Howard County Officials Gather to Criticize Pension Shift Plan
Heads of government will discuss how their offices would be affected by the additional financial burden of teacher pension costs.
In a letter to employees two weeks ago, County Executive Ken Ulman said pay cuts and layoffs were in Howard County’s future if the governor’s plan to shift some of the cost of teacher pensions to the counties was instituted.
This morning, heads of the county departments that would see those cuts will join Ulman at an event dubbed the “Stop the Shift” rally. According to a statement from the executive’s office, the leaders will talk about the programs that “could be on the budget ‘chopping block.’”
The gathering is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the the Harper’s Choice Village Center Courtyard, 5485 Harpers Farm Road in Columbia.
In addition to Ulman, are Howard County Police Chief William McMahon, Department of Fire and Rescue Services Chief William Goddard and John Byrd, director of the Department of Recreation and Parks.
According to Ulman, the county would face an additional $17 million financial burden if Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed FY 2013 budget, which shifts a portion of teacher pension costs from the state to individual counties, is passed.
Also scheduled to attend are representatives from the Howard County Department of Education and Board of Education, including Superintendent Sydney Cousin.
Whether or not the Howard County Public School System would be directly affected by a shift in pension burdens remains to be seen.
Currently, a state “maintenance of effort” mandate requires a certain level of funding be maintained in local schools districts. O’Malley said at a budget presentation that the MOE mandate is "one of the big variables that we still have to work out."
Board of Education members have testified against the governor's proposed budget as well.
O’Malley has said that the shift will save the state about $240 million.
Residents and representatives from several different departments spoke out against the shift in front of the Howard County delegates at a hearing last week.
“With county resources already stretched very thinly,” County Council President Mary Kay Sigaty testified, “This will be an obligation impossible to meet.”
JaySmith
6:46 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
How about if Ulman does some critical thinking and makes a list for us.....2 examples: Family in Howard Cnty making $100k and family making $150k. How much in county taxes and how much in state taxes do the two families pay?
Then make a list of the 5 most costly state services, and 5 most costly county services. Show us, and let us think about it.
Come to think of it Patch......why don't you tell Ulman you need to see that list to inform your readers?
This is what good journalism should do, but almost always never does. Actually Patch, it would take you about 30 minutes to do this yourselves.
Mike
5:37 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Why is it that both the state and the county level feel the need to figure out what to cut to afford the pensions. It sounds like it is time to question the ability to afford the pension in the first place ! Just like privite industry has had to adjust pensions from reducing to eliminating them altogether. Is everyone afraid to start with the problem itself. Pensions are now to costly for both the State or the County !!
JaySmith
12:56 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Mike: Because the govt 'ees love to fleece us, the taxpayers, from their date of hire to their mid-to-late 80s.....their whole life expectancy. But you are right, and it's not fair. We in the private sector making $100k pay 12.4% of pay during working life to get social security that replaces about 28,000, that's 28% of final pay if we work at least 35 years, and it's fully payable at age 66. What's the County pension plan for teachers, police and other 'ees ? Is it more than that? Do they also get social security ... it's very un-nerving that the Patch, etc, media never has articles to tell the formulas. SS formula is basicallly less than 1%/year to 35 years payable at age 66. Pretty much sucks. County 'ees probably get 3 or 4 times that because payable so much sooner, doubles the cost by paying at 58 or so. Then x4 if formula is 2%, not 1%.