HARFORD COUNTY UNVEILS NEW INFORMATION HOTLINE
In an effort to make it easier for citizens to access county government information and services, Harford County Executive David R. Craig has unveiled a new information hotline. Citizens can now dial 410.638.INFO (410.638.4636) to receive information or relay concerns related to county government. "This new hotline will serve as the first point of contact for citizens who have questions or concerns about any and all aspects of county government," stated County Executive Craig. "Whether their issues are large or small, citizens can be assured that they will find the information that they need, or can at least be led in the right direction."
"Often times, citizens do not know whom to contact when they have a problem with government, while others don’t like to speak publically at large meetings. I hope that this casual and informal setting will better enable citizens to have direct and personal access to their government," added County Executive Craig. "I look forward to meeting and speaking with many of our fellow citizens in the coming weeks," the county executive stated.
March 2010
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CRAIG TO HOLD INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH CITIZENS
"David Craig -- Unplugged" dates and locations announced
David R. Craig has scheduled visits to all eleven public libraries in the county, where he will be available to speak with citizens about all issues pertaining to county government. Dubbed County Executive David Craig – Unplugged, the visits are an opportunity for citizens to speak informally and in-person with the County Executive on a wide range of topics, including education, recreation, transportation, agriculture, jobs, and financial issues. "I have always taken the constituent service aspect of my job very seriously," stated County Executive Craig. "Local government is the form of government that is closest to the citizen, and these visits will allow the County to both provide information, and to receive input," Craig remarked.
March 2010
HARFORD COUNTY UNVEILS NEW INFORMATION HOTLINE
In an effort to make it easier for citizens to access county government information and services, Harford County Executive David R. Craig has unveiled a new information hotline. Citizens can now dial 410.638.INFO (410.638.4636) to receive information or relay concerns related to county government. "This new hotline will serve as the first point of contact for citizens who have questions or concerns about any and all aspects of county government," stated County Executive Craig. "Whether their issues are large or small, citizens can be assured that they will find the information that they need, or can at least be led in the right direction."
August 2009
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CRAIG SIGNS BILL INTO LAW
Harford County Executive David R. Craig signed into law Bill No. 09-23, Comprehensive Rezoning following passage of the bill by the Harford County Council at their legislative session. The bill passed the County Council by a vote of 7 – 0. "I commend and congratulate Council President Boniface and the County Council for their hard work in meeting the challenges of comprehensive rezoning and passing a bill that maintains the integrity of the Harford County Master Plan," remarked County Executive Craig. "The process has been open and there has been on-going dialogue between both the County Council and the Administration which helped bring this legislation to a successful conclusion," County Executive Craig stated.
July 2009
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CRAIG SIGNS TAX CAP LEGISLATION INTO LAW
In an historic move, Harford County Executive David R. Craig has signed into law Harford County Bill No. 09-20 "Homestead Credit Percentage" which will ultimately provide property tax relief for thousands of Harford County property owners. The bill, which was introduced by President Billy Boniface and several members of the Harford County Council in May, passed the council by unanimous vote earlier this week. "With the state of our economy many families are struggling to make ends meet," remarked County Executive Craig. "Many people affected by rising property tax assessments expressed their views to the County Council and me and we have acted accordingly," Craig stated. "Harford County Government is smaller, we are leaner, and we will continue to seek out efficiencies in government," the county executive commented.
March 2009
HARFORD COUNTY BREAKS GROUND FOR EXPANSION OF THE ABINGDON WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Harford County Executive David R. Craig, accompanied by the director of the Department of Public Works, Bob Cooper, Mayor Michael Bennett of the City of Aberdeen and Mayor Rob Preston of the Town of Bel Air, and County Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti, today broke ground for the expansion of the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant in Abingdon. The construction of the addition to the existing water plant is scheduled for completion in October 2011.
"Today we embark on our future with the expansion of the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant," County Executive Craig stated. "Water is vital to our businesses, commercial and industrial properties, and residential consumers. This project will help ensure we meet the needs of our community for many years to come," Craig remarked.
March 2009
HARFORD COUNTY AND CITY OF ABERDEEN SIGN WATER AGREEMENT
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced an agreement between Harford County Government and the City of Aberdeen for additional water for the city. The agreement was signed today at City Hall in Aberdeen. "We have been working for months to bring closure to the water issue as it relates to the City of Aberdeen," County Executive Craig stated. "This agreement clearly reflects the City of Aberdeen is open for business. The agreement means businesses will have an additional 100,000 gallons of water to support their operations, which is vital to our county, the City of Aberdeen and our military partners at the Aberdeen Proving Ground," Craig stated.
