STATE OF HOWARD COUNTY ADDRESS

January 15, 2008

Delivered by Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME…

I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY, DELIVERING MY SECOND STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT. THANK YOU TO PAM KLAHR AND THE CHAMBER STAFF AND TO MARK CISSEL AND THE BOARD. THE CHAMBER DOES EXCEPTIONAL WORK ON BEHALF OF BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY, AND IT IS A CRITICAL PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER CRITICAL PARTNER IS HERE TODAY, MY WIFE JAKI. SOME OF YOU MAY THINK BEING COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS A DIFFICULT JOB; I ASSURE YOU THAT BEING MARRIED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.

AFTER OVER A YEAR IN OFFICE I AM AS ENERGIZED AS EVER TO BE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO SERVE THIS GREAT COUNTY.

A YEAR AGO I TOLD YOU THE STATE OF THE COUNTY WAS STRONG. TODAY I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE STATE OF HOWARD COUNTY IS STILL STRONG…AND GETTING STRONGER.

AND THIS STRENGTH IS EVIDENT IN ALL CORNERS OF OUR COUNTY.

OUR ALREADY-SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE GROWN EVEN SAFER. CRIME IS DOWN: LAST YEAR, ROBBERIES DECREASED 10 PERCENT, BURGLARIES DROPPED 8 PERCENT, AND AUTO THEFTS WERE DOWN 17 PERCENT. THESE FIGURES ARE DUE LARGELY TO OUR EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, AMONG THE BEST ANYWHERE, AND THE ENERGETIC LEADERSHIP OF POLICE CHIEF BILL MCMAHON.

THANK YOU, BILL.

WHILE WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE OUR CRIME STRATISTICS DROPPING, WE KNOW THAT ANY CRIME IS ONE TOO MANY. ANY RESIDENT WHO FEELS UNSAFE IS ONE TOO MANY. WE MUST BE PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. LAST YEAR WE OPENED THE JAMES N. ROBEY PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING FACILITY, A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD IN ENSURING THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TRAINING AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. I AM ALSO VERY PROUD THAT WE FUNDED 32 NEW POLICE OFFICERS, AN INVESTMENT WHICH ALLOWS MORE PROACTIVE COMMUNITY POLICING .

OUR SCHOOLS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION--- BY ANY MEASURE – TEST SCORES, STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS, GRADUATION RATES, OR COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. FORBES MAGAZINE LISTS US AS THE 7TH BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS THANKS IN LARGE PART TO OUR EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS OUR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS AND SHARE IN OUR STUDENTS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS…WHETHER IT’S EARTH DAY AT MANOR WOODS, THE OPENING OF A NEW READING ROOM AT SWANSFIELD, OR CELEBRATING ON THE SIDELINES AT RAVENS STADIUM AS RIVER HILL’S FOOTBALL TEAM WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

I’D LIKE TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND DR. SYDNEY COUSIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS PERFORMING AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL.

THANK YOU.

OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES – OUR PARKS, FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, LIBRARIES, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, TO NAME A FEW – CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE WE ENJOY IN HOWARD COUNTY. AND I CANNOT TALK ABOUT OUR EXCELLENT SERVICES WITHOUT TAKING A MOMENT TO THANK OUR DEDICATED COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WHO I SEE DAY IN AND DAY OUT WORKING HARD TO MAKE OUR COUNTY THE GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS.

WE PROVIDE NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED PUBLIC SERVICES, AND WE DO SO WHILE MAINTAINING STRICT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: HOWARD COUNTY AGAIN WAS ONE OF THE FEW COUNTIES NATIONALLY TO RECEIVE TRIPLE A BOND RATINGS FROM ALL THREE RATING AGENCIES LAST YEAR -- A TESTAMENT TO OUR FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH. IN FACT, TO QUOTE FITCH RATINGS AGENCY, “THE COUNTY’S FINANCIAL POSITION IS STRONG, WITH AMPLE LIQUIDITY, SOUND GENERAL FUND RESERVES ABOVE THE CHARTER-MANDATED LEVEL, AND EXCELLENT FINANCIAL PLANNING.”

GOVERNMENT, OF COURSE, CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT A HEALTHY PRIVATE SECTOR. IN HOWARD COUNTY WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SOLID ECONOMIC BASE WITH A DIVERSE MIX OF JOBS AND EMPLOYERS THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO PROSPER AS THE THIRD WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY.

