FY 23 Approved Budget Book

COUNTY BUDGET POLICIES AND PROCESS

financing to supplement funding of its programs, it is County policy to review the long-term financial impacts of all such programs to avoid eventual dependence on outside funding sources. It would not be prudent for County government to rely on continued grant funding of programs that influence the welfare and safety of the community.

Sharing Financial Responsibility

In an effort to provide and finance all desirable, but discretionary services to our citizens, Harford County Government analyzes its role in the provision of each service and determines the equitable financial burden of payment among taxpayers and users of those services. Harford County Government subsidizes individual consumers to alleviate emergency financial needs, and private providers to ensure the availability of facilities or services in the community. For example, the County provides (through the Emergency Assistance Program) direct payments to clients in need. County Government also provides supplemental payments to the Harford Center, Inc. and the ARC - Northern Chesapeake Region, Inc. to compensate for any shortfalls between State funding and the actual costs of providing care to the severely mentally retarded, and multiple handicapped residents in the community. Harford County encourages and supports participation by private markets in public service delivery as long as all Government objectives are met, and the economic benefits to the community surpass direct Government involvement. Currently, many services are contracted through the private sector to provide specific programs and activities on behalf of County Government. These include medical and dental consultant services, topographic mapping services, and water quality analysis. Additional contracts have been established for electrical and air conditioning/heating improvements and/or repairs to County buildings. This approach to alternate service delivery eliminates Government replication of services and reduces funding requirements for County programs and activities. Capital project contract management and engineering services have been established as requirement contracts. Alternate Service Delivery

Private Investments

Under certain circumstances, County Government encourages private investments in the form of partial or total financial participation (or matching funds) to support programs or projects that would otherwise not be implemented for the public good alone. Examples of this would include developer participation in road construction, water and sewer lines, and lateral extensions. When the costs of public investment are directly related to a private benefit, such as infrastructure in residential developments, County Government will seek to determine equitable limits to cost sharing.

Direct Matching Grants

County Government can also provide public funds to private and nonprofit organizations to support activities that are directly beneficial to the community. An example of such a grant would be the County Government’s direct grant to the Harford County Historical Society for support

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