From Jim Richardson, Director, Harford County Office of Economic Development:
The government furlough, although facing delays, still promises to have quite an impact on the local economy. About 61 percent of workers at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) live in Harford County. That’s 13,200 of 22,000 Federal jobs at APG. While just four short years ago we were ecstatic about the 10,000 jobs BRAC would bring, today many of our residents are preparing to lose wages.
The current furlough time equates to nearly 15 percent of an employee’s salary. Defense contractors are already seeing reductions – some as furloughs and others as layoffs. So, if more than 13,000 people cut back in their spending over the next year, how will our local economy fare?
While the impact will be felt at our restaurants, retail and entertainment locations, as well as in real estate and banking, there are other sectors within the County that can buoy these markets. In the short-term, the rebounding housing market may take a little longer to rekindle itself or the retail market may grow more slowly, but we have not put all our eggs in one basket. Economic development in Harford County is about balancing all business sectors, including government. While we were busy welcoming BRAC jobs, we were just as busy prospecting other business growth opportunities.
One of the bright spots is the steadily growing distribution market. The recent signing of two leases, each over 500,000 square feet in Perryman, will bring major distribution centers to the area. In the manufacturing sector, Harford County is replicating the growth that is happening on a national level. We also have seen existing companies expand their presence in the County. Bizerba, Automated Coatings, Smiths Detection and Alcore have all grown in employment numbers, revenue and space.
In addition, smart companies are finding ways to diversify their products and services, as well as their workforces. Companies like Smiths Detection have expanded from just government-based detection equipment to airport security systems, x-ray systems and explosives detection for other users. Avon Protection Systems, another good example of market diversification, not only offers their global respiratory protection systems to the government market, but also to the law enforcement, industrial and firefighting markets.
Based on past history, we can also predict more entrepreneurial ventures. The greatest growth in our economy for the small business person follows an economic downturn. Why? It forces people to take that leap and work hard toward success. It sparks the spirit of entrepreneurism.
According to Entrepreneur Magazine, the biggest trends for small business start-ups in 2013 are in data storage, manufacturing, office space, management, beauty, energy drinks, digital health care and vending. These will be the next job creators, pushing our economy along steadily. The SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard survey for March 2013 (http://blog.surepayroll.com/march-2013-scorecard/) showed small business owners’ optimism rose to 68 percent, up from 59 percent in February. While small business hiring was down 1.4 percent and the average paycheck was down 0.1 percent compared to last year at this time, half of the small business owners surveyed said they plan to make new investments in their businesses in the second quarter, including new staff, technology and marketing. According to the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, companies with less than 500 workers had higher net job creation in three of the four quarters of 2011. Start-ups tend to remain successful even during severe recessions, seemingly because more people start their own companies due to layoffs or job losses.
Harford County has resources in place that can help both small business start-ups and current companies who wish to diversify. Facilities like the HBIC (Harford Business Innovation Center) and a new program called Ground Floor will provide resources for training, skills and the physical structure necessary to get fledgling companies or new departments off the ground. The Small Business Association (SBA) has a number of programs for budding entrepreneurs that will help in the start-up and growth process.
We have opportunities to develop new, thriving businesses and markets. With determination and innovation, we can face the furloughs and remain steady.
Make it hurt
LOL
Exactly who was ecstatic about BRAC?
We all knew it was going to happen like this, all these BRAC people head to work everyday wondering of its their last day on the job.
From what I’ve heard, the DoD has been very up front and open with its employees about what the furlough entails and how it will affect them. They’ve been encouraging early retirements (and offering significant buy-outs) to encourage older workers to leave so that a RIF won’t happen.
Two of my friends are delighted that they will have additional days to play golf. Keep your fingers crossed for more great weather like we are having today!
Furloughs are here. Yes the days off are nice, but the debt won’t be. For those that watch fox news and believe the Gov has spent too much, just wait until your small business loses money. Due to the fact that 70% of gdp is based on consumer spending, if there are fewer consumers who ia going to consume your product or service? So if you wanted these furloughs to happen and your business winds up failing; you asked for it. My advice: stop watching Fox.
