Wise Use of Tax Dollars

After one of the toughest budget years in recent memory, Calvert County’s Board of County Commissioners accomplished three goals for the upcoming FY 2011 budget passed on May 25, 2010:

No tax increases
Minimum or no impact to county services
No furloughs or layoffs of county employees.

What made the budget goals so tough?

Calvert County has endured revenue reductions totaling more than $16 million since FY08.

From FY09 to FY10, aid from the state alone plummeted by $5.4 million.
Calvert faces a nearly 12 percent reduction in FY11 state aid
At the same time, tax revenues have fallen due to the weak economy.

What tough choices were made to balance the budget despite revenue shortfalls?

County departments found ways to cut an average of four percent in operating costs for FY11.

Employees have not received scheduled step increases for 2 years.
Employees were able to receive a .5% COLA to cover the average cost of the increase in health insurance premiums (Only one other county has confirmed that they are giving employees a COLA.*)
Approximately $160 Million in capital projects were deferred until the economy improves.
The county adhered to the school funding formula, which is based on what was spent last year (called maintenance of effort), enrollment, the cost of living, and a 1.25% multiplier for new needs.
The property tax rate in Calvert County was kept constant as it has been since 1987.

In such a bare-bones budget, was the county able to increase funding in critical areas?

YES!

The addition of four new employees for the newly remodeled and expanded work release center which relieves overcapacity at the detention center.
The addition of three sheriff ’s deputies to enhance public safety.
The addition of a new assistant state’s attorney to relieve the court docket while providing a special emphasis on crimes against seniors.
Due to the school funding formula, Calvert was able to increase funding to the Board of Education by $1.4 Million (only 3 other MD counties were able to increase school funding.*)

Choose Susan for continued wise spending of your hard-earned tax dollars!

*as of 5/25/2010