Kamenetz Wants Schools Oversight, Not 'War' with County Education System

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz doesn't "want to create a war" with Baltimore County Public Schools officials, but in an interview Monday he said he would like more of a say in "the schools system's budgetary process."

"In general government budgets, the county executive has the authority to approve or disapprove spending categories. Here we don't have that direct hands-on ability to do so," said Kamenetz in an interview with Patch. "Yet, we have to pay the bill." 

Kamenetz made his comments during an interview in Annapolis as the General Assembly is wrapping up the final hours of its 90-day session.

Some schools advocates and members of the public have called for Kamenetz to ask for an audit of the schools system in light of the hiring of a new deputy superintendent and the proposed elimination of nearly 200 teaching positions.

The deputy, Renee Foose, was hired last month by school system Superintendent Joe A. Hairston. The Baltimore Sun reports that Foose will earn $214,000—more than outgoing state schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick.

Patch also requested salary information for Foose 32 days ago. Phyllis Reese, a schools spokeswoman, has refused to release the information, saying that the system requires a written request even though state law considers government employee salaries to be public records.

"I don't think it's the prerogative of the county executive to determine what education professionals the schools system wants to hire," Kamenetz said when asked about public concerns over Foose's salary in light of expected teaching position cuts.

"However, I can tell you that in general county government we have been very careful about how taxpayer dollars are spent. We're tightening our belts in every way possible and I think we need to instill the same philosophy in the school system," Kamenetz said.

Kamenetz said he is also not likely to move money around in the school system budget as a way of sending a message about what he believes should be a priority. The county executive cannot mandate how the school system spends money, but some legislators, including Del. Steve Lafferty, believe such a move would be an important symbolic gesture.

Kamenetz seemed concerned that such a move might also hurt the relationship between the county and the public school system.

"I don't want to create a war with the school system," Kamenetz said. "It would be very easy for me to jump on the bandwagon and start publicly criticizing the superintendent, but that's not going to result in a productive working relationship.

"I'm working with the school superintendent," he added. "Our budget folks are talking to their budget folks. Obviously, we're trying to stress the importance of tightening our belts and making the hard choices. "

Still, the county executive said there might be an opportunity to explore more budgetary oversight from the county as legislators undertake a summer study of how the school board is selected and appointed. That summer study will also look at whether or not the county wants to create a hybrid appointed-elected board.

"I think the greater question we can have during the summer study of the school board issue is what changes could be made to state law that will enable county government to have a better hold of the schools systems budgetary process," Kamenetz said. 

The county executive added that he learned over that last 90 days to work closely "with the delegates and senators who have the ability to fashion a legislative response."

Baltimore County could stand to gain an additional $7 million in school construction funding in a compromise that would increase the state's sales and use tax on alcohol.

The complicated deal, which will require that both a House and Senate version be passed together, calls for increasing the tax on alcohol from 6 to 9 percent in one year rather than a 1 percent increase each year through 2014.

The 3 percent increase will add $89 million to state coffers. Of that, about $47.5 million in the first year will go to school construction projects around the state.

School construction money under a House Bill. Source: House of Delegates

The Senate version of the bill sought to increase the tax by 1 percent per year over three years. That bill would have raised about $29 million in the first year and $87 million when the increase was fully implemented.

As part of the bill, the Senate agreed to earmark about $22 million of the take in the first year to schools systems in four jurisdictions. Baltimore City would receive $12.2 million. Prince George's County would get $8.8 million. And another $1 million would go to Washington and Allegany Counties.

In addition, about $5 million in the first year would go to programs for the developmentally disabled.

Last week, some Baltimore County delegates balked at the Senate version after learning that even though it arguably pays the most in alcohol sales and use taxes.

The House actions to strike a compromise over the weekend appear to address the concerns of Baltimore County delegates.

The House Ways and Means Committee, while passing out a House version of the bill that generated the full $87 million in one year instead of three, amended the original Senate bill to increase the tax 3 percent in just one year.

The committee left alone the Senate's original earmarks.

So, that means Baltimore City and Prince George's County will still get the original $12.2 and $8.8 million, respectively, plus an additional $9 million each for school construction.

But here's where it gets complicated.

Both bills will need to pass by the end of the day today.

A final vote on both bills is expected in the House this afternoon.

The Senate will then need to agree to the House amendments. It will also have to quickly move the House version through the committee process and two more votes before the session closes at midnight.

What's the secret to getting through the marathon of voting sessions that makes up the last day of the General Assembly's 90-day session?

Comfortable shoes.

So says House Speaker Michael Busch, an Anne Arundel County Democrat.

Check out the photo of the Speaker in the gallery with this article.

For those of you who are linguistically challenged like yours truly, Sine Die is Latin. Loosely translated it means "without a day" and is the phrase used in both the House and Senate when the chambers conclude their work at midnight tonight.