NOT SENSIBLE. THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE. BECAUSE ON PAPER AND IN THIS BUDGET, EDUCATION MAY INDEED BE CATEGORIZED AS A LINE ITEM OR A COST CENTER. BUT IN REALITY, IF WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES, WE ALL KNOW EDUCATION FUNDING CANNOT SIMPLY BE CLASSIFIED AS AN EXPENDITURE.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT, AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN, IN OUR WORKFORCE, AND IN THE VERY FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY ITSELF. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, I PUT IT TO YOU THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS CHAMBER OVER THE COMING DAYS WILL HELP DETERMINE WHETHER OUR INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR YEARS TO COME. I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE OUR STUDENTS, SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS, AND INVEST MEANINGFULLY IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER 21009. WHEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL, MR. CASLEY CLAIMED HIS PROPOSAL MAKES, QUOTE, RECORD LEVEL INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION, END QUOTE. I ACKNOWLEDGE THE BUDGET DOES CONTAIN AN OVERDUE 6.2% INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, BUT THAT STILL LEAVES IT WELL BEHIND THE MEDIAN FOUR YEAR GROWTH FOR THE GENERAL FUND ITEMS. THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GETS A LARGER INCREASE, BUT IT'S BEEN FLAT FUNDED IN MR. CASTELLI'S PREVIOUS BUDGETS. SO LOOKING AT THE FOUR YEAR CYCLE, IT'S EVEN FURTHER BEHIND. PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY. IN FACT, EVERY SUBCATEGORY UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY A GREATER PERCENTAGE THAN ANY
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LINE ITEM UNDER EDUCATION. OVER THE FOUR YEARS OF THE CASSERLY ADMINISTRATION. NOW, MY LANGUAGE THERE IS PRECISE ANY LINE ITEM. THE TOTAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S OPERATING BUDGET HAS RISEN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN ONE ITEM. UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY INSPECTIONS, LICENSES AND PERMITS. EVERY OTHER ITEM UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY FASTER THAN EDUCATION. REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU SLICE IT, WHAT STATE OR FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE DRIVING THOSE RAPID COST INCREASES? BECAUSE IN REALITY, EDUCATION IS LOSING GROUND IN THIS BUDGET.RECORD SPENDING DOES NOT MEAN RECORD INVESTMENT. AND LET'S GO BACK TO THAT LINE ITEM ISSUE.
THERE IS THAT $6 MILLION BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORT LINE, WHICH REPRESENTS A COST THAT THE STATE IS PUSHING ON TO THE COUNTIES. THERE ARE OTHER COSTS THAT THE STATE IS PUSHING ONTO OUR COUNTY THAT AREN'T SHOWN IN THE COUNTY BUDGET, BUT THEY ARE REAL. THE TEACHER SALARY FLOOR BY ITSELF IS DRIVING A BIGGER COST INCREASE THAN MR. CASTELLI'S BUDGET PROPOSALS IN THE BUDGET PROPOSES. IN TOTAL, FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THERE IS ALSO THE PRE-K EXPANSION AND POSITIONS EITHER NEWLY FORMED OR SHIFTED FROM THE RESTRICTED BUDGET TO THE GENERAL BUDGET.
THERE IS NO RECORD INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS BUDGET. THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL REQUIRE CUTS. THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT GAVE YOU A LIST OF POTENTIAL AREAS, BUT WE ALL KNOW IT IS GOING TO HIT TEACHER POSITIONS BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY PART OF THE BUDGET THAT HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO ABSORB THIS PROPOSED LOSS IN REAL FUNDING. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, SIR. KASHMIRA PATTERSON, FOLLOWED BY KATHY KOWALEWSKI. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KASHMERE PATTERSON. MY ZIP IS 21028. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KASHMIR PATTERSON AND I'M A TEACHER SPECIALIST SUPPORTING SPECIAL EDUCATORS AT MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND I'M THE PROUD PARENT OF TWO HC ALUMNI. AND I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO ADVOCATE FOR FULL FUNDING FOR THE CPS BUDGET FOR THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR. AS WE ALL KNOW AND LIVE EVERY DAY, EVERYTHING HAS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE FOR ALL OF US IN THE PAST YEAR. FUEL COSTS, ELECTRICITY AND FOOD HAVE GONE UP. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR SCHOOLS. OUR BUDGET DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS IT USED TO. AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IDENTIFIED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE MULTILINGUAL ESOL SERVICES. I SEE THE IMPACT OF THIS EVERY DAY SUPPORTING OUR SPECIAL EDUCATORS, OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THE SUPPORT STAFF WHO SELFLESSLY SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO DO SOME OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THESE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR CUSTODIANS, OUR CAFETERIA WORKERS IN OUR BUILDINGS ARE DOING AMAZING WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY IN CPS, BUT THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET THESE INCREASED NEEDS.
WE NEED A FULLY FUNDED BUDGET TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STAFFING SERVICES AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT THESE STUDENTS DESERVE. MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE TO HARFORD COUNTY SO THAT OUR TWO CHILDREN COULD ATTEND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE ARE PROUD OF THE EDUCATION THAT THEY RECEIVED. I AM A PROUD EDUCATOR FOR OUR COUNTY, AND I WANT THAT FOR THE STUDENTS SITTING IN FRONT OF ME EVERY DAY. THE FUTURE LEADERS
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OF OUR COUNTY ARE SITTING IN THE SEATS OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE DEPENDING ON US AS EDUCATORS TO TEACH THEM AND AS YOU AS LEGISLATORS, TO PASS A BUDGET THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AT THIS TIME, WE WILL START THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. REGARDLESS OF WHICH TALENTED LEADER THAT IS, I ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE HER A FULLY FUNDED BUDGET WITH WHICH TO LEAD US FORWARD. OUR STUDENTS, THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY ARE DEPENDING ON YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. MY NAME IS KATHY KOVALESKI. MY ZIP IS 21050. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A 32 YEAR VETERAN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU FIND A WAY TO FULLY FUND THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH CURRENTLY FALLS, AS YOU KNOW, ALMOST $15 MILLION SHORT. WITHOUT THE BUDGET BEING FULLY FUNDED, THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES TO HOW OUR SCHOOLS FUNCTION. STUDENT FACING POSITION CUTS WILL BE INEVITABLE. WE LOST MANY STUDENT FACING POSITIONS LAST YEAR, AND WE WILL FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME BOAT AGAIN THIS YEAR. STUDENT FACING POSITION CUTS WILL RESULT IN LARGER CLASS SIZES, WHICH ARE ALREADY QUITE LARGE, WHICH IMPACTS STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY AS WELL AS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR THAT SMALLER CLASS SIZES RESULT IN GREATER ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. BUDGET CUTS MAY ALSO RESULT IN FEES FOR SERVICE, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, SUCH AS SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS, SO PAY TO PLAY MAY HAVE TO ONCE AGAIN RETURN. THE AGREED UPON SALARY PACKAGE FOR NEXT YEAR MAY HAVE TO BE RENEGOTIATED, PUTTING US AT RISK OF NOT MEETING THE BLUEPRINT MANDATE FOR STARTING SALARIES FOR TEACHERS AND MAKING US LESS COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET.IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ALREADY BIG TEACHER SHORTAGE, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY SITTING IN THE FUND BALANCE TO MAKE UP FOR THE DEFICIT THIS YEAR. BUT IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT HARFORD COUNTY AS A WHOLE DOES HAVE THE MONEY TO FULLY FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS REQUEST WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. THIS COUNCIL IS THE LAST HOPE TO RIGHT THIS WRONG AND PROVIDE FOR WHAT THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTY NEED TO RECEIVE THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.