November 2008
HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT RECEIVES BUDGET AWARD
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has announced that Harford County Government has received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget. The award represents significant achievement by Harford County in meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the award, Harford County Government had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The established guidelines are designed to assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operational guide and communication tool. In order to qualify for the award, the county's budget documents were rated proficient in each category. A Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation was awarded by the GFOA to the Harford County Office of Budget and Management Research for their work in preparing the county budget documents.
Commenting on receiving the award, Harford County Executive David R. Craig stated, "The Office of Budget and Management Research, under the direction of Kim Spence, continues to do an excellent job in preparing and managing the county's annual budget document. We are grateful for this award and especially to be recognized by such a prestigious organization."
October 2008COUNTY EXECUTIVE CRAIG ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION ON EFFICIENCY
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced the recommendations from the Commission on Efficiency and Economy in Government.
The Commission was established in November of 2007 in response to the fiscal crisis of the State of Maryland. The county executive formed the Commission pursuant to Article IV, Section 412 of the Harford County Charter and charged the Commission to make recommendations with respect to how county government could be more efficient and save taxpayers money. The Commission conducted more than a dozen meetings over the course of eight months in studying current operations and practices of Harford County Government for the purpose of identifying opportunities for improvement and seeking ways to maximize existing resources. The bi-partisan Commission was comprised of 11 members who were well versed in government, business and law. "I am deeply grateful to each member of the Commission for the sacrifice of their time and commitment to this initiative," County Executive David R. Craig stated. "The recommendations are sound and we will endeavor to implement those we can as soon as practical. Naturally some of the recommendations have an initial fiscal impact that will provide cost savings and efficiency in the long run and will be addressed through the legislative process with our County Council as necessary," the county executive remarked. The 39 page Commission report contains recommendations to reform the culture of government, make departments of government more accountable for their performance, require more accountability from the Board of Education, reform procurement procedures, better manage facilities and operations and overhaul the Office of Information Systems so departments can better utilize technology. "Now more than ever, due to the state of our economy as well as the fiscal state of our state, we must work to find local solutions to our problems. This report will help serve as a blueprint of things which can be done to improve the operation of county government as well as save taxpayer's money," County Executive Craig remarked.
June 2008HARFORD COUNTY CONDUCTS WASTE FACILITIES ASSESSMENT
Harford County Government recently completed an assessment of the Harford Waste Disposal Center (HWDC) located in northern Harford County. The assessment was conducted by Maryland Environmental Service at the request of County Executive David R. Craig and Robert Cooper, Director of the Department of Public Works for Harford County.
"For sometime Harford County Government has heard concerns regarding the operation of the Harford Waste Disposal Center, commonly known as the Scarboro Landfill," said County Executive Craig. "Due to the concerns raised by citizens from the area, I wanted a top to bottom study of the operations of the landfill. The work product from MES will help us take immediate and permanent corrective actions regarding the operation of the landfill," Craig stated. Commenting further regarding the report from MES regarding the Scarboro Landfill, County Executive Craig stated, "Clearly there are issues which need to be addressed at the landfill and we will employ best management practices to ensure the safe operation of the landfill for the future. This administration did not create the problems at the landfill, but we will be the administration to correct the mistakes of the past," Craig stated.
May 2008COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT SIGN FY09 BUDGET BILL
Harford County Executive David R. Craig, joined by County Council President Billy Boniface, today signed into law County Bill 08 - 32, the FY 09Budget Bill. The bill was passed by the Harford County Council, Tuesday, May 27, 2008 by a unanimous vote. The total FY 09 approved budget of both the Operating Budget and Capital Budget is$866,044,142. This is a decrease of $43,961,644 from the total FY 08 budget. The total approved FY 09 Operating Budget is $617,108, 599. The total approved Capital Budget for FY 09 is $268,935,543. Of this amount, $127,282,195 is allocated to the Board of Education for various construction and other capital projects. This represents the largest allocation of county funding of capital projects for the Board of Education in the county's history. Prior to signing the FY 09 Budget Bill, County Executive Craig stated, "I am grateful to Council President Boniface and the Harford County Council for their hard work and diligence during their work on the FY 09 budget. It is a long and tiring process of eight weeks of public meetings, public work sessions and deliberations. However, in the final analysis, the budget as adopted supports the initiatives I laid out in March of this year when the budget was presented to them."