My advice:
get a private sector job where you can be fired anytime instead of just furloughed after extensive overspending and negotiations
insert job justifications here =====> /0\
Would that we could let the private sector with its profit motivation and shareholder devotion drive the market place. there are times when doing things does not result in a profit in the short term or for the entity performing the work. Or simply be driven by enlightened individuals with tons of venture capital to spend. Enjoy your private sector job, work that does not generate a profit has also benefited the economy in the long term.
Claiming something is for the greater good or for the betterment of mankind does not justify inefficiencies. There are many things that only the government can accomplish but they just haven’t been doing it very well.
I’m all for things which improve the lot of mankind in general but that does not mean blanket permission is given for cronyism, personal fiefdoms, fraud, and nepotism. These are things that undermine the value that public works can yield.
nofurlough; You were doing pretty well in your estimate of what might happen to the economy. That is likely to be one of the unintended consequences that our Washington DC elite forgot to take into consideration. It is obvious to me and many others that the folks in charge went for the jugular on the opening gambit and tried to hurt as many people as possible with this approach. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that each department could have cancelled or delayed procurements or projects or repairs or construction to get through this cut back. The Transportation secretary told the administration that he could find his cuts without touching employees, and was told to go back and screw his employees. Your leaders, your employer is doing this to you. I think it stinks and I have absolutely nothing to do with the government other than having my income taken from me to finance it. The real issue here is that those of us on the bottom are going to take it from behind, once again, with no foreplay or KY. Now what the hell does watching Fox have to do with any of the above?
The Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force both announced they would not need to furlough any employees as a result of cancellations, delayed programs and other cost savings, but the Army stated they were unable to make such adjustments. It was the SecDef who decided that if one service furloughed employees, every service in DoD would furlough employees.
Arturro—well said. Our local and national economy will suffer if something is not done to curb this. Again, please read my solution above. I know that it would work.
What does Fox News have to do with this. Their talking heads tend to be very negative in general. Personally, I prefer a combination of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NPR. Being able to gain information from all of these sources and then analyze the information to come up with your own opinion is vital in today’s day and age.
Your comment does not make sense. Why would you want to hold accountable middle income earners? What about your elected officials? They created the mess, they should take it out of their pay.
Elected officials can not have their income taken away due to the 27th Amendment.
I guess since you belive fed employees have it so good, they w be taken out of the state tax contribution. The state of Maryland stands to loose 4.2 million. Where do you think that tax deficicency will come from. Bingo….the tax payers. You. Will you be the first one to complain if our class sizes in schools are larger.
You are drinking kool aid. Stop watching fix news.
It is disingenous of mid and lower level government employees to claim they have no effect on the enactment of government spending and services. Everyone is accountable, middle or otherwise.
The real spending happens at levels lower than the elected officials or even the upper managers. They appropriate and delegate, then step away to allow the little fiefdoms to ply their trades. The trade they engage in the best is making sure they spend every dollar while crying for more out of fear of budget reductions the following year. Common sense and judgement are out of the window as soon as a department thinks their positions or bottom line funding is at risk. Spend it all even if you don’t need to just to make sure you get as much the following year.
I’m not worried about Maryland taxes, they will go up regardless because of the same behaviours that are happening at the Federal level. A million less here or there will make no difference. Some political mastermind will just open another casino instead of addressing the real issues.
Class sizes are not as relevant as class differences. It’s time for government workers to stop being a protected class.
I don’t watch the riff raff on FOX or MSNBC or even CNN for that matter. I can formulate my own opinions without the input of talking heads.
I’m pretty sure there’s a bit too much alcohol in your kool aid tonight.
1. Your comment is unfounded. All purchasing the United States Government is found within regulations I welcome you to check CFR 48–Titile 48 otherwise known as the Federal Acquisition Regulations. http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/48. Civil Servants work tirelessly to help our country and serve its citizens by making sure each and every regulation is upheld.