I ASK THAT YOU HELP IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. ERICA PONZIO, FOLLOWED BY GINA KRIEGER. GOOD EVENING MADAM. 21001. AS AN ANIMAL LOVER, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE AGAIN. IN OPPOSITION TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY'S REQUESTED INCREASE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SHELTER HAS PROVEN THAT IT HAS BEEN FINANCIALLY UNRELIABLE AT BEST AND ENTIRELY NEGLIGENT AT WORST. I WOULD SPEAK TO SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS FROM LAST YEAR, BUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AMANDA HICKMAN HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY REQUESTS TO PROVIDE THE AUDITED FINANCIALS FROM FY 2025. THEY ALSO TOOK WORDING OFF THE SITE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY CAN REQUEST THEM. THEY HAVE NOT POSTED THEIR YEAR END 2025 STATS. THESE ARE THE ACTIONS OF AN ORGANIZATION HIDING SOMETHING. NOT ONE PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. LAST WEEK, THEY FIRED THEIR VOLUNTEER AND FOSTER RESCUE MANAGERS AND SAID THEY WERE ELIMINATING THE POSITIONS ENTIRELY. THESE ARE LIFE SAVING, FULL TIME POSITIONS THAT THEY ARE ELIMINATING BEFORE KNOWING THEIR BUDGET. HOW CAN THE PUBLIC OR THE ANIMALS TRUST AN ORGANIZATION WHO DOESN'T UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS FULLY, OR HAVE SOMEONE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET PETS OUT OF THE SHELTER ALIVE? VOLUNTEERS SAY THAT THE NEW VET OFTEN WORKS FROM HOME. IS THAT WHY SO MANY ANIMALS AREN'T RECEIVING TREATMENT AT ARRIVAL, AND ARE LEAVING THE SHELTER WITHOUT BEING SPAYED OR NEUTERED? ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2025, A CAT ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER. THE MEDICAL RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE CAT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TREATMENT UNTIL NOVEMBER 6TH. THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE 16 DAYS BETWEEN ARRIVAL AND MEDICAL CARE. THEN THAT CAT WAS ADOPTED OUT WITHOUT BEING SPAYED, UNALTERED CATS LEAVING THE SHELTER IS NOTHING BUT A BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY AND EVEN THE SHELTER ITSELF. ONCE THESE PETS BECOME PREGNANT, RETURN FOR UNWANTED BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR DEVELOP PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES LIKE PYOMETRA. AMANDA HICKMAN SAID THAT THEY PLAN TO APPLY FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANT. I DON'T BELIEVE SHE APPLIED RECENTLY, THERE WAS A CAT NAMED SAINT THAT SHADOW CATS WAS WILLING TO TAKE TO QUARANTINE. FOR THE PERSON WHO SOUGHT MEDICAL CARE THROUGH THE AIR AND SHELTER, THINKING THAT THERE WOULD BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME, THE SHELTER REFUSED TO TRANSFER HIM AND INSTEAD KILLED HIM OUT OF SPITE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER AND BETTER FINANCIALLY TO HAND HIM OFF TO A WILLING ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN KILL HIM. THEY COULD HAVE SAVED A LIFE FOR FREE AND DIDN'T. HOW DO WE TRUST THEM
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WITH MORE MONEY? LAST YEAR, FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT GEORGE MINOR SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON BIG EVENTS. THEY DIDN'T. THEY SAID THE NEW WEBSITE WAS PART OF THEIR BUDGET. THE WEBSITE REMAINS UNCHANGED. ON THE FY 2024 AUDIT, THERE WAS AN $18,577 IN AUTHORIZED PAYROLL DISBURSEMENTS FROM A FORMER MEMBER OF MANAGEMENT. THEY PLAN TO PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES AFTER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS APPROVED. THEY ALSO WOULD NOT DISCLOSE A PAGE ON THE AUDIT THAT WOULD GIVE DETAILS ABOUT OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PAYMENTS OR ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL, STATING THAT WAS AN ONGOING MATTER THAT THEY WOULDN'T DISCUSS. THEY DON'T HAVE A FUNDING ISSUE. THEY HAVE THE WRONG PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHO ARE RUNNING THE SHELTER INTO THE GROUND FOR AN UNEARNED PAYCHECK AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LIVES THAT THEY'VE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.REGISTERED. YEP. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. MY NAME KRIEGER 21247. I'M A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATE. I'M HERE TO ASK THIS COUNCIL TO PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE APPROVING THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY BUDGET INCREASE. NOT BECAUSE I OPPOSE THEIR MISSION, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTY DESERVE MORE ANSWERS BEFORE MORE OF THEIR MONEY IS COMMITTED. AT THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, HSRC LEADERSHIP WAS ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS FUNDING IS NOT APPROVED? THE ANSWER WAS STARK. STAFF REDUCTIONS, LOWER CARE STANDARDS AND EUTHANASIA FOR SPACE. I WANT TO ADDRESS EACH OF THOSE IN TURN. FIRST CARE STANDARDS MARYLAND MANDATES MINIMUM SHELTER CARE STANDARDS BY LAW. THAT IS NOT A NEGOTIATING CHIP. IT IS A FLOOR, NOT A CEILING. FRAMING IT AS A THREAT TO SOLVENCY IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR A BUDGET INCREASE. IT IS SIMPLY A LEGAL OBLIGATION. SECOND, EUTHANASIA FOR SPACE IS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER. HSHC DOES NOT DOES HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT IT SHOULD BE THE ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT AFTER EVERY OTHER TOOL HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED, AND I AM NOT CONVINCED THOSE TOOLS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, HSHC SAYS IT WORKS WITH RESCUE PARTNERS TO TRANSFER ANIMALS, BUT WHICH PARTNERS? THEY ARE NOT NAMED.
THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC DESERVE A CONCRETE LIST OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TRANSFER NUMBERS BY YEAR AND WHAT CAPACITY REMAINS UNTAPPED? TRANSFERS TO RESCUES ARE ONLY, OR ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE SHELTER POPULATION WITHOUT KILLING A SINGLE HEALTHY ANIMAL. THIRD, FOSTERING A ROBUST FOSTER NETWORK CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS PHYSICALLY OCCUPYING SHELTER SPACE, LOWER STRESS ON THE ANIMALS, AND IMPROVE ADOPTION OUTCOMES. WHAT IS H H H MANAGEMENT ACTIVELY DOING TO GROW THEIR FOSTER PARENT POOL? WHAT IS THEIR CURRENT NUMBER OF ACTIVE FOSTER FAMILIES? WHAT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY? THESE ARE BASIC OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED BEFORE A BUDGET INCREASE IS GRANTED. FINALLY, I WANT TO NOTE THAT HSHC IS CURRENTLY OPERATING BELOW NO-KILL STATUS. ACCORDING TO BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY, THEIR LIVE RELEASE RATE STANDS AT 88%. THE RECOGNIZED NO-KILL THRESHOLD IS 90%. THEY ARE NOT THERE YET. THAT DOES NOT MAKE THEM A BAD ORGANIZATION, BUT IT DOES MEAN THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT THE FUNDING WILL SPECIFICALLY DO TO MOVE THAT NUMBER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DENY THIS REQUEST OUTRIGHT. I'M ASKING YOU TO REQUIRE HSHC TO COME BACK WITH SPECIFICS. THE RESCUE PARTNER LIST AND TRANSFER DATA, THEIR FOSTER PROGRAM METRICS AND GROWTH PLAN, AND A CLEAR ACCOUNTING OF HOW THIS FUNDING PREVENTS EUTHANASIA RATHER THAN JUST FUNDING THE STATUS QUO. THE ANIMALS IN THAT SHELTER DESERVE BETTER THAN VAGUE ANSWERS, AND SO DO THE TAXPAYERS FUNDING IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MA'AM. MEGAN FITZGERALD, FOLLOWED BY MONICA MCHALE. GOOD EVENING MA'AM, NAME AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MEGAN FITZGERALD. MY ZIP CODE IS 21009. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET CUTS, $15 MILLION OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED. MY T SHIRT SAYS IT ALL CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. THAT'S TRUE. CHILDREN CAN'T LEARN IF THEY ARE ANXIOUS, FRUSTRATED, OR WORRIED BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LESSONS BEING PRESENTED. CUTTING THE BUDGET BY $15 MILLION WILL RESULT IN LESS SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED IT. IT WILL RESULT IN EDUCATORS HAVING LARGER CLASS SIZES AND DIMINISHED RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS. IT WILL RESULT IN EVEN MORE FULL TIME EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. AND THIS YEAR, THE COUNTY HAS SO MUCH IN EXCESS FUND BALANCE THAT YOU'VE
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CREATED A WHOLE NEW CATEGORY TO STORE IT IN. WITH THE REVENUE VOLATILITY FUND. THIS CATEGORY HAS NEVER EXISTED BEFORE AND IS RECEIVING 19.5 MILLION. EVEN WITH THIS NEW FUND, OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE THE MONEY NOT PLANNED TO BE USED TOWARDS ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY IN THE FUTURE, HAS GROWN BY 38.2 MILLION OVER THE LAST YEAR. IF WE ADDED THE 19.5 MILLION TO THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, THE TOTAL GROWTH TO THIS CATEGORY WOULD HAVE BEEN $57.7 MILLION. HARFORD COUNTY HAS THE MONEY IT NEEDS TO FULLY FUND AND SUPPORT THE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS THAT MATTER MOST TO US, SUCH AS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I'M AN CPS PARENT.I'VE GOT TWO AUTISTIC KIDS THAT DO GREAT IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED OUTSTANDING SERVICES, AND FOR THAT I AM SO GRATEFUL. BUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION ALSO MAKES ME THINK ABOUT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT SURGERY THAT I HAD A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO AND IT WAS MAJOR SURGERY. THEY, THEY WORKED ON ME FOR 5.5 HOURS. AND SHE CAME INTO MY ROOM BEFORE SURGERY AND, AND I SAID TO HER, I WAS LIKE, HOW ARE YOU FEELING? SHE'S LIKE, I'M FEELING GOOD. I WAS LIKE, DO YOU HAVE A GOOD BREAKFAST? SHE'S LIKE, YEP, I'M FEELING READY TO DO THIS. WHY DON'T WE THINK ABOUT OUR TEACHERS THAT WAY? THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR KIDS. WE WANT THEM TO FEEL SUPPORTED, OR AT LEAST I DO. I DON'T WANT TEACHERS IN FRONT OF HARFORD COUNTY'S CHILDREN FEELING ANXIOUS AND UPSET AND UNSUPPORTED, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN. THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR KIDS. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT YOUR CAPACITY TO BE VOTED BACK INTO YOUR OFFICES. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND THINK ABOUT THE MAJORITY POPULATION OF THIS COUNTY, THE MAJORITY POPULATION OF THIS COUNTY IS BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. SO I WANT TO I'D LOVE FOR YOU JUST TO TAKE A MINUTE AND THINK ABOUT YOURSELF AS A SINGLE PARENT OF COLOR, TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILD UP OUT OF POVERTY AND THINK ABOUT HOW A FULLY FUNDED SCHOOL BUDGET WOULD BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MONICA MCHALE. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP.
