Counties Are Better Budget Managers Than O'Malley 8/09

County employees throughout Maryland are riding the crest of a wave of higher salaries, benefit enhancements and strong pension programs in sharp contrast to the plight of state employees.

Watching from afar, state employees are well-aware of the gap being created between state and county employment.  County elected officials have placed a high priority on a stable and well-compensated workforce.  At the same time, state employees have seen their job status regress under the O'Malley Administration. 

Data compiled by the Department of Legislative Services for the October 14, 2008 Spending Affordability Briefing (click here) show that 20 of 24 local jurisdictions granted salary increases to their employees last year.  Most jurisdictions granted both a COLA and a step increase while avoiding any furloughs during the most recent fiscal year. 

Overall, counties generally granted a 3% salary increase with some jurisdictions granting even higher percentages up to 6%.  County teachers fared even better with 21 of 24 jurisdictions granting both COLA and step increases.  One-half of these counties granting salary increases between 4% and 6%.

Why do county budget managers succeed in rewarding hard-working employees while the state fails so miserably under Governor O'Malley?

Unfortunately, the ability shown to date by county elected officials and budget managers in placing a high value on their workforce compensation by managing other parts of their budgets will now get punished by O'Malley as they are asked this week to find $250 million in job reductions and programmatic cuts to bail out the state's poor judgment in budget management.