The Harford County Council unanimously approved the county?s budget Tuesday night with amendments that restored some of the funding cut from the county executive?s chief of staff.
The $740 million budget was passed by the four council members present, making it law unless it is vetoed by County Executive David Craig. Council Members Veronica Chenowith, Robert Cassilly and Cecelia Stepp were absent, making every vote crucial: County law requires four of seven votes for the budget to pass.
“The good news was that at the end of the day, we got the budget passed,” said Council President Robert Wagner.
After a full day of negotiations, it is believed that Craig will not veto any of the items in the budget, said Council Member Richard Slutzky.
On Monday, the council made more than 100 amendments to the budget, including a change that cut out all $461,819 allocated for the new Chief of Staff?s Office. By the time the budget was passed Tuesday night, more than 200 changes were made ? mostly slight tweaks and balances that trickled down through totals and subtotals, Slutzky said.
“For a county to go from ? having a chief of staff budget of zero to one of $400,000 is a lot to ask,” Guthrie said.
Negotiations between the County Council and the executive lasted all day, said Council Member Dion Guthrie, and the meeting went until 11 p.m. as final tweaks were proposed and passed ? including $14,000 for planning Edgewood?s redevelopment that was part of the chief of staff?s funding. Grants for agricultureinitiatives, funds for the chief of staff?s secretary and money for C. John Sullivan?s old position in the Office of Economic Development were also restored.
“We never intended for anyone to lose their jobs,” Wagner said.
Now that the budget process is over, officials are hoping the stresses and strains between Craig and the council can be healed. Both parties exchanged barbs as the budget was made, particularly over the proposed promotion of Sullivan.