MONICA MCHALE 21015. I'M AFFILIATED WITH SHADOW CATS TNR AS A VOLUNTEER. GREETINGS, COUNTY COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILWOMEN, I'M COMING YOU TO TODAY TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET AS A REFLECTION OF ITS PRIORITY FOR ANIMALS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRESENT THREE SOLUTIONS. I'M A STRONG ANIMAL ADVOCATE AND CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER WITH SHADOW CATS TNR, WHICH STANDS FOR TRAP, NEUTER AND RELEASE. WE ARE A CAT RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES WITHIN HARFORD COUNTY. MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION TODAY PERTAINS TO THE HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY AND AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH ANIMAL EUTHANIZATION RATES THAT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC RECORD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY LEADERSHIP HAS UNDERGONE NEW MANAGEMENT RECENTLY, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY WITH THEIR NUMBERS. THE CONCERN IS THAT FUNDING CUTS WILL POTENTIALLY RESULT IN STAFF REDUCTION AND INCREASE IN EUTHANIZATION OF SPACES BEYOND CAPACITY AND ANIMAL CARETAKING.
EUTHANIZATION OF HEALTHY ANIMALS SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT. I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHO THE HUMANE SOCIETY PARTNERS WITH FOR TRANSFERRING PETS, AND TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE MADE PUBLIC. KNOWLEDGE FOSTERING IS ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO KEEP THE ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER DOWN.
WHAT IS MANAGEMENT DOING TO INCREASE THEIR FOSTER POOL? I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ALREADY BEING DONE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS POTENTIALLY 300 VOLUNTEERS, AND WHETHER IT'S BEING ASKED OF THEM OR NOT, TO CONSIDER FOSTERING ANIMALS UNTIL THEY FIND HOMES RATHER THAN EUTHANIZING THEM. MORE THAN 50% OF SHADOW CATS TNR MONTHLY ADOPTIONS ARE COMING FROM FOSTER CARE. WE HAVE 120 VOLUNTEERS, AND THERE ARE 35 ACTIVE FOSTERS. THAT MEANS ROUGHLY 25% OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FOSTER REGULARLY, AND WE HAVE EVEN ADDITIONAL FOSTERS THAT ARE NOT ACTIVE REGULARLY, BUT ARE STILL INACTIVE. VOLUNTEERS FOR FOSTERING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY'S VOLUNTEER BASE ARE FOSTERS, AND WHAT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO INCREASE THE
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FOSTER POOL? IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK YOUR VOLUNTEERS TO CONSIDER FOSTERING RATHER THAN EUTHANIZING ANIMALS? DUE TO A LACK OF STAFF OR SPACE? I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THOSE VOLUNTEERS BE ASKED AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE OF GETTING ADOPTED, RATHER THAN SEEING THEM EUTHANIZED. MY SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS TO THE COUNTY TO HIRE TWO PEOPLE FOR WEEKEND SHIFTS. WHEN YOU CALL FROM 9 TO 5 ON SATURDAY FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, THAT'S USUALLY ONLY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAYS, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. INJURED WILDLIFE CAN BE SEEN ON THE ROADS, AND WHEN YOU CALL THE COUNTY AND GET A DISPATCHER, THE. THE PROTOCOL IS TO REACH THE DUTY OFFICER. THERE IS NO ONE DESIGNATED TO HELP ANIMALS OTHER THAN THE DUTY OFFICER FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THE WEEKEND, I WOULD RATHER SEE A WILDLIFE REHABBER OR A. WITH AN ADDITION WITH AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND TO ANIMAL NEEDS THAT ARE INJURED AND LEFT TO PERISH ON THE STREET. PHOENIX WILDLIFE IS A GREAT LOCAL REHAB WHERE THEY CAN BE TREATED AND AND TRANSPORTED SAFELY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. DAWN SAX, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT TUCKER. GOOD EVENING NAME AND DAWN SAX 21050. I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT FULL FUNDING FOR THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THE CPS THREE YEAR FUNDING PLAN PRESENTED IN JANUARY 2005. UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE, THINGS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THEN. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED WAR ON EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLAWING BACK HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR MARYLAND SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS TENS OF MILLIONS IN OTHER CRITICAL PROGRAM AREAS. MEANWHILE, THE COST OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO RISE. THE STATE AND THE COUNTY ARE LEFT TO FILL THAT GAP. A PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAS ALREADY ARTICULATED THAT THE BUDGET REQUEST IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED, AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT WILL RESULT FROM UNDERFUNDING. I WILL ADD THAT AT A TIME WHEN FEDERAL SUPPORT IS BEING SLASHED TO THE BONE, AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE STILL CLIMBING BACK FROM EARLIER COUNTY REDUCTIONS, REFERENCES TO SUGAR, HIGH SPENDING AND MAINTAINED FISCAL DISCIPLINE ARE NOT WORDS THAT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT THE COUNTY FULLY SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE OUR CHILDREN THE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. THE COUNTY'S VERY CONSERVATIVE PAST BUDGETS HAVE PUT US IN THE FORTUNATE POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO DO SO, THANKS TO THE CURRENT UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT AS WELL. EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND IT SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY OF THE HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY, AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE AND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT SERVICE BY FULLY FUNDING THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET REQUEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP. HELLO. ROB TUCKER 21017. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.TRULY, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE OF EVERYONE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS NO EASY TASK. I'VE LIVED IN HARFORD COUNTY FOR A COUPLE DECADES, AND I'VE NOTICED A TROUBLING PATTERN DEVELOP IN OUR COUNTY BUDGET ALLOTMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT IS THAT ROUTINELY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ASKS FOR AN AMOUNT THAT IS CONTINUALLY CONDEMNED AS TOO MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN TRUE DESPITE SEVERAL CYCLES OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL BOARDS AND AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS IN THAT INTERVAL. BUT THE COMMON RESPONSE BY THE EXECUTIVES EVERY YEAR, WITH LITTLE EXCEPTION, HAS BEEN TO BALK. SINCE 2010, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE HAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THROUGH A MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT BUDGET FIVE TIMES, AND IN ALL BUT THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS UNDER GLASS, BUDGETS HAVE FALLEN SOME 8 TO $30 MILLION SHORT ANNUALLY, AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS ACCELERATED THIS PHENOMENON. WHAT MAY BE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO NOTICE IS THE DIFFERENCE IN FUNDING THAT IS ACCUMULATED CONSIDERABLY OVER THAT TIME. ONE COULD CALL THIS ACCUMULATION A SORT OF COUNTY DEBT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT UNLIKE OUR TRACKED NATIONAL DEBT AND ITS BALLOONING. I'VE BEEN TRACKING THIS DEBT CASUALLY OVER THE YEARS. IT AMOUNTS TO SOME ALMOST A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS IN LOST FUNDING OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. IT'S LIKE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE THERE'S A MIRROR UNIVERSE WHERE EVERY ONE GOOD IS EVIL, AND WE HAVE 200 MILLION MORE DOLLARS IN OUR SCHOOLS. PAT AND TONY HAVE GOATEES, AND I HAVE LED LIGHTING AND EDGEWOOD AUDITORIUM IN THE EDGEWOOD AUDITORIUM, AND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATORS CAN EASILY MEET OUR
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STUDENTS INCREASING NEEDS. ON A SERIOUS NOTE, TO CHARACTERIZE THIS PATTERN AS A SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS IS DISINGENUOUS. WHEN THERE ARE UNNECESSARY REDUNDANCIES THROUGHOUT THE FUND BALANCE SECTION ALONE IN THIS DOCUMENT, NOT TO MENTION ASSIGNED YEAR AFTER YEAR POSITIONS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FILLED WITH THIS KIND OF WASTE. I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS AS THEFT FROM CHILDREN, NO LESS. AND A LOT OF THAT MONEY COMES OUT OF THE POCKETS OF TEACHERS, CAME OUT OF THE POCKETS OF TEACHERS WHOSE SALARIES INCREASES COULD NOT BE MET. WE PAID FOR THIS FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT BY DELAYING BUYING HOUSES, HAVING CHILDREN AND THE GENERAL LIVING OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF UNDUE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. AND THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME AS WELL. IT IS A PATTERN, AFTER ALL, AND IT IS VERY PREDICTABLE. IT JUST ISN'T A GOOD LOOK, WHICH IS WHY THE CASSERLY POLITICAL APPARATUS HAS USED THE EXECUTIVE'S UNPRECEDENTED INFLUENCE AND CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD TO REDUCE THIS RISK TO LESS THAN WHAT THEY TRULY NEED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, TO SOMETHING BARE BONES THIS YEAR. SO, TO BE UTTERLY CLEAR, FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, HE HAS HAD HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE OF THE BUDGETARY ASK OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THIS YEAR HE'S CHOOSING TO STILL NOT FUND IT. THAT MAKES NO SENSE. I SUBMIT THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE THE ULTIMATE RAINY DAY FUND. WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND WE'RE IN OUR SUNSETS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES WHO WILL NEED TO TAKE CARE OF US. