Thursday, May 16, 2013
Council correction of a $100,000 math error represents the smallest budget reduction in the last three years.
The Baltimore County Council Thursday took a little off the top of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's third budget. The council cut just $100,000 from Kamenetz's proposed $2.8 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. That plan includes nearly $1.7 billion in general fund spending paid for with county property and piggyback income taxes. "It's a fiscally prudent budget," Council Chairman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, said, explaining that the small reduction taken by the council was a reflection of the weakened economy and sluggish property tax receipts. "There really wasn't a lot to trim," Quirk said. "It's all muscle and bone." The proposed budget contains no furloughs or layoffs and no property or income tax …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Crime dropped in nine of 10 precincts in the county but increased in Towson. Rapes and some arson, robbery and assault cases also increase.
Baltimore County was a little safer in 2012, according to crime statistics released Wednesday by the Baltimore County Police Department. Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson Wednesday said all crime in Baltimore County decreased 6.7 percent compared to the previous five year average. Violent crime including homicides decreased by 11.1 percent in the same period. "These are some of the best numbers I've seen in my career," Johnson said. "You have to go back 30 years to find crime numbers this low," Johnson said. [Crime statistics released by the Baltimore County Police Department are attached to this article.] Last year, the county recorded 23 homicides. Over the last five years the county average is 29 homicides. There were 30 in 2011…
The Baltimore County Executive speaks about his outburst with senior citizens who heckled him at a school groundbreaking.
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz Tuesday used a news conference on rabies shots as an opportunity to joke about a confrontation between himself and seniors who heckled him at a school groundbreaking in Mays Chapel. "Contrary to popular belief, I did have my rabies shot last week at Mays Chapel," Kamenetz said. Attendees of the groundbreaking on Friday and television viewers may have been wondering after video on several news websites showed the executive angrily confronting seniors citizens who came out to heckle him. "Sir let me talk for a second, ok?" an animated Kamenetz shouted at the hecklers. "It's my job to talk and your job to listen right now." [See a short video shot by WMAR television and WBAL TV has a longer cut.] Don Mohler, a …
The Baltimore County Council was about to end a public meeting on the budget as soon as it started but one late arrival arrived with something to say.
It almost happened again. For the second year in a row, the Baltimore County Council was on track to end its annual public hearing on County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's proposed budget as soon as it began. Just as Council Chairman Tom Quirk appeared ready to close the meeting, in walked Jean Suda, an education advocate and member of the Dulaney High School PTA. "I was so flabbergasted by the fact that nobody was there," Suda said following the meeting. The council typically holds the public to a 3 minute rule during public testimony in order to allow everyone to speak and have an equal say. Suda received that and more. In fact, the council staff didn't bother to turn on the timer as Suda addressed her comments regarding teacher to student …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz: "I believe he has the capacity to recognize his failures and learn from them, and can successfully complete such conditions as the court might impose in disposition."
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz was one of three people to write a character reference to a Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge on behalf of Councilman Todd Huff, who has pleaded guilty to DUI. The letter, which carried the county seal, was part of a defendant's exhibit provided to Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Martin two weeks ago as the judge began to contemplate Huff's sentence. The packet included letters from Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, and Rev. Paul Cummins, retired pastor of Hereford United Methodist Church and long-time family friend. Kamenetz, a Democrat, was the only elected official to pen a letter on Huff's behalf. The letter did not ask for leniency for Huff or make any …
Monday, April 29, 2013
The state-mandated fee will appear on county property tax bills just in time for the annual July 4 parade circuit.
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz may not be looking forward to walking in July 4 parades around the county because of the recently passed storm water fee. Kamenetz, speaking on WBAL TV, said the new fees will appear on county property tax bills this July 1. "It's really a great time," Kamenetz joked during the April 21 interview. "I do all the Fourth of July parades and people are getting their tax bills. They're very happy and waving." We're assuming he meant that the audience used all five fingers. Earlier this month the Council approved the fees, which add a flat $21 fee to townhouses and $39 for single-family detached homes. The fee was increased by $3 after the Council cut rates for nonprofits. Businesses will pay a fee based on the …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Kamenetz: "It's my job to talk, your job to listen right now."
UPDATED (5:08 p.m.)—The groundbreaking of a new school in Mays Chapel sparked an angry outburst from County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kamenetz was on hand Friday for the groundbreaking of a new 700-seat elementary school when he was faced by a group of nearly three-dozen protesters who oppose the school. At least one of the protesters can be heard in a video shot by WMAR television trying to interrupt Kamenetz before the county executive fires back. "Sir let me talk for a second, ok?" Kamenetz shouts back. "It's my job to talk and your job to listen right now." WBAL TV has additional coverage on its website. Don Mohler, a spokesman for Kamenetz, said the county executive became irritated after the protesters, who he described as senior …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A 2012 college teaching position held by Councilman David Marks, while legal, should have triggered an amended financial disclosure report.
Baltimore County Councilman David Marks said Thursday that a 2012 teaching job at a local university should have been part of his required financial disclosures. Marks acknowledged the job and failure to file an amended report last year with the Baltimore County Ethics Commission during an interview. "It was an oversight," Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, said after being asked about the job. The undisclosed teaching job as well as two previously disclosed consulting positions do not appear to violate county law. Marks said the teaching job will appear in disclosure forms that he has already filed that will be made public next month. Following the interview, Marks issued a statement by email: "As soon I was offered a three-month teaching …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Baltimore County Coucil gives nonprofits a 48 percent discount that will be offset by residential property owners.
UPDATED (8:54 p.m.)—Nonprofits in Baltimore County will pay a lower stormwater management fee courtesy of residential property owners. The Baltimore County Council Monday approved new stormwater management fees by a vote of 5-2. Councilmen Todd Huff and David Marks voted against the amended bill. One of the main amendments adopted by the council reduced the fees that will be charged to nonprofits. Under the proposal submitted by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, nonprofits would have paid $36 dollars for every 2,000 square-feet of impervious surface. The council amended the bill to reduce that fee to $20—a 48 percent discount. To offset the reduction, the council voted to increase residential fees by $3. Under the newly approved bill, …
The Baltimore County executive praises county employees but asks employees to "stay the course" because the proposed budget contains no cost of living salary increases.
UPDATED (10:29 a.m.)—Baltimore County residents will not have to dig deeper for local taxes again this year under a budget proposed by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kamenetz is expected to introduce his third county budget to the Baltimore County Council at 10 a.m. The proposed $2.8 billion operating budget will contain no increases in property or income taxes for the budget year that begins July 1. The county has not raised property taxes in 25 years. The county income tax rate has not been raised in 21 years. But Kamenetz's spending plan is larger than the limit set in January by the County Council's Spending Affordability Committee. That committee in January set the limit for ongoing costs subject to spending guidelines at $1.675 …
amdactivist
5:30 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
i 2nd that!! more ›