Proposed teacher pension shift legislation would lead to major cuts in services and workforce
On Friday, March 2, 2012, County Executive Pollitt, along with other elected leaders from all nine Maryland Eastern Shore counties, converged on Annapolis in a unified effort to present to members of the State Legislative Delegation their concerns regarding the proposed teacher pension shift legislation. The meeting was spearheaded by County Executive Pollitt and included MACo’s Director, Michael Sanderson.
Delegates and Senators for the Eastern Shore counties listened to Wicomico County Director of Finance, Andrew Mackel’s presentation that included point-by-point accounts of how the shift would place an unfair and devastating burden on revenue-strapped local governments. It also outlined projected fiscal impact data and detailed how counties have been struggling with declines in recurring revenues, general fund balances and the loss of state highway user revenue. Other elected leaders expressed their frustrations with the timing of the legislation while counties are facing high unemployment rates. State officials were reminded that constituents will be the ones to bear the burden with increased taxes.
“Our concern is that we can’t look at teacher pensions, MOE, and state funding formulas for education in silos – independent from everything else,” Pollitt said, “All of us want to do the best that we can for our children. When we were able to, almost every county has met or exceeded maintenance of effort. Our obligation should be to take a comprehensive look at how we fund education and the product that we deliver to our children.”
NEWS_RELEASE_-_STOP_THE_SHIFT.pdf
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They ought to be protesting against Norm Conway's bill to let the state direct the "piggyback" tax revenue to the Board of Ed. -- that's HB1412 -- and Conway is trying to screw Wicomico County.
ReplyDeleteI think its more than a burden,it would bankrupt most eastern shore counties!
ReplyDeleteHow ironic-- the policies of tax-and-spend democrats (like Ricky) is what created this situation, and now it flows downhill to bite him in the butt.
ReplyDeleteThis money is going to come from the taxpayers. Either out of one pocket or the other.
Your boy O'Mickey needs more money to fund his presidential aspirations, and he doesn't mind throwing you under the bus to make himself look good.
11:28
ReplyDeleteThe same group also expressed their disapproval of HB 1412. Despite the commentary you may have read on this blog yesterday, Executive Pollitt has expressed his opposition to HB 1412 in very clear terms
Wayne, you are correct. However, do you actually believe that to be true? I'm not saying he didn't say that, he did. However, Rick said he wasn't made aware of this proposal, therefore he didn't support it FOR THAT REASON.
ReplyDeleteYou know what Wayne, you have to be really careful of what a politician says because their expertice is to twist words in their favor.
Joe: Yes , I know it is true. The bill is opposed on philosophical grounds. Certainly it came as a surprise but that is not the reason for opposition. It's inappropriate to violate the will of the electorate as set out in HB 1412. Beyond that, the fiscal impact of the bill would be devastating to Wicomico and many other counties .
ReplyDeletePollitt said "All of us want to do the best we can for our chi.dren"...then how come they turn their heads the other way when they hear about REAL issues that affect the children directly, but if it is about giving the BOE more money, or any mention of money for that matter, then the politicians suddenly appear all concerned for the children?
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