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT BALLOONING CLASS SIZES, THE PROSPECT OF REDUCING OUR WORKFORCE BY ANOTHER 150 POSITIONS, AND A REAL RISK OF FALLING OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE BLUEPRINT MANDATES ON OUR COUNTY. I ASK THAT WE ALSO TAKE DUE CARE OF OUR LIBRARIES AND INSTITUTION, WHICH FOR ME WAS A SECOND HOME IN MY YOUTH AND HELPED MAKE UP FOR THE FLAT FUNDING RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE TENURE OF THE CURRENT CYCLE. TAKE CARE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND PLEASE KEEP IN MIND AND PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL PROFESSIONAL FIRE PERSONNEL IN THE FUTURE. JUST ASK YOURSELVES, IS ALL THIS WORKING? OR ARE WE HEADING TOWARDS A CLIFF THAT WE CAN'T AVOID? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SIR. CAITLIN HURLEY FOLLOWED BY DANNY PAEZ. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME IS CAITLIN HURLEY AND IT'S 21087. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M NOT A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT, BUT I AM A HARFORD COUNTY TEACHER AND I SEE EVERY SINGLE DAY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SCHOOL BUDGETS FALL SHORT. I SEE IT IN THE STUDENTS CRAMMED INTO CLASSROOMS THAT WERE NOT MEANT TO HOLD THAT MANY KIDS. I SEE IT IN THE KIDS THAT NEED THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA ATTENTION THAT THE TEACHER NO LONGER HAS TIME FOR. I SEE IT IN THE PROGRAMS THAT QUIETLY DISAPPEAR. THE ELECTIVES, THE INTERVENTIONS, THE SUPPORT STAFF, THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE HEADLINES BUT MAKE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S DAY. THEY AREN'T ABSTRACT BUDGET LINE ITEMS. THEY'RE REAL CHILDREN AND REAL CLASSROOMS FALLING FURTHER BEHIND. HARFORD COUNTY FAMILIES WILL ABSOLUTELY FEEL THIS. WHEN CLASS SIZES GROW, WORKING PARENTS LOSE CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR CHILD IS GETTING THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED. WHEN TEACHER VACANCIES GO UNFILLED, STUDENTS GET SUBSTITUTES FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, AND WHEN SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT IS CUT, FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES LIKE MYSELF ARE LEFT SCRAMBLING. THESE ARE THE EVERYDAY CONSEQUENCES THAT DON'T SHOW UP IN A BUDGET PRESENTATION, BUT SHOW UP AT YOUR DOOR A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN CONSTITUENTS START ASKING WHY THEIR KIDS SCHOOLS ARE GETTING WORSE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING I KNOW THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION CARES DEEPLY ABOUT, WHICH IS KEEPING HARFORD COUNTY A PLACE THAT PARENTS AND FAMILIES WANT TO LIVE AND BUSINESSES WANT TO GROW. SCHOOL QUALITY IS ONE OF THE TOP FACTORS FAMILIES CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO PUT DOWN THEIR ROOTS. WHEN THEY BUY A HOME, WHERE THEY BUY A HOME, WHERE THEY PAY PROPERTY TAXES, WHERE THEY BUILD A LIFE.WHEN CLASS SIZES GROW, PROGRAMS DISAPPEAR, AND TALENTED TEACHERS LEAVE FOR BETTER PAYING DISTRICTS. FAMILIES NOTICE, AND SOME OF THEM LEAVE TOO. OR AT LEAST CHOOSE NOT TO COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE SO OFTEN HEAR HOW CARROLL AND CECIL COUNTY ARE HELD UP AS OUR BENCHMARKS, BUT THEY'RE AMONG THE LOWEST FUNDED DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND.
MEASURING OURSELVES AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE PACK ISN'T THE FLEX THAT THEY THINK IT IS. IF WE GENUINELY ASPIRE TO COMPETE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY, AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS SAID, THEN WE NEED TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS LIKE IT. RIGHT NOW, WE AREN'T MEETING THAT STANDARD.
BALTIMORE COUNTY INVESTS MORE PER STUDENT INTO POOR. INVEST MORE PER STUDENT IN TOTAL AND THE GAP WILL WIDEN IF WE CONTINUE UNDERFUNDING HTTPS REQUESTS YEAR AFTER YEAR. THIS IS A FISCAL ARGUMENT. THE TAX BASE THAT FUNDS PUBLIC SAFETY, ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS COUNTY DEPENDS ON IS DIRECTLY TIED TO HARTFORD'S REPUTATION AS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY. UNDERFUNDING OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT A SAVINGS. IT'S A COST WE PAY LATER IN DECLINING HOME VALUES, SLOWER GROWTH AND FAMILIES CHOOSING TO LEAVE HARFORD OVER HARFORD COUNTY FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY INSTEAD, FULLY FUNDING HTTPS IS ASK ISN'T SPENDING BEYOND OUR MEANS. IT'S PROTECTING THE INVESTMENT THAT EVERY HARFORD COUNTY TAXPAYER HAS ALREADY
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MADE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. MY NAME IS IT.GOOD EVENING. DANNY PAEZ TWO 1040. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR COUNTY FINANCES ARE IN STRONG SHAPE. THE PROPOSED FY 2027 BUDGET SHOWS THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF REVENUE, WITH CURRENT YEAR REVENUE OVER 50 MILLION ABOVE EXPECTATIONS AND SPENDING MORE THAN 30 MILLION BELOW BUDGET. THE END THE END OF YEAR FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE HIGHER THAN EVER, OVER 214 MILLION, AND WE'RE ADDING MILLIONS TO OUR EMERGENCY AND RAINY DAY FUNDS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THESE STRONG FINANCIAL SIGNS, THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S NEEDS. THEY PLAN TO ONLY COVER THE MANDATORY INCREASES REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN OR GROW OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, OUR SCHOOLS HAD HAD TO CUT OVER 100 INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS, AND THIS. AND IF THIS BUDGET STAYS THE SAME, MORE CUTS ARE TO COME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK WHY THE COUNTY IS PROPOSING LARGE INCREASES FOR OTHER AREAS, BUT NOT OUR SCHOOLS. WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, BECAUSE FUNDING EDUCATION IS FUNDING OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU MA'AM. HUNTER BAKER, FOLLOWED BY MAC JACKS. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP. HUNTER BAKER 21001. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FOCUS ESPECIALLY ON EDUCATION. EACH YEAR, CPS MAKES A BUDGET REQUEST TO FUND THEIR ANNUAL OPERATIONS. KNOWING THE CASSERLY ADMINISTRATION IS NEVER GOING TO MEET THEIR REAL REQUESTS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SENDS THE ADMINISTRATION A BARE BONES BUDGET, REQUESTING JUST ENOUGH TO COVER NECESSARY COSTS TO OPERATE THE SCHOOLS THEY ARE IN, AND NOT REALLY EXPANDING ON ANY EXISTING PROGRAMS. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT EVEN MET THIS BASELINE TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS AND MEET MANDATED TEACHER SALARY INCREASES. THIS MEANS STAFFING CUTS AND LARGER CLASS SIZES FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND FEWER RESOURCES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. CPS HAS REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION THAN WHAT THE COUNTY IS OFFERING. WHILE THE MONEY IS THERE, OUR COUNTY IS. REVENUE HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS, WHICH MEANS THE COUNTY HAS A WINDFALL OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO CARVE OUT MILLIONS FOR A RAINY DAY FUND. WHEN SOME OF THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO MEET CPS BUDGET REQUEST, CPS LOST 160 PLUS POSITIONS LAST YEAR. EVERY 1 MILLION OF FUNDING IS ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO TEN POSITIONS. THAT'S ANOTHER 150 POSITIONS THIS YEAR. CAN WE AS CITIZENS REALLY AFFORD TO KEEP SHEDDING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES? THESE ARE TALENTED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE GOING UNEMPLOYED, CHANGING FIELDS, OR TAKING THEIR TALENT ELSEWHERE. AND OUR STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING FOR IT. I AM A NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WITH MOST OF MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS ATTENDING HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I DON'T WORK FOR CPS ANYMORE, ALTHOUGH I USED TO. CPS PAYS TO SEND SELECT STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS LIKE MINE AND A FEW OTHERS ACROSS THE REGION THAT CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO KIDS WHO NEED THEM. THIS LACK OF APPROPRIATE SCHOOL FUNDING COULD ALSO IMPACT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO NEED CRITICAL SUPPORT AND ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SPACES. I PLEAD FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND HELP PROPERLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SERVICES, BECAUSE WE DESERVE BETTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IT. I SEE A 21050. HI. AS I JUST SAID, MY NAME IS MAC JACKS AND I AM A FIRST YEAR SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN HARFORD COUNTY. I'D LIKE TO RUN YOU THROUGH WHAT MY DAILY SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE. I WAKE UP AT 6 A.M. SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK BY 730. NOTE THAT THIS IS AN HOUR BEFORE MY CONTRACT. AT START TIME AT 830, STUDENTS ARRIVE AND FROM THERE I RUN WRITING, READING, PHONICS, SL, AND MATH SMALL GROUPS. I HAVE PLANNING AND LUNCHTIME, BUT MUCH OF THAT IS SPENT CATCHING UP ON STUFF THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO MY TO DO LIST.
