County Address

The following is the complete text of Harford County Executive David Craig's 2013 State of the County Address delivered at the Harford County Council legislative session on Tuesday, Feb. 5: "Where there is no vision, the people perish", so it is written in Proverbs 29: 18. This statement is as true today as it was when it was written centuries ago. Good evening, President Boniface and members of the Harford County Council. It is my pleasure to come before you tonight to present to you and the people of Harford County, the State of the County.

The following is the complete text of Harford County Executive David Craig's 2013 State of the County Address delivered at the Harford County Council legislative session on Tuesday, Feb. 5: "Where there is no vision, the people perish", so it is written in Proverbs 29: 18. This statement is as true today as it was when it was written centuries ago. Good evening, President Boniface and members of the Harford County Council. It is my pleasure to come before you tonight to present to you and the people of Harford County, the State of the County.

Robey will give State of the County address Jan. 16 County Executive James N. Robey will give his fourth State of the County address to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 the Sheraton Columbia Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia. Early reservations are advised. Space is limited. The cost is $35 for chamber members; $45 for others. A $10 surcharge will be added for registration after Jan. 11. The gathering is sponsored by Citizens National Bank, Spherion and MedStar Health.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz proposed Thursday a general fund operating budget of about $1.65 billion that includes no tax increases but reduces the number of county employees through attrition. In introducing his spending plan for the 12 months beginning in July, Kamenetz highlighted proposed spending on education and infrastructure, including air conditioning for a dozen schools. His budget proposal, presented during his State of the County address to members of the County Council in Towson, holds taxes flat in part by taking advantage of the projected $21 million in yearly savings expected through voluntary retirements of county employees, he said.

County Executive Ken Ulman will deliver his State of Howard County address twice Tuesday. Following a practice he started in his first year in office, Ulman will present the address first at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, which is a ticketed event for chamber members, the business community and guests. Ulman will deliver the same address at 7 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. The evening presentation will be open to the public and carried live on Gtv, the county's government information station.

In his annual State of the County Address, Howard County Executive Charles I. Ecker vowed to keep county parks free of entrance fees, reform its personnel system and freeze income and property taxes for the final two years of his administration.Ecker also teased the audience, nearly 200 county business and political leaders gathered for a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Columbia, about his plans to possibly run for governor in 1998."Some people have asked me what I want to be when I grow up. Governor?"

The new Board of Carroll County Commissioners outlined goals for the first time yesterday, addressing an audience of business leaders and government workers during a State of the County address. The three Republican commissioners presented a unified front at the annual luncheon, which was sponsored by Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners Julia Walsh Gouge and Robin Bartlett Frazier braved icy conditions to address about 180 chamber members from business and government at Martin's Caterers in Westminster.

Carroll County's serious water problems must be resolved before economic development and residential growth can continue to flourish in the region, the two incumbent commissioners' said recently. Commissioners Julia Walsh Gouge and Dean L. Minnich focused on groundwater shortages and their impact on future growth during the board's State of the County address in Westminster Thursday. Newly elected Commissioner Michael D. Zimmer went in another direction, discussing the need for road improvements to curb fatal car accidents in the region.

County Executive James T. Smith Jr. is to scheduled to present his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 during a special session of the County Council at 10 a.m. today. Smith will also deliver his annual State of the County address during the session, which will be in council chambers on the second floor of the Old Courthouse, 400 Washington Ave., Towson.

We want your opinions THE ISSUE: In his final State of the County address last week, County Executive James N. Robey proposed a 3-cent reduction in the county property tax. If approved in the 2007 budget, the property tax rate would be dropped from $1.044 to $1.01 per $100 of assessed value. That means the tax bill for a house valued at $450,000 would decrease from $4,698 to $4,563. Do you think this is a fair proposal? YOUR VIEW: Send e-mail responses by tomorrow to howard.speakout@baltsun.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is asking state lawmakers to spend $70 million on school construction and renovations throughout the county, saying such projects are his top priority in lean budget times. The county executive, who addressed the county's state lawmakers in Annapolis Tuesday morning, also wants to consolidate some of the county's school and county government functions, such as information technology, nonclassroom purchasing and benefits administration. Kamenetz emphasized that he recognizes the state's tight fiscal situation, so Baltimore County will only ask for "what is absolutely necessary.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig pushed for long-term investments in education, crime-reduction programs, economic development and land preservation, while stressing the need to safeguard quality of life and maintain an efficient government, in his State of the County address to the County Council last night. Before announcing the initiatives that he is making the cornerstone of his administration, Craig looked back on what he called a year of progress that showed the county's fiscal strength while providing tax relief to its residents.

County Executive Ken Ulman will deliver his State of Howard County address twice Tuesday. Following a practice he started in his first year in office, Ulman will present the address first at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, which is a ticketed event for chamber members, the business community and guests. Ulman will deliver the same address at 7 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. The evening presentation will be open to the public and carried live on Gtv, the county's government information station.

Waste disposal, a county police force, water shortages and budget cuts are among the top issues facing Carroll County, the Board of Commissioners said yesterday in the annual State of the County address. Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge, president of the board, delivered the remarks on behalf of all three commissioners at a luncheon in Westminster hosted by the county Chamber of Commerce. In a 20-minute speech to an audience of about 200, Gouge discussed the challenges ahead, and accomplishments in the previous year.

The Howard County Arts Council has announced its 11th Celebration of the Arts in Howard County, to be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 26 at Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts in Columbia. The gala will feature a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a silent auction of work by local artists, gourmet food from area restaurants and caterers and musical performances on the Main Street Stage. After the reception, guests are invited into the theater for presentation of the Howie Awards and the Rising Star Competition for young performing artists.

A mobile health van will expand its hours and cover more territory throughout the county. The homeless and the uninsured will have easier access to a primary care clinic. Service agencies will work with area hospitals to provide more counseling for addicts. Those are among the expected results of a $625,000 federal grant awarded to Harford and Baltimore counties to help address health problems among the homeless. The approach is to provide better care to the homeless populations in both jurisdictions before their illnesses reach critical stages and they land in a hospital emergency room, officials said.

Collections office to close for training Wednesday until 12:30 The Carroll County Government Collections Office will be closed from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday for staff training to prepare for the collection of recordation taxes. The clerk of the Circuit Court collects recordation taxes for Carroll County and by law charges a 5 percent collection fee. Last year, the clerk's office collected about $6.5 million in taxes and $325,000 in fees. Beginning July 2, Carroll County will begin collecting the taxes at a projected annual cost of $75,000.

Carroll County Commissioner Julia W. Gouge was unable to give her State of the County address yesterday after a fall outside her home left her incapacitated.Ms. Gouge was on her driveway preparing to go to work when she slipped on a patch of ice, hitting her back and head, said Micki Smith, county deputy director of administrative services.She lost consciousness for an undetermined amount of time, then awoke, crawled to her car and blew the horn The commissioner's husband, Jesse L. Gouge, helped her into the house.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig reiterated his pledge to hold the line on county development while offering some insight into his forthcoming budget proposal in his State of the County address last night. Craig, a Republican appointed to fill a vacancy in 2005 and elected to a full term in November, began his remarks to the County Council with a promise to improve communication with citizens through a beefed-up Web site featuring more government documents and information. "I realize limited notices in the local paper are not adequate when it comes to keeping Harford County's diverse and evolving population informed and involved in their local government," he said.

State-of-county talk to be given by Ulman County Executive Ken Ulman will repeat his State of Howard County address at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. The event is open to county employees and the public. Admission is free. Ulman will deliver his speech for the first time at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the annual luncheon of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, an event for chamber members and guests that requires tickets.