2. The Federal Workforce has been held accountable. In fact, they have not had a raise in three years. When was the last time you had a raise? I’m confident it was recent.
3. Why don’t you advocate cutting contractors. There have been recent articles that show that Contractors are the ones driving up the costs. The Government employees save money and serve our country. BOTTOM LINE! http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20105708-503544.html
4. Why should DOD American Civilians take a pay cut when DOD German Nationals are receiving raises, a bonus and an extra day off? If you support this, I do not agree. America COMES FIRST! http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-day-without-pay-defense-dept-workers-face-first-of-11-furlough-days-as-budget-cuts-kick-in/2013/07/06/e8a7ca14-e60c-11e2-bffd-37a36ddab820_story_1.html.
4. Your comment relative to Government employees to being a “protected class” is not relevant. In fact the Government is smaller then when Reagan was in office. Please take a look at the following article for evidence of this. http://www.govexec.com/federal-news/fedblog/2010/09/the-true-size-of-the-federal-workforce/40168/. The article is rather old, but illustrates that in 2010 there were 2.65 Federal Employees. During the Reagan years there were 2.77 million Federal Employees. These numbers indicate a decrease in the size of Government. This is evident that Government Employees are not a “protected class.” This is a myth.
5. Glad to hear that you don’t care about a million here and there. It sounds like you are a 1 percenter. I will tell you, however, that if consumers are taken out of the marketplace who will purchase goods/services? That field of individuals to purchase products/services will decrease. As I mentioned 70% of GDP is based on consumer spending. Therefore, why not put more consumers into the marketplace to consume your product/service? This furlough takes out 44,000 Marylanders from doing that. If you don’t think that this is the case–I encourge you to take an Economics 101 class. It sounds like you are a small business owner. Do you think you will not suffer from this? I’d re-examine your target market if you think that is the case.
SOLUTION:
6. Here is my solution to this problem of spending (which btw was inherited from GW Bush)–Cut spending in every agency by 10%. Yes you will affect jobs, but you want to do it in an indirect way. The reason why is because you do not want a huge demographic taken out of the workforce (or partially) taken out of the workforce. Once this 10% reduction is implemented, it will affect jobs 2 or 3 levels down (supplier or raw material side). These individuals can be retrained (with Government financial assistance) to become income earners. When they have been retrained they will start paying taxes and generating profitable revenue for our schools as well as other public services. A million here and there matters. Education is the number one thing that we have–so the next generation can continue the American legacy.
This approach, sir, is the responsible approach. I am confident that furloughs are NOT responsible, and diminish morale. Afterall the public sector is here to serve every American regardless of their political viewpoint.
I look forward to a factual response.
Federal Government debt= 16.7 trillion and rising
Fed spending 2013= 3.8 trillion
Fed tax revenue 2013= 2.9 trillion
2013 Fed deficit of .9 trillion
Your proposed “solution” cuts .38 trillion. Doesn’t cover half of deficit or even touch debt. Those out of work contractors better generate a lot of revenue.
SOURCE?
methinks the fed employee doth protest too much
Dear No Furloughs,
-“All purchasing the United States Government is found within regulations”
The purchasing power is in the hands of the people writing the PO’s or making the credit card transactions. I’ve seen many things put through them that had no justification. There are laws to govern conduct and then there’s the reality of such conduct and lack of consequence for said conduct.
-“Civil Servants work tirelessly”
Civil servants get more time off than most of the workforce and rarely work beyond an 8 hour day and often not even that.
-“The Federal Workforce has been held accountable. In fact, they have not had a raise in three years. When was the last time you had a raise? I’m confident it was recent.”
The only raise I’ve had in 4 years is to move from unemployment to government work which is practically employment for life. It almost takes an act of congress to fire a federal employee. Accountable? not really
-“Why don’t you advocate cutting contractors. There have been recent articles that show that Contractors are the ones driving up the costs. The Government employees save money and serve our country. ”
Removing overpriced war contractors from the equation will dramatically drop the aggregate cost of contractors. I have access to payroll. Base + overhead on contractors is normally less than the equivalent base + benefits of a federal employee especially after factoring in the large amount of paid time off. So the government employees don’t really save money. Contractors can be easily removed or replaced if they don’t perform, feds cannot. Employment for life.