JUST THAT DAY, AFTER STUDENTS LEAVE AT 350, I TRY TO LEAVE BY 415. IT TAKES ME 30 MINUTES TO DRIVE HOME AND 15 MINUTES TO EAT DINNER, SO BY 5:00 I SHOULD HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO DO RIGHT? INSTEAD, I SIT ON MY COUCH AND COMPLETE WORK ON MY COMPUTER, SOMETIMES UNTIL 8:00 AT NIGHT
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WHEN I HAVE TO GO TO BED SO THAT I CAN BE UP AT 6:00 THE NEXT MORNING. ON TOP OF THAT, I AM WORKING UP TO EIGHT HOURS ON A WEEKEND TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT WEEK, I HAD TO HOST A WORKING PARTY AT MY HOUSE LAST WEEKEND JUST TO SEE MY FRIENDS. IF WE TOTAL ALL OF THAT WORKING TIME UP, SUBTRACTING TRAVEL TIME, I AM WORKING A TOTAL OF 66.5 HOURS A WEEK, 40% OF THE GIVEN HOURS IN A WEEK. FACTOR IN TRAVEL, FOOD, DOG WALKING, HYGIENE, SLEEP, CHURCH AND THERAPY TIME. THAT MAKES 93% OF MY WEEK FILLED UP. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY REMAINING 7%? TAKE A MOMENT TO BREATHE, RECOUP, AND GET READY TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. MAYBE ATTEND A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. A LOT OF THIS EXTRA WORK IS DUE TO THE BUDGET CUTS THAT THE COUNTY IS MAKING TO OUR SCHOOLS. OUR EDUCATIONAL EVALUATOR POSITIONS HAVE BEEN CUT. SO NOW THAT JOB FALLS ON ME. I AM ONE HUMAN WHO HAS TO DO THE WORK OF, I WOULD GUESS, FOUR ONE COMPLETE INFORMAL ASSESSMENTS AND USE THAT DATA TO WRITE NEW IEPS ANNUALLY AND PROGRESS REPORTS EVERY QUARTER FOR 20 PLUS STUDENTS. TWO PLAN ACCOMMODATED LESSONS FOR MY STUDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE CURRICULUM. THREE PLAN SMALL GROUP LESSONS FOR STUDENTS TO WORK ON PREREQUISITE SKILLS THAT THEY DON'T GET A CHANCE TO PRACTICE DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY. AND FOR NOW, I FORMALLY ASSESS STUDENTS AND WRITE EVALUATION REPORTS. I HAVE ONE LOVELY PARAEDUCATOR WHO HELPS ME AS MUCH AS SHE CAN, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH SHE CAN DO. MY SCHOOL IS PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY, WHERE, BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING ON THE JOB OF EDUCATIONAL EVALUATIONS, A CLERICAL STAFF WAS HIRED TO HELP WITH PAPERWORK. SHE IS IN CHARGE OF TASKS THAT USED TO TAKE SPECIAL EDUCATORS HOURS TO DO EVERY WEEK. HER POSITION IS NOW BEING CUT DUE TO IMPENDING BUDGET CONCERNS. IS THIS WORK NOW GOING TO FALL BACK ON ME? AM I GOING TO HAVE A FIFTH JOB ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THAT I'M ALREADY DOING? OR WILL SOME OTHER PERSON WHO IS ALSO ALREADY OVERWORKED DO IT? THIS CANNOT KEEP HAPPENING. TEACHERS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE BURNT OUT EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THIS ROOM. IN ROOMS LIKE THIS ROOM, STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF AVAILABLE STAFFING AND ACCESS NEEDED INTERVENTIONS FOR CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS BECAUSE OF DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THIS ROOM, AND ROOMS LIKE THIS ROOM, ONLY 56% OF MY STUDENTS HAVE MADE, QUOTE UNQUOTE TYPICAL GROWTH THIS YEAR IN READING. AND IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF EFFORT ON MY PART. IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF EFFORT ON THEIR PARTS. IT'S DUE TO A LACK OF EFFORT ON THE COUNTY'S PART IN WANTING TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. JOY CLARK, FOLLOWED BY CINDY POPER. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. HI. JOY CLARK 21009. GOOD EVENING, COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND OTHER MEMBERS. I'M A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AS WELL AS HARFORD COUNTY EMPLOYEE. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION OF MARYLAND CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, 610 WITH HARFORD COUNTY. AND I'M HERE REGARDING THE PROPOSED HARFORD COUNTY BUDGET. WE APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULT WORK THAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING. THIS IS EXHAUSTING WORK FOR YOU AND JUST LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT NEEDING MORE ALLOTTED TO WHATEVER THEIR CALLS MAY BE, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT THAT MUST BE. WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES EACH DAY, WHICH IS ALL OF US. HOWEVER, WE'RE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE PROCESS SURROUNDING THE WAGE INCREASES INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. AT THE TIME THAT THE BUDGET WAS SUBMITTED, MC COUNCIL 610 WAS STILL ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE, AS LAID OUT IN THE COUNTY CHARTER. AND DESPITE NEGOTIATIONS NOT BEING COMPLETED, COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CASSELL DISTRIBUTED A COUNTY WIDE EMAIL ON APRIL 15TH ADVISING ALL EMPLOYEES OF A PREDETERMINED MERIT INCREASE AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, INCLUDING WHEN EMPLOYEES WOULD BEGIN SEEING THOSE INCREASES REFLECTED IN THEIR PAY STUBS. THIS WAS DONE BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS WERE COMPLETED.UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS NOW THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE PREDETERMINED COMPENSATION AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND BUILT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF BARGAINING, DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS FROM THE UNION ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION NOT TO DO SO AND BEING PROMISED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A FORMALITY. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A MEANINGFUL PROCESS WHERE BOTH PARTIES COME TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE WAGES, HOURS AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN GOOD FAITH. UNDER THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, WAGES ARE A MANDATORY PART OF BARGAINING. THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD HAS REPEATEDLY HELD THAT
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EMPLOYERS VIOLATE BARGAINING OBLIGATIONS WHEN THEY BYPASS THE UNION DEAL DIRECTLY WITH EMPLOYEES ABOUT NEGOTIABLE ISSUES OR PRESENT DECISIONS, AS ALREADY FINALIZED BEFORE BARGAINING IS COMPLETE, WHICH, LIKE I SAID, HAS HAPPENED THREE YEARS IN A ROW. OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE BARGAINING PROCESS TO BE RESPECTED. SO WE'RE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SENDING THE BUDGET BACK AND REQUIRING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS WITH US PRIOR TO THE FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL, INCLUDING BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH OVER MERIT INCREASES AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, RATHER THAN PREDETERMINING THOSE FIGURES WITHOUT NEGOTIATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM.NAME AND ZIP CODE. CINDY POPPER TWO 1040. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT VINCENTE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TONIGHT AS BOTH PROUD CPS EMPLOYEE AND A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY, TO ASK YOU TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THE UNFUNDED PORTION OF THE CPS BUDGET REQUEST. THERE IS A COMMON PRINCIPLE IN FINANCE AND LEADERSHIP. IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOMEONE'S PRIORITIES, LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET. IN SHORT, A PERSON, ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT'S TRUE PRIORITIES ARE REVEALED NOT BY WHAT THEY SAY, BUT BY HOW THEY ALLOCATE THEIR RESOURCES. A BUDGET IS A MAP OF PRIORITIES. IT SHOWS WHAT IS VALUED, WHAT IS PROTECTED, AND WHAT IS ALLOWED TO FALL BEHIND. UNFORTUNATELY, NOWHERE IS THIS DISCONNECT MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR. WHILE EDUCATION IS REPEATEDLY DECLARED A PRIORITY, WE FIND OURSELVES HERE YET AGAIN BEGGING FOR THE FUNDING WE NEED JUST TO STAY AFLOAT. MIND YOU, NOT TO THRIVE, BUT SIMPLY TO SURVIVE. THIS COUNTY CANNOT CONTINUE TO UNDERFUND OUR SCHOOLS. OUR SCHOOLS REPRESENT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE AND WE OWE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE, TO GROW AND TO SUCCEED NOT ONLY HERE, BUT IN WHATEVER PATH THEY CHOOSE, BE IT COLLEGE OR CAREER. