Leadership by example

County council members there voted to trim their budgets this year. Carroll voted to trim about 7.5 percent from its budget and Harford about 4.7 percent.

Their regional counterparts could learn from their fiscal restraint. So could Gov. Martin O?Malley, who declared an “emergency” and ordered state legislators to convene in special session to raise taxes before he or our elected officials could cull through the state budget for fat.

Faced with the same slowdown in the state and national economies, Carroll and Harford legislators chose to align their spending with economic reality instead of the demands of different interest groups ? without making it seem like a big deal. As Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski said, “Every year has its problems to work through. This was a difficult one because of uncertainties both with what was happening with the state and what was happening with the economy.”

Baltimore County should be commended for not raising taxes or fees. But Carroll and Harford?s prudent actions will make enduring a prolonged downturn in the housing market ? something economists say is likely ? easier on taxpayers. Municipalities collecting fewer transfer taxes and fees from slower sales on lower-priced real estate and dealing with fallout from a weaker job market are wise to get ahead of the economic wave whether it turns out to be a swell or tsunami.

Raising taxes to maintain spending must not be an option for Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore City next year if revenue doesn?t match expectations. Soaring commodities prices and a slate of new taxes are already burning residents. Besides, raising taxes only worsens the problems causing revenue declines. And bureaucrats will just make their jobs much more difficult in the future ? especially Baltimore City, whose 2009 budget soared more than 10 percent.

Businesses receive no praise for doing what they must to survive. But governments that trim are uncommon, and their officials are true public servants worthy of a thank you.