| 2011 Committee Appointments | |
Appropriations Committee
-Member-
Public Safety & Administration Subcommittee
-Chair-
Oversight Committee on Personnel
-Member-
Oversight Committee on Pensions
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Capital Budget Subcommittee
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Joint Audit Committee
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Joint Committee on Fair Practices
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| Latest State News |  | |
School Construction
Process
School building construction in Maryland is funded jointly by State and local government, with contribution levels varying county by county.
Each year, the Interagency Committee on Public School Construction (IAC) makes recommendations to the Board of Public Works on school construction allocations based on eligibility, design completion, enrollment growth and local funding effort. Projects are scored as an "A", "B", "C" or "D", depending on construction readiness and the IAC then funds projects within a jurisdiction from that priority list. The first 75% of funding is allocated during December and the BPW hears local appeals during the "Hope-A-Thon" in January.
Over the past 5 years, the State has spent $1.5 billion on school construction across Maryland.
Earlier this week, the IAC issued its 90% recommendations to the Governor and Presiding Officers. There is still $25M left to allocate for FY12.
A total of $612M was requested by local jurisdictions. 146 of 244 requested projects will be funded in all 21 counties that requested school construction funding this year.
Total funding for Frederick County (at 90%) yields a recommended amount of: $14,830,000.
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Galen Clagett's 
Delegate Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 4
March 10, 2011 |
Greetings!
Activities in Annapolis are racheting up to their busiest levels as lawmakers strive to get their bills through, listen and participate in discussions of others' bills and make sure that the work of the people is done in an expeditious and effective manner. Appropriations is continuing to examine the Budget very carefully as it goes to Committee Report in less than two weeks.
This issue of my newsletter features the latest updates on my sponsored bills, information on my pending bond bills, and provides coverage of the school construction process as well as a look into how our state employees help to balance the budget.
I thank you for your continued interest in my activities in Annapolis. As you read through these newsletters, I hope you will contact me with your thoughts, questions, and opinions via email or by calling (301) 663-4596. I thank you again for giving me the opportunity to represent and serve our Frederick neighborhoods.
Best of regards,
  
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 Latest Updates on Bills for 2011
Delegate Clagett has three bond bills submitted for 2011, these bills will be heard on Saturday, March 12.
The bills include:
All three bond bills are subject to the grantees providing matching funds.
HB 370
Stormwater Management - Watershed Management Plans -  Technical Assistance - Heard on Feb 23
Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee HB 371 Department of the Environment - Stormwater Management Ordinance - Cost Study Heard on Feb 23 Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee HB 373Vehicle Laws - Wireless Communication Devices - Enforcement of Prohibitions on Use While Driving Withdrawn from Committee in place of HB 854 Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee
 Election Law - Early Voting CentersHeard Feb 15
Assigned to: Ways and Means Committee
Task Force to Review State Regulations
Heard on Feb 23
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations Committee
Bay Restoration Fund - Fee Exemption
Withdrawn
Assigned to: Environmental Matters
Business Regulation - Cemeteries - Forfeited  Rights to Interment
Heard on Mar 2
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations Committee
State Law Enforcement Officers - Collective Bargaining
Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety
Chesapeake Bay Phosphorous Reduction Act of 2011
Assigned to: Environmental Matters
Heard on Mar 9
Frederick County - Municipal Corporations - Building Excise Tax
Assigned to: Ways and Means
Heard on Mar 8
Division of Parole and Probation - Warrant Apprehension Unit - Powers and Pension System
Assigned Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 15
For more information on these sponsored bills and details on the bills that Delegate Clagett is co-sponsoring, please go to his General Assembly bill page. |
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Eye On Annapolis - State Employees Help Balance Maryland's Budget
While many other states are debating public employee benefits, it is a good time to remember the sacrifices that State employees have made over the past few years to balance Maryland's budget. The average State employee (making $48,500) has given back over $3,100 in salary in furloughs over the past three years. Coupled with reductions in benefits and lack of cost-of-living increases and any kind of merit increases, State employees have absorbed more than $580 million of reductions during this global recession.
The Governor has negotiated a $750 bonus for State employees next year, in lieu of a COLA or merit increases. In budget terms, this has less of an impact to the State's General Fund than instituting the COLA or merit increases. The Governor also established a voluntary separation program to achieve additional budget savings for FY12. While the Governor assumed 1,000 positions through this program, 653 positions will be abolished as a result of the program.
 State government is down to 78,896 total positions, including higher education for FY12. Over the last four years, the State has eliminated over 5,000 positions.
Our employees are one of State government's most valuable asset and we need to continue to support them. While we undertake pension reform in the coming weeks, it is important that we balance the commitment to state employees, teachers and public safety employees with the need to ensure the long-term financial security of the State's pension system.
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HB 706