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COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 12, 2010
Public Hearing for Citizen Input
The Board of County Commissioners for Cecil County met in regular session at the County Administrative Building, 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, MD. The following members of the Board were present:
Rebecca J. Demmler, Vice President Wayne L. Tome, Sr., Commissioner Robert J. Hodge, Commissioner James T. Mullin, Commissioner
Constituting a majority Board.
Commissioner Demmler opened the meeting and advised that the purpose for this meeting is to gain public input and comment with regard to the FY 2011 budget. The County Budget Manager, Craig Whiteford will present a preliminary fiscal presentation that will provide the Board with a foundation to initiate the FY 2011 budget. At the conclusion of the presentation the Board will receive public comment.
- COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS –
Commissioner Hodge welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated that he has been evaluating the FY 2011 budget since the FY2010 budget was signed last year and will continue with his fellow Board members to analyze every part of the budget throughout the entire budget process.
Commissioner Tome commented about the importance of "striking a balance" and is hopeful that this presentation and interaction with the public relating during the FY2011 budget process will prove to be informational to all.
Commissioner Mullin – welcomed everyone to the meeting and encouraged the audience to pay particular attention to the Capital Improvement Program.
Craig Whiteford, Budget Manager advised this meeting is to provide a forum for the exchange of meaningful information between the public and the County Commissioners in the early stages of the budget development process. The goal is to provide preliminary budget information to the public and to receive feedback regarding critical issues facing all citizens of Cecil County.
Budget Manager Whiteford advised the public of the key dates of various budget worksessions; advertisement dates; proposed budget and budget hearing notices; and public hearings on the Constant Yield Rate and 2011 Budget; and eventually the formal adoption date, and encouraged members of the public to attend.
As a result of the continued decline of the national economy, coupled with the continued decline in home sales and construction the state is expecting an estimated $2.2 B shortfall for 2011. The County has been working diligently in the area of cost containment and has enacted several savings measures to date: ASHRAE Standard for 55 for indoor temperature control in all county buildings; initiation of audit for telecommunication expenses, potential reduction of hours at transfer stations; enrollment in a demand response program for the Senecca Point Wastewater Treatment Plant; paperless initiatives; promotion of network printing; and promotion of tar & chip in place of pavement overlay.
Certain budget assumptions for FY 2011 are as follows: Request must be submitted at the minimum level that will allow for the operation of the various departments, essentially, a zero based budget, or proposed cost of living wage increase, or steps increases; no new positions; no new/additional equipment; adapting fleet to vehicles with improved gas mileage; GPS tracking units; pay-go capital expenditures will be severely reduced; capital projects that are not currently under construction will be deferred.
Mr. Whiteford also reviewed over the Assessable Base Overview of Cecil County real property valuations and the FY 2011 Estimated General Fund Revenues
Budget Initiatives for Public Safety; Cecil County Public Schools; Cecil College, Libraries and Public Works were presented and included: Replacement of 14 patrol vehicles; support for contractual continuation for food and medical services at the Detention Center; construction funds to renovate/expand Detention Center and additional positions due to expansion; wage package COLA capped at 1.8%, applicable to all negotiating groups of the Cecil County Public Schools; systemic renovation Thomson Estates Elementary and North East High School, planning efforts for Perryville Elementary; support of Maintenance of Effort; continued support of the Engineering & Math facility design/construction, Cecil College; continued to look for a solution to relocating headquarter facilities of Cecil County Public Library; pursue land acquisition for future North East Branch Library, installation of new security and self-checkout systems for Elkton and Rising Sun branches; expansion of Seneca Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, Central Landfill expansion, and Landfill Gas-to-Energy Beneficial Use project.
The following individuals commented on the preliminary FY 2010 Cecil County Budget:
Henry Shaffer, Cecil County Public Schools Barbara Dickson, Rising Sun, MD Donna Caudill, Elkton, MD Chris Zeauskas, Elkton, MD Douglas Hill, Elkton, MD Andrea Pugh, Elkton, MD John Judway, Elkton, MD Mark Camholz, Earleville Eric Ellsworth, Rising Sun, MD Jackie Gregory, Elkton, MD Ted Patterson, Perryville, MD Ron Lobos, Elkton, MD
COMMISSIONERS' CLOSING COMMENTS –
Commissioner Demmler encouraged all citizens to attend the weekly worksessions and bi-weekly meetings and of the postings on the Cecil County Government website.
Commissioner Mullin invited everyone to attend future Commissioners' meetings.
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