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE COMPROMISING THAT FUTURE. OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, THIS COUNTY HAS REDUCED THE PERCENTAGE OF THE GENERAL FUND ALLOCATED TO CPS OPERATING BUDGET BY 8%. THAT MAY SOUND SMALL, BUT IT REPRESENTS ROUGHLY $80 MILLION A YEAR. TODAY, WE ARE ASKING FOR LESS THAN 20% OF THAT AMOUNT. WE'VE ALL HEARD THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S TALKING POINT CLAIMS THAT FUNDING CPS FULLY WOULD REQUIRE TAX INCREASES, ASSERTIONS THAT THE DISTRICT IS TOP HEAVY, AND OTHER JUSTIFICATIONS. BUT THESE ARGUMENTS ARE NONSENSE. THE REALITY IS THE MONEY EXISTS. WE KNOW IT, YOU KNOW IT, AND EVEN MR. CASSERLY KNOWS IT. THOSE FUNDS ARE BURIED WITHIN OVERBUDGETED AND UNDERSPENT CATEGORIES, LAYERED RESERVED FUNDS AND ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE NEVER INTENDED TO BE USED. THEY ARE OBSCURED IN COMPLEX AND INCONSISTENT ACCOUNTING STRUCTURES, CATEGORIES THAT APPEAR IN ONE PLACE BUT NOT IN ANOTHER, OR THAT LACK CLEAR PURPOSE OR TRANSPARENCY. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CUT THROUGH THIS COMPLEXITY, TO LOOK BEYOND THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH. THE FUNDING IS THERE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CHILDREN OF HARFORD COUNTY ARE COUNTING ON YOU. THEY DESERVE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR FUTURE. PLEASE FIND THE FUNDING AND FULLY SUPPORT THE CPS BUDGET REQUEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. JESSICA RILEY HAMMOND, FOLLOWED BY PAM DEMMER. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, JESSICA RILEY HAMMOND TO 1015.
GOOD EVENING. I'M RUNNING FOR COUNTY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT C. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I'VE BEEN OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS, ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND SPEAKING WITH RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COUNTY. I'VE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND SCHOOL SYSTEM STAFF, AND I KEEP HEARING THE SAME THING. AND SO ARE YOU. RIGHT NOW. OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED MORE FUNDING TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE TEACHING POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY CLASSROOMS ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED. ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IS THAT STUDENTS WHO NEED PARAEDUCATORS ARE 1 TO 1 SUPPORT OFTEN CANNOT GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED, BECAUSE THE WAGES BEING OFFERED TO THEIR ASSISTANTS ARE UNLIVABLE. THESE ARE INCREDIBLY DEMANDING JOBS THAT OFTEN PAY BARELY ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE. FOR MY OWN EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, I KNOW THESE STAFF MEMBERS MAY BE HIT SPIT ON, REQUIRED TO ASSIST WITH PERSONAL HYGIENE AND
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BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES ON A DAILY BASIS. SPECIAL EDUCATION IS DIFFICULT, IMPORTANT WORK AND ALL POSITIONS IN THE CLASSROOM DESERVE COMPENSATION. THAT REFLECTS THAT. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT NEED SECOND JOBS TO LIVE TOO OFTEN, WHEN ADEQUATE SUPPORT CANNOT BE PROVIDED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITH A PORTION OF THE COST BEING PAID BY THE COUNTY. QUITE FRANKLY, IT WOULD SAVE MONEY WHILE ALSO SPARING FAMILIES A STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT PROCESS. IF WE INVESTED MORE IN PARAEDUCATORS AND ALLOWED STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL. I ALSO BELIEVE HARFORD TRANSIT LINK DESERVES STRONGER FUNDING, EXPANDING ROUTES WITHIN THE COUNTY, EXPANDING HOURS AND ACCESS POINTS WOULD HELP RESIDENTS WHO CANNOT DRIVE DUE TO DISABILITY, AGE OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. IT ALSO HELPS REDUCE CONGESTION AND SUPPORTS A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. FINALLY, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE INVESTING IN PRESERVING OPEN SPACE AND PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF OUR COUNTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE IN A BUDGET THAT IS EFFICIENT, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE, THAT SERVES ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ON THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, COUNTY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS PAM DIEMER. I LIVE IN TWO 1014, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ADDING $15 MILLION BACK INTO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S BUDGET. AS A RESIDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED COUNTY EXECS UNDERFUND EDUCATION FOR DECADES. LAST YEAR, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOST 100 INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS. THESE JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CHILDREN. IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET STANDS AS IS, THERE WILL BE MORE CUTS COMING. FISCAL YEAR 2025 SAW $40.3 MILLION INCREASE IN REVENUE. WHILE THE COUNTY HAS SEEN A BUDGET SURPLUS. EDUCATORS ARE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS. IF YOU BELIEVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEN FULLY FUND IT. AND THE OLD SAYING STILL GOES IF YOU THINK EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE, TRY IGNORANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE HUMANE SOCIETY BUDGET. I THINK THERE IS A TRANSPARENCY PROBLEM AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY SOCIETY. AND IT IS ASKING FOR ABOUT A HALF $1 MILLION MORE WITH. THEY SHOW UP TO YOUR BUDGET MEETING AND HAVE NO DATA TO SUPPORT WHERE THAT MONEY WILL GO. HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY VOTE FOR THAT? YOU NEED YOU NEED INFORMATION TO WHY? THEY'RE ASKING FOR A HALF $1 MILLION MORE MONEY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. TAMARA STICKLER, FOLLOWED BY JEFF BECK. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. MY NAME IS TAMARA LYNN STICKLER. MY ZIP CODE IS TWO 1014. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE THE POSSIBLE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
MONEY GIVEN TO THE SHELTER SHOULD BE GIVEN, SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN WITHOUT REQUIRING TRANSPARENCY. IT SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN WITHOUT REQUIRING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY ONCE OFFERED AND SINCE CUT UNDER THE CURRENT DIRECTOR, BE REESTABLISHED. LOW COST TNR CLINICS, TNR AND RESCUE GROUPS, CLINICS, ALL ALL ADOPTABLE ANIMALS LEAVING THE SHELTER TO ADOPTERS NEED TO BE STERILIZED BEFORE LEAVING THE SHELTER. ESTABLISH A LOW TO NO COST SPAY NEUTER SERVICES FOR ALL PETS OF HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS. PRIVATE 501 C THREE GROUPS MUST CURRENTLY SHOULDER THESE COSTS WHEN THE SHELTER REFUSES TO. MANDATORY STERILIZATION IS A COST EFFECTIVE, PROACTIVE MEASURE THAT SAVES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE. UNWANTED ANIMALS CANNOT. THAT CANNOT BE BORN, CANNOT BE BORN A. STERILIZED PETS SHELTERS DO NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FEED, SHELTER AND VET AND KILL ON ONE OF DOGS AND CATS THAT ARE NEVER BORN.
ASSISTING PET OWNERS WITH BEING RESPONSIBLE AND STERILIZING THEIR PETS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT
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AS RABIES CLINICS. NO ORGANIZATION THAT DOES NOT MAKE SPAY NEUTER THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SHOULD BE GRANTED TAXPAYER MONEY. YET THE HCH THE HARFORD COUNTY HARFORD HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY OFTEN ALLOWS ANIMALS TO LEAVE THEIR SHELTER INTACT. THE CURRENT DIRECTOR HAS PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN THAT SHE CANNOT MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS TO BENEFIT EITHER. THE SHELTER, THE ANIMALS THAT FALL UNDER HER CARE. THIS PAST SPRING, AN INJURED CAT WAS FOUND IN BEL AIR IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE.IT WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL ER ON BALTIMORE PIKE. THE CAT WAS IN DIRE NEED WITH A COMPOUND FRACTURE BUT WAS STILL FRIENDLY, NON-AGGRESSIVE DESPITE THE PAIN AS THE CAT WAS SHIPPED BY THE THE LOCAL SHELTER AND ADOPTED OUT BY THEM. ITS FATE WAS UNFORTUNATELY IN THEIR HANDS.