-“Why should DOD American Civilians take a pay cut when DOD German Nationals are receiving raises, a bonus and an extra day off? If you support this, I do not agree. America COMES FIRST! ”
What does Germany have to do with an internal US problem? Feds have enough days off and bonuses. For years during the ‘pay freeze’ bonuses have been used to offset the lack of raises and time off awards are common. We have it good and you keep asking for more.
-“Your comment relative to Government employees to being a “protected class” is not relevant. In fact the Government is smaller then when Reagan was in office.”
It takes an inordinate amount of effort to fire a federal employee. It is easier to move them around or give them special duties.
Government employment is not smaller. Bush’s bait and switch of using contractors instead of direct hires was done to make the claim that government employment is smaller. An indirect hire is still effectively a government employee except in terms of accounting. Your article is old and uses questionable metrics.
-“Glad to hear that you don’t care about a million here and there. It sounds like you are a 1 percenter.” “It sounds like you are a small business owner.” “I encourge you to take an Economics 101 class.”
Small business owners are not 1 percenters and don’t need Econ101 classes.
A million is small stuff compared to the 3 billion per day the US is borrowing/printing.
It’s math.
-“Here is my solution to this problem of spending (which btw was inherited from GW Bush)–Cut spending in every agency by 10%. Yes you will affect jobs, but you want to do it in an indirect way”
As long as it is not your job, I’m sure your fine with it, or are you ready for retraining?
How about if you take a 10% pay cut and more people get to keep their jobs.
That would be serving your fellow countrymen.
“The purchasing power is in the hands of the people writing the PO’s or making the credit card transactions. I’ve seen many things put through them that had no justification”
If you have seen it and said nothing about it you can call the IG if you get no satisfaction from your management. There are checks and balances in place to assure transactions are conducted in the best interest of the taxpayer. If fraud is being committed, it is vetted and exposed following review. If you do nothing you are part of the problem.
“Civil servants get more time off than most of the workforce and rarely work beyond an 8 hour day and often not even that.”
A lie perpetrated by by people that have a hard on for a job they can’t hold for a variety of reasons ranging from lack of education, lack of ambition, and lack of integrity in personal matters that present a problem in obtaining a security clearance. If you are comparing us to the Walmart workforce and the Fast Food industry your comment is true – for other industries your comment is false. As for the hours we legitimately work – it’s not piece work and you insult me and my co-workers with your broad generalization.
“What does Germany have to do with an internal US problem?”
They are being paid with federal funds.
“It takes an inordinate amount of effort to fire a federal employee. It is easier to move them around or give them special duties.”
This is true but it tickles the fancy of all you private industry nutbunnies to think that giving a job to a contractor stimulates the private sector without increasing the cost of doing work for the federal government. Contract employees cost more and are used to displace government employees that should be the source for corporate memory – leaving the government vulnerable to a private concern sole source supplier that can charge higher prices for the same services.
“How about if you take a 10% pay cut and more people get to keep their jobs.”
Good idea. I like a 5% across the board cut for some belt tightening – how about you pony up some money to pay for the services we all use?
More kool aid: Thank you for your propganda. Considering you provided no back up to your statements I will dismiss what you said.
—“A lie perpetrated by by people that have a hard on for a job they can’t hold for a variety of reasons ranging from lack of education, lack of ambition, and lack of integrity in personal matters that present a problem in obtaining a security clearance.”
Your statement jibes with the elitest mentality I see too often in Federal employment. The we’re here because we’re the best and we deserve it attitude is a detriment to society’s view of us. Please stop using such justifications.
—“If you have seen it and said nothing about it you can call the IG if you get no satisfaction from your management. There are checks and balances in place to assure transactions are conducted in the best interest of the taxpayer. If fraud is being committed, it is vetted and exposed following review. If you do nothing you are part of the problem.”
