County salary board recommends raises for executive, council
If OK'd, would go into effect in 2010
By Bryan P. Sears
bsears@patuxent.com
Posted 11/19/09
The county five-member Personnel and Salary Board voted 4-0 Wednesday morning to approve an 8 percent raise for the next county executive. The salary will increase from $150,000 to $162,000. A fifth member was not present and did not vote.
Also recommended was an 8 percent raise to increase the council chairman’s salary from $60,000 to $64,800 and the base salary for a council member from $54,000 to $58,320. That proposal failed.
The recommendations were “based on salary adjustments that have been given to general county employees during the last four years,” according to Teresa Tacka, chief of classification and compensation.
Tacka said that general county employees received a total salary increase of 8 percent between 2007 and current budget years.
The salary board proposed and approved a 2 percent raise for members of the council, who will be elected in November 2010, increasing the base council salary by $1,080 to $55,080 annually. The chairman’s salary would increase by $1,200 to $61,200.
“We are recognizing the efforts of the County Council but we took into (account) all of the other perks and the other benefits that go with that salary,” said William Flattery, salary board chairman during this morning’s hearing that lasted slightly longer than 7 minutes. Flattery did not elaborate on what those benefits were.
Flattery, speaking for the board, said they approved a larger raise for the county executive because of the strong fiscal management that the county has demonstrated over the last four years, noting that Baltimore County has not laid off or furloughed employees over the last two years as other jurisdictions have.
Flattery added that the proposed raise for the county executive is less than the current executive salaries in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties — both of which pay about $175,000 annually. Both of those counties have faced budget deficits in the last year which has required employee furloughs.
Although the council’s Spending Affordability Committee sets limits on how much the budget can grow, the salary board credited the executive with leading the fiscal management of the county.
“We didn’t think about it as co-equals,” Flattery said. “In the business world, the CEO would be the county executive. When you’re at a fire the chief is the chief.”
Flattery said the council’s proposed salary increase, if approved, “will be in line” with other counties.
Salaries for council members and the executive cannot be changed in the middle of a term.
The recommendations will go to the seven-member council in the form of a bill. Five members will have to approve the proposed increases for the county executive. Four votes are needed to approve raises for the County Council.
If approved, the increases would go into effect in December 2010 after the next council and executive are sworn in.
Two council members said they did not think the raises were appropriate given current economic conditions. Joseph Bartenfelder, a Democrat who represents the 6th District, said he would not vote for the proposed raises.
"As far as I’m concerned it can be zero and zero,” said Bartenfelder, who represents Middle River, Fullerton and Parkville and who has announced he is running for county executive in 2010.
“The salaries for both (positions) are appropriate,” Bartenfelder said.
Bryan McIntire, the council’s lone Republican, who represents the 3rd District which includes Parkton, Cockeysville and Kingsville, said tough economic times mean belt-tightening for everyone. “In this year, which I think is going to be very lean, I think we’re going to be hard-pressed for funds,” McIntire said.
"If they (the salary board) appreciate the sound fiscal management so much -- then they would not be so generous with raises," he added.
Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, in a statement released Thursday morning, said he would oppose the proposed salary increases.
"This is not the time to be raising the salaries of elected officials." Kamenetz said. "We are in the midst of the most challenging recession in decades, and people in Baltimore County, and across the nation are working hard to make ends meet.
"Raising salaries at this time would send the wrong message to the people of Baltimore County. I will encourage my colleagues at this time to reject the recommendation of the Personnel Advisory and Salary Board."
Other councilmen did not return phone calls seeking comment on the proposed raises.
All seven current members were on the council when the last pay raise was proposed in 2005. At that time, Bartenfelder and fellow Democrat John Olszewski Sr. voted against the hike.
Steve Bailey, co-chair of the Baltimore County chapter of Americans for Prosperity, said that with “the economy being what it is, raises should be off the table.”
Bailey’s group organized a rally on Monday night to urge members to reform a council pension plan some called lucrative and “gold-plated.”
Councilman Vince Gardina, a five-term councilman, is retiring after this term and will be eligible for 100 percent of his salary as a pension. Four other council members including Bartenfelder, McIntire, Kevin Kamenetz and Sam Moxley have served four terms and would be eligible for 80 percent of their salary should they not be re-elected or decide to run in 2010.
“This year, more than any other whatever raise is voted on and approved will be before the voters,” Bailey said.
This story has been updated.
user comments (18)
user sbyrne says...
This is a perfect example of the "special friends" network. Our Baltimore County Police Officers, School Teachers and EMS personel need raises, equipment and funding. Yet again, they will have to sacrifice. However the politicians are voting themselves for raises. This is a small example of the larger problems of current government. Where is Bob Erlich when we need him?
Posted 7:37 PM, 11.18.09
user stevetowson says...
sbyrne.... they are completely out of the loop, out of touch with reality, and clueless as to what the average family is dealing with these days. any Councilman that supports this, and accepts a raise should be a marked man on election day.
Posted 7:42 PM, 11.18.09
user dindygirl says...
