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Pledges no increase in taxes and calls for a balanced approach to government

(Bel Air, MD) - - Harford County Executive David R. Craig delivered his annual “State of the County” address Tuesday, February 2, 2010 to the Harford County Council. In his remarks, the county executive pledged that the FY 11 budget will be balanced with no increase in the tax rate and as close to the constant yield as possible.

Click Print Friendly Information below to download the complete Address.

During his remarks, County Executive Craig paid tribute to three former elected officials who passed away during the past year ~ Councilwoman Veronica “Roni” Chenowith, Delegate and former council president Joanne Parrott and former council president John Hardwicke. In paying homage to the three former elected officials, Craig stated, “Many things which we today take for granted we owe to their leadership.”

The county executive highlighted many wide-ranging and diverse accomplishments during the past 12 months, including Comprehensive Rezoning, the Tri-Accreditation of the Division of Emergency Operations Center; expansion and improvements sports facilities operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation; E-Archiving within the Department of Human Resources, which helps reduce reliance on paper and efforts to save money on health care benefits without cutting services.

Additionally, County Executive Craig credited the Department of Treasury with creating a new program which allows citizens to access tax records on-line; the expansion of the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant and the Aberdeen Water Agreement by the Department of Public Works which will enable the City of Aberdeen to supply water to BRAC contractors for the short and mid-term; and the Office of Economic Development for their efforts in leading the State in preparing for BRAC.

County Executive Craig also noted the accomplishments of the Division of Agriculture for the aggressive “Buy Local Campaign”; the Housing Agency which helped prevent 114 foreclosures in 2009; the Department of Community Services and their efforts to help Harford’s senior population; the Department of Procurement in managing Harford County’s fleet of vehicles as well as saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs.

Finally, Craig cited the work of the Law Department in helping the county with the PILOT Agreement and Picerne Agreement, both major BRAC initiatives related to the county’s federal partners at the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground and the Office of Budget and Management for their distinguished efforts in developing and managing the budget for Harford County.

With respect to allied agencies and departments, County Executive Craig congratulated the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for a 10% reduction in crime during the past year.

The Harford County Health Department was cited for preparing the county for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu.

The county executive congratulated President Jim LaCalle of Harford Community College who will retire this year and praised the college as one of the best educational values for the dollar in the state.

Harford County Public Library, under the direction of Audra Caplan was also cited for outstanding work and recently earned a four-star rating from the National Library Journal.

Following the tragic and untimely death of Dr. Jacqueline C. Haas, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools last year, the county executive welcomed the new superintendent, Dr. Robert Tomback. Additionally County Executive Craig completed the school system on the opening of a new Bel Air High School and work, which underway for Red Pump Elementary School north of Bel Air.

Commenting on the challenges which lie ahead in 2010, County Executive Craig stated, “Our major challenge is maintaining a balance, not just a balance of revenue and expenditures, but a balance between our wants – our needs – and our ability to meet them.”

Citing a key element in successfully balancing the budget, the county executive praised county workers for providing high quality services to the people of Harford County. “We should thank them all - whether they are teachers or deputies, whether they are our libraries or our health office, whether they work on the third floor or in the field,” Craig stated.

Quoting President John Quincy Adams, “Patience and Perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish,” Craig stated. “They are as relevant for Harford County now as they were for our nation then. We will confront the challenges and we will persevere,” Craig stated.

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