AT LESS THAN THREE PERCENT, OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS THE LOWEST IN THE STATE, AND EACH YEAR WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT DYNAMIC NEW BUSINESSES FROM A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES THAT PLANT ROOTS HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS WE DID: GREAT SCHOOLS, SAFE STREETS, AND HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE ALSO HAVE A THRIVING NON-PROFIT SECTOR THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COUNTY’S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, GIVING HOPE AND ASSISTANCE WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST. AND I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR WE INCREASED OUR SUPPORT FOR THESE CRITICAL HUMAN SERVICES BY 45 PERCENT.

OUR SUCCESS AS A COUNTY HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED; THE LITANY OF AWARDS WE HAVE RECEIVED RECENTLY IS AT ONCE GRATIFYING AND SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMING. IN ADDITION TO BEING RECOGNIZED FOR GREAT SCHOOLS, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND STRONG FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED COMMENDATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

WHILE IT IS GRATIFYING TO RECEIVE SUCH RECOGNITION, WE CANNOT LET IT DISTRACT US FROM OUR CENTRAL CHALLENGE, THE CHALLENGE I ACCEPTED WHEN I TOOK OFFICE: TO MAKE A GREAT COUNTY EVEN BETTER.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE DOING THIS IS BY LISTENING TO PEOPLE’S IDEAS. SOME FROM MY OWN FAMILY.

LAST YEAR I TOLD THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AT THIS EVENT ABOUT MY PROMISE TO MY WIFE JAKI IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN SHE AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WERE KICKED OFF THE COUNTY’S RECREATION AND PARKS WEBSITE WHILE TRYING TO REGISTER OUR DAUGHTER FOR SUMMER CAMP. AT MIDNIGHT. JAKI, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. REGISTRATION WILL NOW BEGIN AT 6P.M. AND WE HAVE STRESS TESTED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES.

AND THIS YEAR IT WAS MY 6 ½ YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MADDIE’S TURN TO ADD HER 2 CENTS.

MY DAUGHTER MADDIE CAME INTO MY HOME OFFICE THE OTHER DAY AND SAID, “WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON DAD?” I REPLIED, “MY STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS.” SHE FOLLOWED WITH, “WHAT’S THAT?”

I EXPLAINED THAT ONCE A YEAR I SPEAK TO A LARGE GROUP SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY IS DOING. THEN I ASKED HER, “SO MADDIE, HOW DO YOU THINK WE’RE DOING?” SHE THOUGHT FOR A WHILE AND THEN SAID, “ITS ALL GOOD.”

WELL THAT’S GOOD I THOUGHT, BUT I DECIDED TO PUSH MY LUCK, SO I ASKED HER ANOTHER QUESTION—“BUT IF YOU COULD CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT THE COUNTY WHAT WOULD IT BE?”

MADDIE THOUGHT FOR AWHILE AND THEN SAID, “THERE’S NOT MUCH FOR LITTLE KIDS TO DO HERE, BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS MORE.”

“WHAT???” I SAID. “WHAT DOES BALTIMORE COUNTY HAVE THAT HOWARD COUNTY DOESN’T HAVE?” MADDIE REPLIED, “WELL THEY HAVE A JEEPERS.”

I KNOW THAT JEEPERS IS A PLACE THAT HAS RIDES, GAMES AND FOOD FOR KIDS, AND THAT MADDIE’S COUSINS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY HAVE TAKEN HER THERE. “JEEPERS,” I SAID. “ISN’T THAT LIKE A CHUCK E. CHEESE?”

“YES” MADDIE SAID INDIGNANTLY, “AND YOU DON’T HAVE ONE OF THOSE EITHER.”

I REPLIED, “THERE IS ONE IN LAUREL.” MADDIE QUICKLY REPLIED, BUT THAT’S NOT IN HOWARD COUNTY. AND THE ONE ON RTE 40 IS OVER THE LINE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.”

CLEARLY I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME EXPLAINING WHERE THE HOWARD COUNTY BOUNDARY LINES ARE.

SO, IT’S ALL GOOD, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

BUT OF COURSE, I’M LISTENING TO IDEAS FROM OUTSIDE THE FAMILY AS WELL.

WE ARE BLESSED IN HOWARD COUNTY TO HAVE INTELLIGENT, ACTIVE AND COMMITTED RESIDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS. WHETHER IN EMAILS, PHONE CALLS OR MEETINGS, THE INPUT WE RECEIVE FROM CITIZENS IS INVALUABLE.

