Raises for county teachers, corrections officers rejected

An arbitration panel has rejected a fact finder?s recommendation to give members of two Baltimore County employee unions across-the-board raises, county officials said Friday.

In a 4-1 vote, the panel decided the county budget has no room for cost-of-living adjustments next year for members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees ? which includes county teachers ? and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses. The vote is a victory for County Executive Jim Smith, who has resisted raises for most county employees, citing state cuts and a looming recession.