FY 27 Proposed Budget in Brief

My budget also invests in state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment for deputies, who put their lives on the line to protect us. Record-level funding is provided for the court system and state’s attorney’s office to help keep criminals off our streets. Funding is also provided for school safety. Education K-12 education will receive record-level funding, the second highest dollar increase in county history. This includes full funding for instructional salary increases requested by the school board and the $60,000 starting salaries for new teachers, as required by the state. Harford provides local per pupil funding in line with our per-capita-income peers, such as Carroll and Baltimore counties. As the state continues to support its runaway spending by pushing some costs onto the counties, we continue to absorb these unexpected cost shifts, which include $3M more for private pre-K and teacher pensions next year. Capital projects for public schools include a new elementary school, the new Harford Academy, a new roof for Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary, and a new HVAC system for Edgewood Middle, and many more. Harford County Public Library will receive record-level funding and Harford Community College’s operating budget request is fully funded. Funding is also provided for the college’s new workforce development center. Quality of Life Despite state cutbacks, my administration continues to invest in schools, parks and roads, including funding set aside so we can act quickly when land becomes available to build turn lanes and other improvements that help traffic flow. Investments in parks and recreation facilities include new fields in Fallston and Joppatowne; parks in Norrisville and Edgewood; Aberdeen’s activity center, and park improvements at Eden Mill, Schuck’s Road, Mariner Point, and our crown jewel Oakington Peninsula Park System. In closing, I would first like to thank our taxpayers. Thanks also to my budget team and all county employees for their outstanding work on behalf of the citizens we serve.

Very truly yours,

Robert G. Cassilly

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