"Solid waste management must be a stand alone operation and pay for itself as a business, if we are to operate county government more responsibly and effectively." Additionally, Craig stated, "We will need to aggressively seek property in the future for a new middle school near Patterson Mill, as well as property for new libraries, fire stations, an Ag Center and other projects to improve our infrastructure."
Finally, County Executive Craig expressed his appreciation to members of his Cabinet and the dedicated employees throughout Harford County government that have worked hard to reduce costs, while at the same time providing outstanding service to the citizens of Harford County.
November 2007COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCES COMMISSION TO STUDY EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT
Harford County Executive David R. Craig today announced the formation of a Commission to Study Efficiency and Economy in Government for Harford County. The Commission was established in response to the fiscal crisis of the State of Maryland. County Executive Craig formed the Commission pursuant to Article IV, Section 412 of the Harford County Charter, and has charged them to make recommendations as to how county government can be reformed to be more efficient and save taxpayers money. The Commission will review current operations of Harford County Government, identify opportunities for improvement and suggest ways to maximize resources. In carrying out their mission, the Commission will carefully study all aspects of county government and offer recommendations as to how government can better deliver services without increasing cost.
"The charge to the Commission is quite simple, stated County Executive Craig. Business as usual must end. We must all work together to find ways to make Harford County government more cost effective and efficient given the fiscal condition of the State."
January 2007COUNTY EXECUTIVE CRAIG ANNOUNCES SUPPLEMENTAL HOMEOWNERS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
Harford County Executive David R. Craig stood before the McFaul Senior and Youth Center on MacPhail Road today and announced that he will be submitting a bill to the Harford County Council that will supplement the State of Maryland Homeowner Tax Credit Program for Harford County residents. Each Councilperson and the Executive have publicly acknowledged throughout the fall election campaign season that more tax relief was needed for some families and individual, especially our senior citizens, in light of recent state property assessments.
"With the advice, counsel, and cooperation of my colleagues on the County Council the draft legislation I am submitting to enhance the State Property Tax Credit Program for Harford County citizens is the result of pledge made to recognize that for many property assessments are outpacing incomes to pay the tax on those assessments," Craig explained to a group of citizens and officials who were gathered at the Center.
November 2006CRAIG'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES, STAFF CREDITED FOR CAPTURING PRESTIGIOUS BUDGET AWARD
County Executive David Craig's strong conservative financial management policies provided a winning foundation for the county to receive a prestigious Budget Presentation Award from an American/Canadian financial group. The Government Finance Officers Foundation of the United State and Canada presented the award after the county's current fiscal year budget - the Craig Administration's first-ever county spending package - received outstanding marks from a panel of financial analysts on how well the entity's budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and communications device.
The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving 16,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national honors program.
"This award from the GFOA to Harford County publicly validates the commitment and dedication of the Budget and Management Research Division that I often speak of when addressing citizens and organizations," Craig said. "I am very proud of the work of our Budget Chief Kim Spence and her budget analysts."
January 2006HARFORD, BALTIMORE, CECIL COUNTY LEADERS ANNOUNCE BRAC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
Harford County Executive David R. Craig today joined Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Cecil County Commission Chair Nelson K. Bolender, BPAC Chair Tom Sadowski and Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Director of Federal Facilities and Military Affairs Brig. General J. Michael Hayes, USMC (Ret.), to introduce a joint initiative to market the region to military operations and contractors moving to Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The unprecedented partnership maximizes economic development potential and utilizes shared resources to best promote the region's prime location, technical talent, proximity to premier research institutions, and affordable quality of life.
"We know that our best approach should be a consolidated one. Baltimore, Cecil, and Harford Counties must work in concert with each other since as a region we appeal to a variety of life styles - from urban to suburban to rural," County Executive David R. Craig said.
July 2005DAVID CRAIG SWORN IN AS HARFORD'S 6TH COUNTY EXECUTIVE
A career educator, who has served Harford County in a variety of elected positions over the last 25 years, has been sworn in as Harford County Executive in a ceremony this afternoon in the historic Harford County Courthouse in Bel Air. David R. Craig himself made history when he was elected by the Harford County Council this week to serve the remainder ofJames M. Harkins' term; a term that will expire in December, 2006.
"While I was not elected by the voters of Harford County I will work diligently and faithfully to build on the trust of the County Council, the people's elected representatives," said the new County Executive. Members of the Council who supported David Craig said Tuesday they wanted a County Executive who was ready to take the oath of office and hit the road running. In his remarks following his swearing in today, Mr. Craig did just that when he told the packed courtroom that he will immediately order a hiring freeze in County Government and a 10 percent cut in County spending.
