The Anne Arundel County Council passed its $1.22 billion spending plan as expected with cuts to education and grants, but also a tax relief.
“We?ve heard a lot about what?s not in the budget, but not really a focus on what?s in the budget,” Council Chairman Ronald Dillon, R-District 3 said, on Thursday.
“This budget is closer to what the citizens wanted.”
The budget features a 2.9 percent drop in the property tax level, dropping the rate to 0.891 cents per $100 assessed value. The owner of a $450,000 property now will pay $4,009.50.
Though assessments went up 2 percent this year, the average taxpayer will see a drop in his or her bill.
Dillon said the budget includes a 6 percent raise for teachers, 111 new teachers, 30 new firefighters for the growing Annapolis Neck area and new road projects.
County Executive John Leopold came under fire for cutting the requested funding for public education and nonprofit grants in half. He and the council eventually pumped $8 million back into the budget, though it did not fully meet the requests.
The mandated cap on tax revenues led to the decreased rate, which strained the county?s largest revenue stream, officials said. That fact, along with Leopold?s fiscally conservative philosophy, led to cuts and a trimming down of the government.
It could be even worse next year given the projected structural deficit of the state budget, officials said.
Anne Arundel may lower its tax rate again to comply with the revenue cap, county budget officer John Hammond said.
“[Next year] it?s going to be hard to find ways to fund worthy nonprofits,” said Councilman Edward Reilly, R-District 7.
The council did not comment much on the budget, though some congratulated one another for being civil during the budget deliberations.
The budget will go into effect July 1. To review the document, visit the county?s Web site at www.aacounty.org.
