FY 25 Harford County Government Proposed Operating Budget

COUNTY BUDGET POLICIES AND PROCESS

Multiple Use of Facilities

County government requires planning coordination among its departments and agencies (including outside agencies) and private organizations (when appropriate) to ensure the functional lifetimes of all buildings and facilities extend well beyond the current generation. An example of a multiple use facility would be when the Board of Education builds a new elementary school. The County provides funds to enlarge the school’s gym; the enlarged gym is then shared by the school and various Parks and Recreation community groups. Other examples would be the joint Norrisville Library/Community Center and the McFaul Senior/Youth Center. Many operating necessities, such as office automation, computerization, and telecommunications are common to all departments and agencies of County Government. Current policy requires interdepartmental coordination and review of procurement requests to ensure compatibility of equipment, reduce duplications, and achieve the greatest cost savings prior to actual purchase. The Procurement Department has furnished pre-qualification policies and procedures for construction contracts for capital projects. The County works on joint bids with the Board of Education, Harford Community College, the Harford County Library System, and other governmental agencies when practicable. Coordinated Interdepartmental Procurement County Government - employees participate in a plan administered by the State of Maryland under provisions of Article 73B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. – The Employees’ Pension System of the State of Maryland established on January 1, 1980. Harford County joined this Plan on July 1, 1999. Plan members contribute 7% of their covered salary, while Harford County Government is required to contribute at an actuarial determined rate. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office Pension System - is a single employer defined benefit pension trust plan established by Harford County effective July 1, 1997 for certain law enforcement and correctional employees of the Office of Sheriff of Harford County. Plan members are required to contribute 7% of their annual covered salary. The County is required to contribute at an actuarial determined rate. The system provides retirement, disability and death benefits to plan members and their beneficiaries. Effective July 1, 2005, per Bill 05-22, a Cost of Living increase of the CPE-U is limited to 3% applied each July 1. Harford County Bill No. 97-20 assigns the authority to establish and amend the benefit provisions of the plan to Harford County Government by County ordinance. The Harford County Council adopted resolution number 20-06 on June 6, 2006 to approve participation in the law enforcement officers’ pension system (LEOPS) effective July 1, 2006. Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s who are sworn, certified law enforcement officers are eligible for LEOPS. The plan is administered by the State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland. Plan members contribute 4% of their covered salary while Harford County Government is required to contribute at an actuarial determined rate. The Volunteer Firemen’s Pension System - was instituted by Harford County Government on January 31, 1975 and is a single employer defined benefit Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). Based on County statutes, firemen and ambulance personnel are eligible to participate upon accumulating “50 (fifty) points”, which are determined in accordance with a specific point system. Benefits vest upon 25 years of service credit and are payable at 55 years of age. The County must Retirement Plans

31