If this goes through, I am voting against ANY incumbent next year regardless of party. Truely these poor men and women can scrape by on $150,000. Can't they?
Posted 9:00 AM, 11.19.09
user topgop says...
County Executive and Council raises in tough economic times is just another slap in the face to Baltimore County taxpayers. The arrogance of entrenched incumbents voting to pad their pockets with payroll and pension increases should cause citizens to wake up and realize we must change Baltimore County government NOW.
Posted 9:10 AM, 11.19.09
user gardeningdot says...
How can they vote for these raises when people are struggling financially in these hard times? Where is their conscience? This is an additional $19,680 out of taxpayer's money! Let's see who is greedy by their vote & who we should campaign for and against!
Posted 9:43 AM, 11.19.09
user qsoccerdad says...
Homeless shelters are full, County council getting a raise, makes perfect sense NOT!!!
Posted 1:09 PM, 11.19.09
user mdyoung216 says...
Nice set up to be able to vote on your own raise. American people need to wise up and clean house from Congress down through the state houses and to the local level. These so called public servant are only out to serve themselves.
Posted 7:51 PM, 11.19.09
user ranimerryman says...
One of the biggest issues that I see is not really the raise, though it is certainly a nice bit of salt in the wound. These laws were made decades prior, allowing bureaucrats the luxury of thinking it absolves them of responsibility. The fact is that several of them have had 4 terms to correct this knowing full well what the policy was. There was a conscious choice to ignore these bloated wastes of taxpayer dollars until they were called out on the carpet. It goes to character, not exactly what I would classify as public service, even if they do decide to vote down the raise. How good of them...
Posted 11:43 PM, 11.19.09
user josey says...
Typical government. . small business are hurting. . the federal government is cutting medicae to our seniors. . but we continue to give welfare for the dead beats and O'Malley made sure his cronies got big pay raises about 18 month ago. .than he raises sales tax. . no wonder people are moving out of Md. ..it is as corrupt as the white house. .and the democrate liberals in the senate. . .People are fed up . . and the whitehouse continues to put this country in debt and their will be no future for our children. . they are so PRO. .acorn. . seiu and socialist. . they forgot that they work for the people. .we nned to vote these useless bunch of nothings out .. both in Washington and at our local levels. .O'Malley is nothing but a stupid cronie. . calls Baltimore Charm City. . well how many murders have taken place their. . no control on the drugs at all in Maryland. . .the police do their jobs. .and the courts are in every politicians pocket. . .none of them want to work for the Hard Working Americans. . their concerns are themselves. . the illegals. .and the one's on welfare that don't pay a penny in taxes. . they will be the downfall of this great State..VOTE THEM ALL OUT.
Posted 3:34 PM, 11.20.09
user afpgwen says...
Isn't it ludicrous that politicians even consider salary and pension increases at this time? I suggest they take the extra money and send it to GOVERNOR O'MALLEY - he needs it more than they do. Has anyone heard yet that Mikulski & Cardin will be the first 2 Senators to sign up for the new government health care plan they are so hot for?
Posted 4:22 PM, 11.20.09
user dunesleeper says...
I was at the Baltimore County Council meeting when at least a dozen citizens spoke to the Council and approximately 75 people attending about the unfairness of the Council's salary and pension plans. The Council members were arrogant as can be, even as the entire courtroom erupted in applause after each speaker. Gardina got up and left, making some rude comments, before the public session. Kamenetz actually laughed ... a lot. It seemed very hilarious to him. He could hardly restrain himself. Oliver appeared to be napping on and off. Only Johnny O Sr seemed to pay any attention. Now I guess I know why. The fix was already in. Also, one of the Council actually corrected a speaker, saying that a raise was NOT on the table. Right!
Posted 7:00 PM, 11.20.09
user stevetowson says...
So.... how many people will vote against their own incumbents? seems everone want to get rid of the other guy's incumbent. Show some courage, and vote your own out first.
Posted 7:31 PM, 11.20.09
user hadenough says...
Who are these people that make up the Personnel and Salary Board? Were they appointed by the County Council? Are they paid employees of the County?
Posted 7:33 PM, 11.20.09
user kellymiller says...
Wondering why users comments who were once posted and don't now appear politically correct are removed.
Posted 6:52 AM, 12.01.09
user eeck says...
We do not remove comments that are politically incorrect; we encourage lively debate on our explore site. However, we do remove comments that are slanderous, libelous, profane or otherwise inappropriate. A comment from Mr. Leibowitz was inadvertently deleted yesterday. If you read this Mr. Leibowitz, we invite you to re-post your comments. Elizabeth Eck, managing editor, Baltimore County newspapers.
Posted 10:47 AM, 12.01.09
user amazinggrace says...
Time for the family leave act off. Six weeks wasn't it? Bill Clinton would know.
Posted 9:04 PM, 12.05.09
user augieboy says...
It's a raging inferno, [Baltimore County Council] but when left to it's own devices, it seems that it's everyone else's responsibility to "carry the water" - Shameful indeed.
Posted 4:38 PM, 12.07.09
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