In my experience unless you are dealing with an incident of large magnitude then it will be shuffled under rug to preserve the public integrity of a division.
I have reported things such as using CC to pay unauthorized tuition as an employee perk, to using CC for material that is diverted for other uses aside from the intended.
Missappropriation by diversion is too common.
Among other incidents these have all quietly dissapeared.
“Good idea. I like a 5% across the board cut for some belt tightening – how about you pony up some money to pay for the services we all use?”
Tighten the belts by a solid 10% and I’ll pay more to make up the difference.
Incidentally. Who cut education in Harford County? Republican Canidate for Governor—David Craig.
Leave the party warfare out of it. Neither side offers anything of substance and they reduce you to petty commentary.
It is disingenous of mid and lower level government employees to claim they have no effect on the enactment of government spending and services. Everyone is accountable, middle or otherwise.
The real spending happens at levels lower than the elected officials or even the upper managers. They appropriate and delegate, then step away to allow the little fiefdoms to ply their trades. The trade they engage in the best is making sure they spend every dollar while crying for more out of fear of budget reductions the following year. Common sense and judgement are out of the window as soon as a department thinks their positions or bottom line funding is at risk. Spend it all even if you don’t need to just to make sure you get as much the following year.
I’m not worried about Maryland taxes, they will go up regardless because of the same behaviours that are happening at the Federal level. A million less here or there will make no difference. Some political mastermind will just open another casino instead of addressing the real issues.
Class sizes are not as relevant as class differences. It’s time for government workers to stop being a protected class.
As county employee I’d have to say that you comment that “common sense and judgement are out the window as soon as a department thinks their positions or bottom line funding is at risk. Spend it all even if you don’t need to just to make sure you get as much the following year.” Could not be based on any fact of truth that I have experienced. My department has given back money every year that I have been here. Most departments have left over funds as well and the money goes back to the general fund. True, most departments try to keep their budgets fuller than they need to be just because you can’t predict exactly if there is going to be demand for a specific need due to natural events, catastrophe, emergencies or just unanticipated reasons. Your assumption that just because the federal govt works in mostly the manner in which you spoke, doesn’t mean that it correlates exactly to every local department. The county’s budget is always balanced an the county doesn’t carry a deficit forward in any year. Left over funds aren’t kept in a separate account but given back to the general fund to reconcile accounts at the end of the fiscal year. The next fiscal year will reflect the priorities of the CE and the projected costs, expenses and revenues and doesn’t affect the prior year’s spending or left over funds. My department has lost 6 positions over the 12 yrs or so that I have been here and our grant funded portion has increased which really means that funding is not guaranteed past the end of that grant. So those positions while part of the county aren’t classified and don’t require the county to fund them past the end of that said grant. In all my department has had furloughs and staff cuts, both in management and front line staff for the past 6 years. I am not complaining about it, in fact we are doing more with less and that guarantees that my job becomes more of a need as we already have become more efficient. My level of seniority also plays a part, as long as I perform my job according to county standards, the likelihood that I would be cut is lessened as newer staff would have to be cut first before my job is cut. I certaninly don’t feel like a protected class, in fact, I have paid my dues and my training and certification is something the county needs to have in order to obtain grants and funding which ultimately benefits the county’s citizens. Just because you may not need my service, you neighbor might and my work is valuable to the 3500 clients I have personally seen over the past 12 years. These clients are citizens like you and in fact, you may have received assistance from me directly. Ignorance is bliss, so keep at it, pretend that I am not needed and pretend that those that I have helped could have done just as well without me. In fact, I know that I make a difference in people’s lives and my work has value, even if I am paid by the taxpayer.
Federal budgeting is often based on previous year’s usage with little true oversight of how it was used.
Wrong again! Craig didn’t cut education. He cut the expansion asked for by the educators. Cutting growth does not equal cutting education.
Aturro, Craig cut teachers and aides. How does this equate to expansion?
