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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031218 December 18, 2002 Hagerstown, Maryland Meeting with the County Delegation to the General Assembly A special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. Members of the County Delegation in attendance included Senators Donald Munson and John Hafer and Delegates Robert McKee, Christopher Shank, Richard Weldon and LeRoy Myers. The Commissioners outlined their legislative proposals for the upcoming 2004 legislative session. Runway Extension Project Commissioner Snook informed the Delegation that the County is attempting to condense the schedule for funding the runway extension project at the Hagerstown Regional Airport from four years to three. He stated that this would save a substantial amount of money for the County and allow the project to be completed earlier than anticipated. The funding request of $8 million remains the same, but would be distributed as follows: $3 million in FY 04, $3 million in FY 05, and $2 million in FY 06. Support for Bond Bill for Central Booking Facility The Commissioners discussed the proposed central booking facility and asked that it be included for funding in FY 06. Delegate Shank reviewed the process used to obtain funding for this type of project. The Commissioners indicated that they would expect the City to share in the operational costs of the facility since a large percentage of the arrestees are from within the City of Hagerstown. Support for Fifth Circuit Court Judge Commissioner Snook informed the Delegation that the County is in the process of making renovations to the Court House to provide space for a fifth Circuit Court judge and the required support staff. He stated that the Chief Judge has decided not to request any new judgeships in FY 2005 due to the State’s financial crisis, but has pledged to include Washington County’s request in 2006 if the financing and renovations are in place. The Commissioners asked the Delegation for their support for this request in the future. Parking Deck for Arts & Entertainment District The City of Hagerstown and Washington County are making a joint request for a $500,000 grant toward the construction of a new parking deck to serve the Arts & Entertainment District and provide additional parking for the students and faculty of the University System of Maryland, Hagerstown Campus. The Delegation stated that they would be meeting with City representatives in January to further discuss this request and agreed that it would be difficult to obtain funding for this project. Senator Munson commented that the State does not fund parking decks. Highway User Revenues The Commissioners discussed the impact that the loss of State highway user revenues has had on the County’s road system and Highway Department budget. They asked the Delegation to support efforts to reinstate the funds taken in FY 2004 and to be taken again in FY 2005 or, if this is not possible, to assure that this revenue source is not taken in FY 2006 and future years. Addition of a Second Deputy State’s Attorney Position State’s Attorney Ken Long has requested an amendment of Md. Code, Article 10, Section 40 for authority for two deputy state’s attorneys. Having two such positions would provide added flexibility in the office and enhance the chain of command. The Salary would be determined within the existing budget. DECEMBER 18, 2003 PAGE TWO Bond Authorization Legislation The Commissioners informed the Delegation that approximately $7 million of the $50 bond authorization is remaining from the 1999 request. The County is requesting $50 million in new bond authority to support the needs of the County. The runway extension project at the Airport may generate a request for grant anticipation notes later in the legislative process. Gaming Legislation The Gaming Office is seeking the following legislation: 1) The Board of License Commissioners would not issue a license to an applicant who has outstanding gaming proceeds, payments or fines. This would assist in collection of overdue funds. The Board of License Commissioners supports the proposal. 2) A wholesale operator’s license may not be held by the holder of a tip jar operator’s license or certain related parties, or an association of tip jar operators. These provisions would mirror regulations recently passed by the Commissioners. Lengthen the Time a School Bus May Operate The Commissioners stated that House Bill 358 lengthened the time a school bus may operate from twelve to fifteen years for Somerset, Wicomico, and Worchester Counties, with certain provisions to assure safety. They requested that Washington County be added to the counties included in this legislation. Alcohol Awareness Program This request is to add Washington County to Montgomery, Howard, and Kent counties that require that licensees who sell alcohol on and off site have at least one employee on site has taken a certified alcohol awareness program. This request was requested by the Board of License Commissioners. Agricultural Funding This request is to eliminate the requirement that the first $400,000 of transfer tax proceeds be applied to the purchase of agricultural easements, in favor of alternative forms of funding including a flat fee of $10 on each improved real estate tax account in the County. The Commissioners discussed various mechanisms for agricultural funding. They stated that a flat tax would spread out funding in a more equitable manner and would also continue to grow in the future. The Commissioners informed the Delegation that a task force would be appointed in the near future and that they may request enabling legislation for the use of installment purchase arrangements (IPAs) if the task force comes back with that recommendation. Excise and Transfer Tax Report Commissioner Snook reviewed the 2004 projections for excise and transfer taxes. He stated that the 2004 excise tax proceeds, which are projected to be $696,000, would be used entirely for Board of Education projects. The 2004 transfer tax is projected to be $1,704,000 and is allocated for agricultural preservation, the Board of Education and Hagerstown Community College projects. The Commissioners and the Delegation discussed capital funding needs for schools and the State’s position and funding levels for needed projects. The Commissioners outlined the amended Schools Article to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance that was adopted on December 16. Hotel Rental Tax Proceeds Commissioner Snook provided information on how the hotel rental tax proceeds have been spent in FY 03 and 04. He indicated that the County has chosen to allocate its share of the proceeds to economic development. Delegate McKee asked the Commissioners for their views regarding the proposal made by the Washington County Fire & Rescue Association for enabling legislation to enact a fire tax. Commissioner Snook stated that DECEMBER 18, 2003 PAGE THREE the Emergency Services Advisory Council is reviewing this issue and would be making a recommendation to the Commissioners. He indicated that it could take several years to implement this tax. The group also discussed funding for school capital improvements. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. __________________________, County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk