Harford County Had 'Modest Increase' in Revenue in 2013

If Harford County's budget was slim last year, tighten your belts for 2014.

Harford County Executive David Craig said in a prepared statement that the county experienced a "modest increase" in revenue in 2013, to the tune of $7.6 million, attributed to income taxes.

Last year's operating budget was $640,392,012, which included a $9 million increase in revenue and was "one of the leanest budgets I've prepared during my term in office," Craig said.

This year's $7.6 million increase would be offset by expenses like county's $7.5 million share of teacher pensions and the 10 percent uptick in the cost of health care for county employees, in addition to other state-mandated expenditures and costs of doing business, Craig said.

The FY 2015 projections Craig released this week were preliminary—taking into account information from state and county entities—designed to help agencies like the school system and the sheriff's office develop their budgets.

In preparation for the budget process, Craig held a public input session on Nov. 25 at Fallston High School, which he said drew 250 people.

Approximately 70 citizens signed up to speak, mostly asking for school system funding, with some testifying on behalf of the parks and recreation department and the sheriff's office, according to The Aegis.

In January, Craig will hold meetings with individual county-funded agencies and departments. His budget proposal for FY 2015 is due by April 15, though he said he plans to submit it to the Harford County Council by April 1.    

The council will then hold hearings with county agencies and the public for additional input that may lead to revision. The budget must be approved by June 15, 2014.