MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY

COMMISSIONERS MEETING

May 9, 2006

The Board of County Commissioners for Cecil County met in regular session at the County Administrative Building, 107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. The following members of the Board were present:

Nelson K. Bolender, President

Harry A. Hepbron, Commissioner

Phyllis Kilby, Commissioner

William C. Manlove, Commissioner

Mark H. Guns, Commissioner

Constituting a full Board.

The meeting was called to order by President Bolender at 3:00 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARING – CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE –

A public hearing was held relating to the constant yield tax rate for Cecil County for fiscal year July 1, 2006 , through June 30, 2007 .

Mr. Craig Whiteford, Budget Manager, read the following notice which appeared in the Cecil Whig.

The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County proposes to increase real property taxes:

1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2006 , the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 8.50%, from $6,494,584,638 to $7,049,861,279.

If Cecil County maintains the current tax rate of $0.98 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 8.5% resulting in $5,441,711 of new real property tax revenues.

In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.903, the constant yield tax rate.

The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.96 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 6.3% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $4,031,739 in additional property tax revenues.

COMMENTS –

The following citizens appeared and spoke in opposition to the proposed constant yield tax rate:

Jim Roney, North East

Philip Staas, Elkton

Vaughan Ellerton, North East

Elisabeth Simon, Elkton

Motion was made by Commissioner Manlove, seconded by Commissioner Guns and unanimously carried to set the tax rate for FY 06 at $.96/100 of assessed valuation.

PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FY-07 BUDGET – 3:15 P.M.

A Public Hearing was held on the proposed budget for Cecil County for fiscal year July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.

President Bolender presented the Board with the proposed Cecil County, Maryland Fiscal Year 2007 Board of County Commissioner’s Budget in the amount of $268,711,511.

COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS:

Vice President Hepbron, commented about providing for much needed services throughout the county with the proposed budget

Commissioner Guns, commented relative to the expenses in connection with the maintenance of county roads and bridges. He also spoke of the enhanced Homeowner’s Tax Credit program the Board will be looking into.

Commissioner Manlove, commented about the expenses of opening the Perryville Library and re-opening the Chesapeake City Library.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Jennifer Baker – spoke in support of increased funding for Cecil Partnerships for Children, Youth and Families.

Cesar Escaroles – spoke in support of increased funding for Cecil Partnerships for Children, Youth and Families.

Christine Valukas, VP Administration, CCC – spoke on behalf of the Cecil Community College and the Board of Trustees. She requested that the Board consider authorizing the College and Board of Trustees to allocate funding within their budget between operating and capital expenses.

Walter Thompson, VP CCC, Board of Trustees – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Sarah Colenda, CCC Board of Trustees – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Bob Biggs, CCC Foundation – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Mave Hesion, CCC Student Council – spoke in support of the request by the College.

John Zonbroom, CCC Student Government – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Toni Braham, CCC Teacher & Student – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Ralph Braham, CCC Teacher & Student – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Lisa Cameron, Chester Valley Mediation Services – spoke in support of funding for Chester Valley Mediation Services.

Ken Christian, Perryville – spoke in support of the request by the College.

Dr. Carl Roberts, CCPS – spoke on behalf of the Cecil County Public School System and thanked the Board and staff for their support during the budget process.

David Mitchell, Elkton – spoke on behalf of Human Services of the Department of Social Services and the importance of funding programs to assist families with special needs.

Chick Hamm, President, Economic Development Commission – commented on behalf of the EDC and the Office of Economic Development and their request for additional funding for marketing the BRAC initiative and tourism funding.

Linda Elwood, President, Classroom Teachers Association – commented in support of the Board of Education funding.

Maryanne Lisanti – commented in support of the Parks and Recreation funding.

President Bolender advised that a decision regarding the budget will be made later in the month, the date to be advertised.

- NIGHT BUDGET HEARING – 7:00 P.M.

President Bolender presented the Board with the proposed Cecil County, Maryland Fiscal Year 2007 Board of County Commissioner’s Budget in the amount of $268,711,511.

The following persons addressed the Board by expressing their feelings, desires and/or comments pertaining to the proposed budget:

W. Stephen Pannill

Harry Lenderman

Ron Sexton

Amanda Shertz

Ben Stull

Geoff Rando

Rich Bayer

Pat Folk

Vaughan Ellerton

There being no further business of the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

President Bolender advised that a decision regarding the budget will be made later in the month, the date to be advertised.

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Alfred C. Wein, Jr.

County Administrator

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Nelson K. Bolender

President