We need to invest in education to ensure our students are ready to be leaders in coming years. Craig was looking out for himself politically, not the students. After his negative reception at the HDG parade I am confident that he does not stand a chance to win the Governors Office. He was booed out of his hometown.
How exactly do we “invest” in education? When I invest in a CD or stock I see a measurable return on investment (ROI). I stop investing if I see a negative ROI. The quality of the end product in our public education system is where the ROI can be measured. I have invested an awful lot of money in education and I don’t see much ROI.
Aturro, I’m not sure if you are formally educated, but education is an investment.
You are correct, you do not see a personal benefit from it.
However, looking at education from a micro perspective does not bring ROI.
Looking at it collectively through benchmarks(standardized testing) it does.
Education is vital in order to educate our future leaders and ensure that America is number 1 in the marketplace worldwide. Again, another reason why you and I are happy to pay taxes.
Actually NoFurlough I have attended a couple of schools. I have also taught at the University level and have been an instructor in the military. None of that qualifies me as an expert on school funding. Nor does being a teacher or union geek qualify them apparently. Just opinions and yes they all stink. The ROI to which I was referring has to do with the macro. When we rank number 28 in the world in science and math we are far from being number 1 in the worldwide marketplace. Our public education system, is failing us everywhere. Throwing more of the taxpayers wealth at it won’t fix it either.
And, by the way, I am not happy to pay taxes. I might feel better about it if the governments would take responsibility and use all funds correctly.
David Craig and the taxpayers of Harford County increased education funding $1.5 million for next year, and he has increased education funding 26% since he took office. Gov. O’Malley cut funding by $3 million for next year.
There are 550 more school system employees now than when Craig took office despite the fact that student enrollment has fallen by 2,500 students. You say Craig cut teachers and aides, but he has no power to make such decisions as teachers are not his employees. These are all Board of Ed decisions, and of the teachers the Board “let go”, all have either been hired back offered the opportunity to come back.
Get your facts straight.
Sarah,
Wow. This publication says otherwise:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2011/12/20/harford-county-education-association-david-craig-is-trying-to-tell-the-school-system-how-to-spend-their-money-he-is-not-allowed-to-do-this-it-is-against-the-law/
Fact is:
David Craig is anti education.
As I mentioned he was booed at the HDG parade.
He can not win his own town or own county in the election?
Time for him to drop out and concentrate on being a County Executive.
Where are you getting your facts from?
The County Executive’s decisions on HCPS funding are directly related to the decisions the school board has been forced to make. The 1.5 million was just enough to cover the increased pension costs shifted from the state to the county so there was no real increase in school funding. Any increase in school funding over the past years of Mr. Craig’s administration were for programing and facilities that he and the citizens of Harford County wanted and supported. I can’t say there is the same degree of support for his attempt to build a new high school in HdG and burden taxpayers with the added long term cost of doing so. His reception at the HdG parade would lead many to believe not everyone is happy with his decisions on school funding. Not every teacher who was let go has been recalled. You also ignore the fact that over two hundred classroom positions have been eliminated from HCPS over the last three years.
JC–Well said. Its funny how David Craig was the Assistant Principal atHDG High School. In fact I see him and his family at the school when there is an arts festival at the school. Ironically though, he has made some bad choices. When he goes to debate LT. Gov. Brown, I am confident one of the questions will be: How did you strengthen schools in Harford County. JC and I have made our case. Most people don’t know him in our state. When they see what he is known for at home, they will make the decision that he will not be a good Governor.
I would encourage you to actually use facts rather than just regurgitate the propaganda coming from HCEA’s union head. Here’s where the facts can be found in HCPS documents:
– 550 more HCPS employees since David Craig took office: http://www.hcps.org/departments/docs/businessServices/FY12CAFR.pdf#page=87 (Page 84 – Actually shows 666 more employees, but does not include recent cut backs, although almost all laid-off have been hired back)
– 2,500 fewer students since David Craig took office: http://www.hcps.org/schools/Enrollmentreports.aspx (40,313 students schoolyear before Craig took office, 37,656 projected for this fall)
– David Craig has increased education funding 26% since taking office (and increased it 35% on a per-pupil basis): http://www.hcps.org/boe/budget/content/FY13/Adopted/StatisticalSection.pdf#page=3 (Page 365 – $175.4m in FY2006, $221.3m in FY2014)
You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. I encourage you to actually look all of this up and see for yourself.