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INPUT, WE TRIED A NEW FORM OF LISTENING. LAST JULY WE HELD THE FIRST-EVER HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S PUBLIC FORUM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY COUNTY RESIDENT TO COME AND TELL ME WHAT WAS ON HIS OR HER MIND. WE HEARD A MIX OF COMPLAINTS AND COMPLIMENTS, FRUSTRATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS; AND I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT FEEDBACK INTO A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

LET ME GIVE YOU JUST A FEW EXAMPLES…

WE HEARD SEVERAL RESIDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF ILLEGAL SIGNS ALONG OUR ROADSIDES. IN RESPONSE TO THIS CONCERN, WE HAVE STEPPED-UP SIGN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND INITIATED THIS EFFORT WITH AN ILLEGAL SIGN REMOVAL BLITZ. THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, LICENSES AND PERMITS, TOGETHER WITH THE HELP OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, REMOVED 1,060 ILLEGAL SIGNS FROM COUNTY AND STATE RIGHTS OF WAY OVER THE COURSE OF 3 DAYS LAST OCTOBER. WE ALSO UPDATED OUR WEBSITE SO RESIDENTS CAN NOW REPORT SIGN CODE VIOLATIONS ON LINE.

WE ALSO HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT HT RIDE, THE COUNTY’S PARATRANSIT SERVICE FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN RESPONSE TO THESE COMPLAINTS, WE HIRED A NEW, EXPERIENCED PARATRANSIT MANAGER AND MADE SOME STAFFING CHANGES IN DRIVERS AND DISPATCHERS. WE ALSO FIXED TELEPHONE HARDWARE AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEMS WHICH HAD BEEN CAUSING UNACCEPTABLE ERRORS IN SCHEDULING.

AND IN RESPONSE TO SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOWARD TRANSIT BUS SEVICE, UNANNOUNCED, MY SENIOR STAFF AND I CLEARED OUR SCHEDULES FOR AN AFTERNOON AND SPLIT UP TO RIDE THE BUSES OF HOWARD COUNTY.

WE COVERED FIVE DIFFERENT ROUTES, AND FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAD POSITIVE REPORTS; BUT THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE. OUR BUSES ARE OLD...AND FRANKLY, NEED SHOCK ABSORBERS—MY LOWER BACK CERTAINLY DEVELOPED A NEW HATRED FOR SPEED BUMPS. VEHICLE REPLACEMENT MUST BE A PRIORITY. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A NUMBER OF AGING BUSES IN OUR FLEET AND HAVE MORE ON ORDER. WE HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED AN EXTENSIVE GRAFFITI REMOVAL PROGRAM.

AND LET ME MENTION ONE OTHER IMPROVEMENT THAT CAME OUT OF OUR SECRET BUS RIDING MISSION…

THERE ARE NOW SIGNS ON EACH BUS CLEARLY INDICATING THAT THE FARE IS $1.50 AND THAT PASSENGERS SHOULD HAVE EXACT CHANGE.

THIS CAME OUT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE OF OFFERING 2 DOLLARS FOR THE BUS FARE AND THEN ASKING THE DRIVER FOR CHANGE. HE EXPLAINED THEY DON’T MAKE CHANGE. I SAID, “SO SHOULD I PUT THE FULL 2 DOLLARS IN?” HE RESPONDED, “IF YOU WANT TO RIDE.”

SO AGAIN, OUR CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE A GREAT COUNTY EVEN BETTER, AND OUR EFFORTS MUST BE GUIDED BY AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND A VISION OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE IN THE FUTURE. AND THOUGH WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS OVER THE PAST YEAR, AGAIN, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE WORK TO BE DONE.

OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS RESTS ON THREE KEY PRIORITIES:

• FINDING EFFICIENCIES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR,

• MAKING WISE, FORWARD-THINKING INVESTMENTS IN AREAS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND

• FORGING PARTNERSHIPS THAT LEVERAGE THE ABUNDANT EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND STATE.

EFFICIENCY…WISE INVESTMENTS…PARTNERSHIPS…

AND IF PARTNERSHIPS ARE THE CURRENCY OF COMMUNITY, HOWARD COUNTY IS TRULY ONE OF THE NATION’S RICHEST.

WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HOWARD COUNTY TO HAVE STRONG GROUPS OF CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHO TOGETHER WITH COUNTY GOVERNEMNT ARE ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES TO WORK ON THE PRESSING ISSUES BEFORE US. THIS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD IS, I BELIEVE, WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY UNIQUE.

