Ulman hears budget wish list
County executive reminds residents of economic reality
By Derek Simmonsen
dsimmonsen@patuxent.com
Posted 12/22/08
Like children dutifully waiting in line to tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas, county residents at the annual citizens budget hearing told County Executive Kenneth Ulman what they wanted to see included in the county budget next year.
But Ulman warned residents he was likely to play the role of the Grinch.
“We are in the worst economic crisis that most of us have ever lived through,” the county executive said at last Thursday's hearing. “We’re going to have some tough times. There’s no question about it.”
While acknowledging the current state of the economy, a parade of residents urged Ulman to continue spending money on Howard Community College and local libraries and to consider building more skate parks, among other requests.
More than 100 people attended the hearing. Most, wearing stickers that read “Support HCC,” came to support the community college.
College officials said the falling economy has led to more and more people enrolling in classes, with the school projecting an increase of 10 percent or more this spring.
“As a result of our nation’s economic slowdown, enrollments at community colleges are at a historic high,” said HCC President Kathleen Hetherington. “We are definitely seeing and feeling the impact at HCC.”
The school is asking for money for a new health sciences building that will accommodate the growing nursing and medical programs, as well as funds for expanding parking space, which is in heavy demand.
Harry Schwarz, treasurer of the Association of Community Services of Howard County, which reaches more than 100,000 residents through 130 groups in the county, said his organization, funded partially by the county, needs county funding now more than ever.
ACS has seen an increase in need as the economy has worsened, he said, with a 20 percent increase in people getting food stamps, a 17 percent jump in temporary cash assistance and a 66 percent increase in people seeking information on eviction prevention.
“We’re talking here about basic survival issues for the citizens of Howard County,” he said. “Clearly the need for human services is growing.”
Like the community college, the Howard County library system is also seeing a surge in business, said Valerie Gross, executive director and chief executive officer. More than 2.6 million people checked out about 5.6 million materials in the past year and the library expects that number to increase by at least 20 percent in the coming year.
Jerry Vea, of Ellicott City, said his family takes out 10 to 20 items from the Miller branch of the library each week and said it has helped his 10-year-old son nurture his inner bookworm.
“Without the library, he would not have the outlet to fill his love of reading,” Vea said.
Daniel Crow, 13, of Woodbine, was one of several people who spoke out on the need for more skate parks. There is a heavy demand for the parks among young people and not enough places in the county where they can legally skate, he said.
“We’re not rebels or anything. We’re good people,” he said.
The county’s current budget year, which ends June 30, is on track to stay balanced, Ulman said.
Earlier this year, the county started examining all open positions to determine if they needed to be filled, eliminated many take-home cars and froze several million dollars set aside for construction projects, such as road resurfacing.
The state already has a $2 billion budget deficit projected for the next budget year, and with 40 percent of the state’s money going to local governments, the negative effects are likely to trickle down, Ulman said.
County officials are preparing two different budgets for fiscal year 2010 — one that assumes no growth in county spending and another that would cut spending by 5 percent, Ulman said.
Residents who were not able to testify can continue to send their comments to Ulman through the county’s Web site.
Ulman will submit his proposed 2009 budget to the County Council in April and the council will vote on the budget in May before it formally takes effect July 1.
But Ulman warned residents he was likely to play the role of the Grinch.
“We are in the worst economic crisis that most of us have ever lived through,” the county executive said at last Thursday's hearing. “We’re going to have some tough times. There’s no question about it.”
While acknowledging the current state of the economy, a parade of residents urged Ulman to continue spending money on Howard Community College and local libraries and to consider building more skate parks, among other requests.
More than 100 people attended the hearing. Most, wearing stickers that read “Support HCC,” came to support the community college.
College officials said the falling economy has led to more and more people enrolling in classes, with the school projecting an increase of 10 percent or more this spring.
“As a result of our nation’s economic slowdown, enrollments at community colleges are at a historic high,” said HCC President Kathleen Hetherington. “We are definitely seeing and feeling the impact at HCC.”
The school is asking for money for a new health sciences building that will accommodate the growing nursing and medical programs, as well as funds for expanding parking space, which is in heavy demand.
Harry Schwarz, treasurer of the Association of Community Services of Howard County, which reaches more than 100,000 residents through 130 groups in the county, said his organization, funded partially by the county, needs county funding now more than ever.
ACS has seen an increase in need as the economy has worsened, he said, with a 20 percent increase in people getting food stamps, a 17 percent jump in temporary cash assistance and a 66 percent increase in people seeking information on eviction prevention.
“We’re talking here about basic survival issues for the citizens of Howard County,” he said. “Clearly the need for human services is growing.”
Like the community college, the Howard County library system is also seeing a surge in business, said Valerie Gross, executive director and chief executive officer. More than 2.6 million people checked out about 5.6 million materials in the past year and the library expects that number to increase by at least 20 percent in the coming year.
Jerry Vea, of Ellicott City, said his family takes out 10 to 20 items from the Miller branch of the library each week and said it has helped his 10-year-old son nurture his inner bookworm.
“Without the library, he would not have the outlet to fill his love of reading,” Vea said.
Daniel Crow, 13, of Woodbine, was one of several people who spoke out on the need for more skate parks. There is a heavy demand for the parks among young people and not enough places in the county where they can legally skate, he said.
“We’re not rebels or anything. We’re good people,” he said.
The county’s current budget year, which ends June 30, is on track to stay balanced, Ulman said.
Earlier this year, the county started examining all open positions to determine if they needed to be filled, eliminated many take-home cars and froze several million dollars set aside for construction projects, such as road resurfacing.
The state already has a $2 billion budget deficit projected for the next budget year, and with 40 percent of the state’s money going to local governments, the negative effects are likely to trickle down, Ulman said.
County officials are preparing two different budgets for fiscal year 2010 — one that assumes no growth in county spending and another that would cut spending by 5 percent, Ulman said.
Residents who were not able to testify can continue to send their comments to Ulman through the county’s Web site.
Ulman will submit his proposed 2009 budget to the County Council in April and the council will vote on the budget in May before it formally takes effect July 1.
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