Sarah,
Thank you for your sources. My main problem with Mr. Craig is that he laid off staff. When the public outcry was fierce he tried to save face and rehired some staff back at more than likely a lower rate of pay. Why would anyone want to vote for a Governor who makes a bad decision and then trys to save face? Also what you do not mention is that HCPS is the 24th out of 24 counties in our great state of Maryland for funding per pupil. Mr. Craig is not a leader. If he was a leader he would not have made the decision to cut teachers.
Additionally, why would I want to believe a wealthy politician over a middle class teachers union?
Well, for one you’ve shown repeatedly that you have no grasp of the issues, nor do you have any idea how things work. David Craig has not laid anyone off since county government did about 30 layoffs 4 or 5 years ago.
The recent layoffs of teachers was not done by him, they were done by the Board of Education. David Craig is not a member of the Board of Education, nor does he have any say over the personnel decisions of the school system. He does not set teacher salaries, nor is he even a party to salary negotiations between the Board and the teachers’ union. Teachers are employees of the school system, not of county government. The school system is an independent body created by the State of Maryland.
Craig’s only ability to influence what goes on in the school system is when he sends the county’s annual contribution to the school system — which he and the county’s taxpayers have increased every year despite the fact that enrollment is falling and the state has been decreasing their share.
Harford County ranks 14 out of 24 in the state for county funding per pupil. (Overview of MD Local Governments 2013, page 97) Is that great? No not really. Is it terrible? Definitely not. But the fact that Craig has increased the county’s contribution to the local school system by 35% per pupil since taking office shows me that education is a priority of his.
You cant spend money you do not have, What money I do have is better spent by me, not the government.
Bleech, how can a Government function without money?
You have gone from foolish to downright ignorant. The middle class guy or gal in this stated is currently having approximately 60% of income taken away in some form of tax or fee to support one government or another. 30% is the actual contribution (note that it is a contribution even though we have absolutely no control since it is removed before we see our pay check). Now add real estate tax, gas tax, sales tax, capitol gains tax, etc, etc and you hit right around 60%, if you work for an employer. If you are self employed add another 7.65%. Taxation is confiscation of wealth. Wealth is measured in dollars. Money shoved into government functions does not come back out as a dollar worth of goods and services. Government needs money to function. What however is the actual function? When the government wastes resources, they are stealing my time. I can never recover it. Enough is enough! The ATM is closed. Somewhere about 20% ago the fair share was exceeded for those of us who are still producing. That my friend is econ 101 without a socialist slant.
Aturro, taxes are necessary. That said, they need to be used appropriately. Wealth is calculated by the dollar value you earn from your employment or other means (investment, real-estate etc). That said, taxes are necessary to run our Government–from a local, state and federal perspective. If you do not pay taxes you can not pay teachers, build or re-build roads, or defend our nation. Paying taxes is a patriotic duty that must be taken seriously. I look forward to paying my fair share to ensure that my child is educated and I am safe at night with proper police protection. I do not understand the concept that you discuss “Government needs money to function. What however is the actual function?” Those functions are described above.
The very point of the question “what is the function?” is very important. What is the constitutional, or charter driven function for which this money is being used? Think a bit about that. public security is certainly a function of government at every level. Is there, however, a need for police patrols in our community that come from the federal government? If so, why? The local, county and state ought to be able to effectively provide police within their jurisdictions. Yet, we have all sorts of federal police forces strewn throughout the land. Basically what I am saying is there is no place for federal government within all sorts of things. Why do we send money to DC to be doled out to the state for road construction. It costs about $1.75 to get $1.00 back out to the street. Why not just keep it at the state level? The final point to get across is that we are sending huge sums of money to governments at all levels and all of them appear to be piss poor stewards of our money.