The General Assembly is currently debating a proposal from Gov. Martin O’Malley to shift hundreds of millions in pension costs from the state to the county governments.
Counties disagree that this shift will do anything to improve the sustainability of state pension funding. County governments don’t run the pension system, don’t negotiate teacher salaries, and did not create these costs — but the governor’s budget sends this ticking time bomb to the county governments — who would simply have to pay the freight without any say in the system or its costs.
In Allegany County alone, the new county cost for the coming year is $2,890,831. The fiscal staff in Annapolis says that would grow immediately to $3,729,301 the next year, and all the way to $4,354,820 over the next three years.
That kind if burden would put massive pressure onto the county’s taxpayers, and to the public services our citizens deserve and depend on. The state should resist the temptation to balance its budget on the backs of our counties.
We urge our senators and delegates to stand in opposition to these massive cost shifts.
Contact Allegany County Commissioners: Commissioner.mckay@allconet.org
Commissioner.valentine@allconet.org or call 301-777-5912.
Bill Valentine
Allegany County Commissioner