MYSELF AND A LOCAL VOLUNTEER VET VOLUNTEERED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TO ASSUME THE CARE OF THIS ANIMAL AND THE FUNDS TO TREAT THEM AS, AND WAS URGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS THE SHELTER RECORDS TO WHOM THE SHELTER ADOPTED THE CAT TWO MISS HICKMAN OPTED TO HAVE THE ANIMAL EUTHANIZED AT THE ER. THE SHELTER WOULD HAVE ASSUMED THAT COST. INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE ANIMAL TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ANIMAL GROUP WILLING TO VET AND QUARANTINE THEM WITH ZERO COST TO THE SHELTER, OVERSIGHT AT THE SHELTER MANAGEMENT IS NECESSARY AS THE CURRENT DIRECTOR HAS FAILED IN HER DUTIES OF LEADERSHIP. MONEY CANNOT BE ENTRUSTED TO HER WITHOUT STRICT OVERSIGHT. ITS FAILURE CURRENTLY, ITS FAILURE TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY MEANS THAT OUR COUNTY'S RESIDENTS MUST RAISE THE MONEY AGAIN TO FUND PUBLIC RESCUES AND TNR GROUPS TO DO WHAT THE COUNTY SHELTER IS FAILING TO DO. THIS IS NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, IT'S REDUNDANT AND EXHAUSTING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, MR. BECK. ZIP CODE, PLEASE. JEFF BECK, TWO 1085 JOPPATOWNE, MARYLAND. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'M POLITELY DIRECT.
MR. BENNETT, YOUR PUBLIC OUTCRY LAST WEEK ABOUT THE LACK OF ATTENDANCE PAID OFF. I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S GOOD TO SEE. I'M HAPPY. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT NO ONE HAS REALLY TOUCHED ON SO FAR TONIGHT. HALF THE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP HAVE ALREADY TALKED ON HC. CAPITAL BUDGET IS ONE THAT RARELY GETS ATTENTION. TWO YEARS AGO, A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO, HARFORD COUNTY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS AS WELL AS HARFORD LAND TRUST, ACQUIRED 129 ACRES IN JOPPATOWNE WITH THE SOLE INTENT OF PRESERVING AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY CENTER AND SOME BALL FIELDS. TO DATE, SHOVEL HAS YET TO HIT THE GROUND. WE ARE TOLD IT IS STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PHASE. TWO YEARS LATER, IT IS NOW ACCORDING TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2027, STILL AN EIGHT YEAR PROJECT. THAT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SAY THE LEAST. JOPPA FARM ROAD IS IN. I WON'T CALL IT QUITE DIRE, BUT IN IN SEVERE NEED OF RESURFACING, COMPLETE RESTRUCTURING AND REBUILDING OF THE PAVED ROADWAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR MONTHS ON END NOW AT CAB MEETINGS THAT IT IS THAT IT WAS PLANNED TO TO START THIS SPRING. IT IS NOW THE END OF MAY, MIDDLE OF MAY. WE'RE TWO MONTHS INTO SPRING AND ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET, IT IS IN PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING STUDY PHASE WITH THE NEXT LARGE EXPENDITURE, I'M ASSUMING FOR CONSTRUCTION. NOT UNTIL 2029 BUDGET. BOTH OF THESE THINGS ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. JOPPATOWNE FOR THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE HAS BEEN THE ARMPIT OF HARFORD COUNTY. IT HAS BEEN A DUMPING GROUND AND IT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE COUNTY, BY THE COUNCIL, BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND BY A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE TIRED OF IT. WE'D LIKE TO SEE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTMENT CAPITAL SPEAKING UP ON THESE TWO PARTICULAR PROJECTS WHILE I'M HERE, AND I'VE GOT A FEW SECONDS. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PASSION ON THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET. I WOULD SIMPLY ASK THAT THAT SAME PASSION BE DIRECTED EQUALLY AT THE STATE AND AT THE SCHOOL BOARD, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE IS FUNDING ADEQUATELY WITH THE BLUEPRINT AND THE MANDATES THAT IS FORCED, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT THEY ARE WRITING A SUFFICIENT BUDGET THAT PRIORITIZES THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS, FIRST AND FOREMOST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GENE SALVATORE, FOLLOWED BY BARBARA KRAMER. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP. GOOD EVENING, GENE SALVATORE. MY ZIP
[01:10:03]
IS 21015. BEFORE I GET ON MY MAIN TOPIC, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I DO WANT TO SAY, AS A PERSON WHO DID NOT GO TO HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO HAS NO CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I FULLY SUPPORT EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD HERE ABOUT WHY WE HAVE TO FULLY FUND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.BUT I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I SAT IN ON THE PRESENTATION THAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF HARFORD COUNTY MADE ON THEIR BUDGET, THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET, AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE ENORMOUS INCREASE THAT WAS BEING ASKED FOR, WHICH, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT, HAD REALLY NO DETAILS TO SUPPORT THAT. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND I'LL PROBABLY EMAIL THEM ALL TO YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T COVER THEM IN THREE MINUTES. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING AT HSHC TO PARTNER WITH MORE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY COULD DO MORE. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL FROM HSHC ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ANIMAL THAT LEAVES THE SHELTER IS ALREADY SPAYED OR NEUTERED, WHICH CURRENTLY IS NOT HAPPENING. WE ARE FINDING PEOPLE COMING TO US AFTERWARDS AS BEING RESCUES IN THE AREA TO GET THAT DONE, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE CAT THAT DELIVERED KITTENS. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT WHAT WAS BEING DONE TO GET MORE GRANT MONEY. THERE'S $900,000 OR SO AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE FOR SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THE CHANGE TO THE CHARTER, WHICH. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN NOLAND, FOR DOING, TO SAY THAT YOU CAN NOW, AT THE SHELTER, OFFICIALLY FIX STERILIZE PETS AT LOW COST. I HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT ANY OF THAT. I REALLY FEEL THAT THE TRANSPARENCY OR LACK THEREOF IS REALLY A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTY. AND YOU MIGHT BE AWARE THAT YESTERDAY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIGNED FOR ANIMAL WELFARE BILLS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS TO REQUIRE OR TO GIVE MORE ASSISTANCE TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND READ THROUGH THEM ALL NOW. BUT I REALLY APPLAUD THAT IS LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL WELFARE. I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS COUNTY TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ANIMAL WELFARE CAUSES. I'M NOT SEEING THAT. I WILL CONTINUE TO HELP PRESS FOR THAT. I WILL WORK FOR THAT, ALONG WITH ANYONE HERE WILLING TO DO THAT.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, IT IS VERY TELLING AS TO WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE AT THE SHELTER RIGHT NOW. SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THAT AUDIO, BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISTRESSING TO THOSE OF US WHO DO AN AWFUL LOT TO CARE FOR VERY MANY ANIMALS IN THIS COUNTY AND WANT TO SEE BETTER DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM.
