4 Takeaways From Anne Arundel's State Of The County Address

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman opened his 2021 State of the County address by saying the state of his county is strong.

"We are outperforming both the state and the country by most measures," Pittman said in his Monday morning speech.

Here are four takeaways from Pittman's address:

1. Decline In Violent Crime

Pittman called public safety "the most fundamental obligation of government," and said violent crime in his county has declined by 11 percent for the first 11 months of 2021.

He attributed that decline to several factors: Support from health and human services agencies, livable wage jobs, and a network of churches and nonprofit organizations.

Anne Arundel County also has a higher percentage of police officers trained in crisis intervention than any other department in Maryland, Pittman said.

2. Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park

Pittman announced plans to create a park at the site of the former Crownsville Hospital Center, and called it "a place where healing is practiced and promoted in the presence of nature."

"Crownsville Hospital Center, a 544 acre state-owned facility that closed in 2004, sits at the geographic heart of our county, and reminds us everyday that we as human beings must do better," Pittman said.

Once the land is transferred, Pittman said, county officials will meet with community residents, healers and parks and recreation personnel to begin planning the park.

3. Budgeting

Calling its financial condition "stable and resilient," Pittman said Anne Arundel County currently has the highest balance of rainy day funds it has ever had.

"Our pay-as-you-go capital projects, our increased funding of pension obligations, and our highest-ever balance in our rainy day fund will protect us from future economic downturns," Pittman said. "Our conservative budgeting practices have left us with a surplus at the end of each budget year."

4. Opioid overdose deaths declining

Pittman praised Anne Arundel County's "Community Warmline" and crisis response teams, saying they are entry portals to the county's care system — which has helped bring about an 18 percent decline in opioid overdoses and a 12 percent decline in opioid deaths.

Those numbers represent 168 fewer overdoses and 21 fewer deaths, Pittman said, compared to the same period last year.

Watch Pittman's full State of the County address here.