FY 23 Approved Budget Book

COUNTY BUDGET POLICIES AND PROCESS

food and fiber for all citizens of the State. MALPF, along with the Maryland Department of Planning, co-administers the Certification of Local Agricultural Land Preservation Programs. Revenue for MALPF is derived from the following sources: • Maryland State Property Transfer Tax - Harford County receives a portion of this tax assessed on all real property transfers. • Maryland State Agricultural Land Transfer Tax - Maryland imposes a State Agricultural Land Transfer Tax on all transfers of title on agricultural land taken out of production. Maryland counties without Certified Agricultural Land Preservation Programs are required to remit two-thirds of the revenue to MALPF. Counties retain one third for agricultural land preservation purposes. Counties with Certified Local Agricultural Land Preservation Programs may retain 75% of the Agricultural Transfer Tax collected, for preservation purposes, and are required to remit only 25% to the Foundation. Harford County does have a certified program. Parks and Recreation Special Fund - A special revenue fund was established March 20, 2001 to cover revenues and expenses related to the self-supporting activities of the Emmorton Recreation and Tennis Center, Recreation Councils, and/or the Oakington Peninsula. A breakdown of the revenues for this fund follows below. • Charges for Service - Include fees, rentals, contributions, camps, tournaments, etc. • Other - Includes Fund Balance Appropriated, Capital Project Debt Service Payment and Miscellaneous Revenue. Harford County’s Budget Process The Budget Process includes elements of the County’s Five-Year Business Plan. These elements are broken down as follows: Determining Current and Future Resources and Expenses - Revenue estimates are made annually by objective, analytical processes that are appropriate to fund type. Revenue projections for the next three years are updated annually. Additionally, a Spending Affordability Committee is appointed each year by the County Executive. This Committee estimates projected growth in Income and Property Taxes for the upcoming fiscal year. Three-Year Expenditure Plan - Operating and Capital expenditure projections (in three year increments) are updated annually. Projections also cover the estimated operating impact of future capital improvements that are scheduled in the Capital Improvement Program. These estimates include the applicable debt service. Harford County is committed to the conservative policy of spending only what we can afford. Incorporating the Strategic Plan - Harford County asks that every department and agency that receives County funding develop their own Mission Statement and Goals that support the County’s overall Vision, Mission and Goals. In addition, these departments and agencies must establish short term objectives to meet their goals. Review of these goals and objectives takes place during the annual budget process.

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