GOOD EVENING, MISS CRAMER. COULD I HAVE YOUR ZIP CODE, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BARBARA OSBORNE CRAMER AND I LIVE AT 21001. I AM A MEMBER OF THE THIRD COUNTY COUNCIL. MY PICTURE WITH OUR GROUP IS THE THIRD ONE ON THE WALL. THE PICTURE IS FADING, BUT I'M NOT. I AM A CANDIDATE, A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVEN TERMS. FIRST, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AUGMENTING THE EDUCATION BUDGET. I UNDERSTAND YOU PUT ADDITIONAL MONEY IN, AND IT'S THE ONLY CATEGORY WHERE YOU CAN ADD BUDGET FUNDING, BUT I URGE YOU TO GO BACK AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, AS YOU'VE BEEN URGED BY SO MANY PEOPLE TONIGHT. BUT CONSIDER IT'S NOT JUST A COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAR. IT'S A COMPARISON WITH WHEN THE NUMBER OF STAFF POSITIONS WERE CUT SO SEVERELY THAT CLASS SIZES HAD TO RISE AND. I CAN TELL YOU, AS A FORMER ENGLISH AND CREATIVE WRITING TEACHER AT BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL, RISING CLASS SIZES IN ITSELF IMPAIRS THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. ONE YEAR I HAD 186 STUDENTS EVERY DAY. SO I'M URGING YOU TO GO BACK AND RESTORE FUNDING TO THE LEVELS THAT WILL RESTORE THOSE STAFF POSITIONS. AND I WOULD NOTE ALSO THAT WHEN I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, WE NOT ONLY RAISED OUR COMPARATIVE POSITION IN FUNDING FROM 22ND IN THE STATE TO 14TH, BUT WE ALSO SPENT 54% OF THE COUNTY BUDGET ON EDUCATION ALONE. SECOND, WHILE I REALIZE YOU CANNOT RAISE THIS CATEGORY DIRECTLY, I THINK YOU CAN HAVE
[01:15:01]
A BIG INFLUENCE ON HOW THE LIBRARIES ALLOCATE THE FUNDING. PRE-COVID, THE LIBRARIES, ALL THE LIBRARIES WERE OPEN FROM 1 TO 4 ON SUNDAYS. NOW, NO LIBRARIES ARE OPEN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REOPENED SINCE COVID. IT'S A SERIOUS DEFICIENCY IN DELIVERY OF SERVICE. SO IN ADDITION, THIRD, THERE IS A CRYING NEED FOR MEETING SPACE IN HARFORD COUNTY IN THE EVENINGS BETWEEN THE LIBRARIES AND PARKS AND RECREATION. I URGE YOU TO DO SOME NEGOTIATING SO THAT THERE WOULD BE THREE MEETING PLACES OPEN IN HARFORD COUNTY EVERY WEEKNIGHT UNTIL 5:15 P.M. I MEAN, 9:15 P.M. AND THE REASON I SAY THIS IS THERE'S A CREEP OF MEETINGS BEING EARLIER AND EARLIER AND EARLIER, AND IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF LIMITATIONS IN MEETING SPACES. BUT PEOPLE COMMUTE LONG DISTANCES IN OUR COUNTY, AND THEY NEED A CHANCE TO GET HOME AND HAVE DINNER WITH THEIR SUPPER, RATHER WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEN GO TO THEIR EVENING MEETINGS. SO THE MEETING PLACES NEED TO BE MORE ACCOMMODATING. AND I THINK THREE PER WEEKNIGHT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. THANK YOU, MISS CRAMER. YOUR TIME. I JUST OWE YOU MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM JEN BYRNE. AM I THE LAST SPEAKER I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP. JEN BYRNE 21085. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY AND I DECIDED TO SPEND IT HERE WITH YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON MY BIRTHDAY. I'M AN ART TEACHER. I'M A MIDDLE SCHOOL ART TEACHER. I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR 29 YEARS, AND I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HARFORD COUNTY. I'M FROM THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. AND WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THAT OUR HARFORD COUNTY HAD TO OFFER. IT WAS BIG TIME AND LATELY I HAVE NOT BEEN SO IMPRESSED. EVERY YEAR I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN THE SAME SPOT. SO I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOU GUYS TO RECONSIDER FULLY FUNDING AND PUTTING THAT EXTRA 15 MILLION IN, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PUTTING IN EXTRA OFTEN TO REPLACE CONSUMABLE GOODS THAT THE ART ROOM USES. SUPPLIES COST MORE. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR ART PROGRAM.BUT STILL, WHEN I LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND I LOOK AT THE COST OF ART SUPPLIES, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ANOTHER ISSUE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PROGRAM CUTS AND STAFF CUTS, AND THAT HAS PERSONALLY AFFECTED ME. WE NOW HAVE ART TEACHERS TEACHING CTE CLASSES, SO IF YOU'RE A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT AND YOU WANT TO TAKE AN ART CLASS, YOU HAVE A VERY LOW CHANCE OF GETTING INTO AN ART CLASS BECAUSE OUR ART TEACHERS ARE TEACHING CTE CAREERS, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING. WE'RE NOT CERTIFIED TO TEACH THAT, BUT WE CAN TEACH OUT OF OUR AREA ACCORDING TO CONTRACT. SO WE ARE ALSO IN A VERY OLD BUILDING.
IT'S AGING. I'VE TAUGHT IN OLD BUILDINGS BEFORE. I WAS PREVIOUSLY AT HOMESTEAD, WAKEFIELD. I'M NOW AT BEL AIR MIDDLE. WE BASICALLY HAVE A MOAT THAT GOES DOWN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE MY CLASSROOM WHEN IT RAINS. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH BUDGET CUTS, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYTHING'S GOING TO GET FIXED. I WILL SAY OUR CUSTODIAN IS EXCELLENT AT GETTING ON THOSE ISSUES, BUT IT'S AN AGING BUILDING. SO, MR. VINCETI, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING A SCULPTURE OPENING WITH YOU RECENTLY AS AN ART TEACHER. I LIKE TO GET OUT AND TO ATTEND CULTURAL EVENTS. WE HAD A SCULPTURE DEDICATION OF THE AMAZING, AMAZING WORK OF BRANT CROTHERS IN HAVRE DE GRACE. AND I WENT TO THAT, AND I SAW THESE SCULPTURES THAT WERE LARGER THAN LIFE, BEING DEDICATED IN THE ARTS DISTRICT IN HAVRE DE GRACE. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF OUR ART PROGRAM? AND OUR SCHOOLS IN HARFORD COUNTY? WILL THERE BE ANOTHER VISIONARY SCULPTOR LIKE BRANT CROTHERS? NOT IF SCHOOLS AREN'T FUNDED, BECAUSE BRANT CROTHERS IN THE SEVENTH GRADE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE HIS ART TEACHER WOULD HAVE BEEN TEACHING A CTE COURSE. SO IT REALLY DOES HAVE A FALLOUT. SO PLEASE RECONSIDER. THANK YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. OH THANK YOU. ROCHELLE JOHNSON. GOOD EVENING
[01:20:04]
MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP. ROCHELLE JOHNSON 21084. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE AS A PARENT TO TWO CPS STUDENTS WHO WANT TO SEE OUR SCHOOLS FULLY SUPPORTED. RIGHT NOW, AS YOU HAVE HEARD ALL EVENING, THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN WHAT OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICES AND WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED. THIS IS NOT ABOUT EXPANSION. IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING WHAT ALREADY EXISTS. THE REALITY IS THAT RISING COSTS AND INCREASED STUDENT NEEDS ABSORB MUCH OF THAT FUNDING, LEAVING LESS FLEXIBILITY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICES. JUST LIKE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COUNTY ARE FEELING THE IMPACT OF RISING GROCERY AND ENERGY COSTS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING THESE SAME ISSUES. A CONCERN I'VE HEARD IS DECLINING ENROLLMENT. WHILE BUDGET REQUESTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE, HARFORD COUNTY STUDENT POPULATION HAS CHANGED AND THE COST OF SERVING THOSE STUDENTS HAS CHANGED, WITH INCREASES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND ENGLISH LEARNERS. THE BUDGET NEEDS TO REFLECT TODAY'S STUDENTS AND HOW THEIR NEEDS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME. WHEN STAFFING IS REDUCED, CLASS SIZES INCREASED, WHICH IMPACTS BOTH STUDENT LEARNING AND TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS. WHEN FUNDING FALLS SHORT, THE IMPACT IS PRACTICAL. LARGER CLASS SIZES, FEWER SUPPORTS AND INCREASED STRAIN LEADING TO HIGHER COSTS. WHEN WE UNDERINVEST NOW, COSTS DON'T DISAPPEAR. THEY SHIFT INTO MORE EXPENSIVE AREAS LATER, LIKE OUT-OF-DISTRICT PLACEMENT, STAFF TURNOVER, AND MORE INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS.CUTTING POSITIONS DOESN'T ELIMINATE RESPONSIBILITIES. THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, COMPLIANCE, AND DAILY OPERATIONS STILL HAVE TO BE MANAGED, AND THOSE COSTS OFTEN SHIFT INTO MORE EXPENSIVE AREAS LATER ON. SOME CPS SCHOOLS ARE PERFORMING WELL, BUT THAT SUCCESS DEPENDS ON MAINTAINING THE STAFFING AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS BEHIND IT.
THERE ARE ALSO SCHOOLS WHERE OUTCOMES REMAIN A CONCERN, AND IN THOSE SCHOOLS, IMPROVEMENT COMES FROM STABILITY AND TARGETED SUPPORT, NOT FROM REDUCING RESOURCES. THAT'S WHY THIS REQUEST MATTERS. IT'S ABOUT ENSURING SCHOOLS CAN CONTINUE SUCCEEDING AS STUDENT NEEDS, SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, TRANSPORTATION AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS RISE IF THERE IS ROOM TO BRING FUNDING CLOSER TO WHAT IS NEEDED, IT WOULD HELP MAINTAIN STABILITY AND AVOID HIGHER COSTS IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE ALL IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ALL WANT THE SAME OUTCOME. A STRONG, STABLE, WELL-MANAGED HARFORD COUNTY SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS RESPONSIBLY IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS. WITH NO MORE SPEAKERS.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTUALLY CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN GENERAL FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT, AND THIS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.