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CUMBERLAND — Dale Lewis has the benefit of experience as Allegany County commissioner.
The Republican is seeking his fourth four-year term this fall. And he knows that should state lawmakers vote in favor of legislation that would shift the burden of funding pensions for teachers, it’s going to cause problems in Allegany County.
“It’s going to be a major hit,” Lewis said of the financial burden to Allegany County that could be up to $8 million and include funding pensions for public school teachers and employees of the library system and Allegany College of Maryland. “Whoever gets in this seat better be prepared to go to Annapolis.”
Lewis is one of 15 candidates vying for three available seats. Twelve of them participated in a public forum at HOPE Station Tuesday on North Centre Street in Cumberland. Candidates discussed a variety of issues, including economic development, tourism and comprehensive planning. Candidates’ responses to questions regarding the Bureau of Police and Sheriff’s Office took up the the first 22 minutes of the two-hour program.
Lewis said the legislative push is expected to come from Sen. Thomas V. “Mike” Miller shortly after the General Assembly convenes in January — and shortly after, Lewis noted, an election.
Commissioner Bob Hutcheson, who is vying to be one of three Republicans to advance beyond the Sept. 14 primary into the Nov. 2 general election, said Miller is “very adamant this is the way to solve the state’s (budget) problem.”
“Senator Miller is wrong,” Hutcheson said.
Commissioner Jim Stakem, a Democrat who is running for re-election, said Finance Director Jerry Frantz already has readied a “doomsday budget” should the need arise. Stakem declined to provide details in his one-minute turn at the microphone, but warned whoever the three officeholders might be next year that “you better know what you’re doing as county commissioner.”
Lewis promised that, should he be re-elected, tax increases would not be a part of the solution. Republican challenger Mike McKay wouldn’t rule out raising taxes as part of a possible solution to adopt a balanced budget. To say otherwise “wouldn’t be prudent ... (but) I do know we can’t afford it.”
Republican challenger Thomas “Dave” McNemar Jr. didn’t offer specifics on how he would approach the problem but emphasized he would “just hope it doesn’t happen.”
Bill DuVall, a Democrat with the support of local unions, said the matter “would require an immediate response” and make all the more important a line-by-line scrutiny of the budget.
Democrat Tom Striplin, who is in his sixth and final year on the Allegany County Board of Education, said a bill introduced this past legislative session — which did not pass — phased in the funding transition on a sliding scale. Full implementation wouldn’t be reached for up to six years, making the short-term financial blow about $1.5 to $2 million.
Still, that would require “innovate approaches” to fix the budget, said Striplin, who hoped the commissioners — who fund the Board of Education — and the board could work together to find a solution.
It’s the fact the issue is being discussed now that could prevent it, said Republican Mike Wade.
“It’s an election year,” Wade said. Voters, he said, should re-evaluate candidates who favor such a move.
And if all else fails, Democrat Rick Atkinson has another approach.
“I will go to Annapolis with a shotgun if I have to,” Atkinson.
Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.
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