AND NOWHERE IS THIS COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT MORE APPARENT THAN IN OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, AREAS WHERE WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS TWO OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES FACING OUR SOCIETY.

TODAY, ON THE BIRTHDAY OF REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO REFERENCE SOMETHING HE ONCE SAID: “OF ALL THE FORMS OF INEQUALITY, INJUSTICE IN HEALTH CARE IS THE MOST SHOCKING AND INHUMANE.”

HERE, IN THE RICHEST COUNTY IN THE RICHEST STATE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY, THIS INJUSTICE IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING. HERE IN HOWARD COUNTY, WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER — AND WE ARE.

THIS PAST OCTOBER, WE ANNOUNCED THE HEALTHY HOWARD ACCESS PLAN, BECOMING ONE OF ONLY TWO JURISDICTIONS IN THE NATION WITH A PLAN TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL UNINSURED, AND THE ONLY TO DO IT WITHOUT ANY MANDATES ON BUSINESSES.

I BELIEVE THAT MOST BUSINESSES WHO DO NOT OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES WANT TO BUT SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THE EVER-ESCALATING COST OF HEALTH CARE. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT OF THE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, 85 PERCENT ARE FROM WORKING FAMILIES JUST LIKE THE ELLICOTT CITY WOMAN WHO SENT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL…

MR. ULMAN:

YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY TODAY WATCHING CHANNEL 13 NEWS THIS MORNING BEFORE WORK. I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND HAVE LIVED IN HOWARD COUNTY THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND I HAVE RAISED THEM IN HOWARD COUNTY FROM DAY ONE. I DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OFFERED TO ME AT MY WORK AND IT SEEMS YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. RECENTLY I HAD PROBLEMS AND NEEDED A DOCTOR. I HAVE RUINED MY CREDIT AND CAN NEVER BUY ANYTHING BECAUSE I HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. EVERYDAY MY CELL PHONE RINGS WITH BILL COLLECTORS FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. PRETTY SOON I GUESS MY PAY WILL BE GARNISHED AND I'LL BE AT THE FOOD BANK TRYING TO FEED MY KIDS. …FINALLY SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WOMAN’S STORY IS AN ALL TOO COMMON ONE.

LET’S THINK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN UNINSURED PERSON GETS CARE AT OUR HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, AND AS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE, CANNOT PAY THE BILL.

YOU AND I PAY IT.

YES, EVERYONE WHO HAS HEALTH INSURANCE IS ALREADY PAYING FOR OUR UNINSURED NEIGHBORS TO GET CARE, OFTEN TOO LATE AFTER CONDITIONS HAVE WORSENED AND ALMOST ALWAYS AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE LEVEL OF CARE.

WHEN AN UNINSURED PERSON GOES TO A HOSPITAL AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY, THE HOSPITAL SPENDS TIME AND EFFORT TRYING TO COLLECT, AND THEN AFTER NOT COLLECTING, REFERS THE MATTER TO A COLLECTION AGENCY, RUINS THE PATIENT’S CREDIT AND THEN THE PERSON FILES FOR PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY – AS MEDICAL BILLS ARE THE SINGLE BIGGEST CAUSE OF PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY IN THIS COUNTRY.

AFTER ALL THAT, THE HOSPITAL THEN WRITES IT OFF TO WHAT’S CALLED “UNCOMPENSATED CARE,” BUT THE TRUTH IS IT IS NOT UNCOMPENSATED CARE, THE HOSPITAL IS COMPENSATED — BY THE REST OF US.

MARYLAND IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH AN ALL-PAYER HOSPITAL SYSTEM, MEANING THAT EVERY HOSPITAL IS REQUIRED TO TREAT EVERY PATIENT NO MATTER WHETHER THEY HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT. THE STATE SETS THE RATE THE HOSPITAL CAN CHARGE FOR EVERY PROCEDURE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AND THAT EXTRA PREMIUM IS SET ASIDE IN A FUND SO THE HOSPITAL CAN COVER THE COST OF CARE FOR THE UNINSURED PATIENT WHO CANNOT PAY. EVERY MARYLAND FAMILY WITH HEALTH INSURANCE PAYS APPROXIMATELY $1,070 PER YEAR IN THIS HIDDEN HEALTH CARE TAX.

WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH OUR HEALTHY HOWARD ACCESS PLAN WE CAN DRIVE DOWN THIS COST BY GETTING FOLKS THE CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT, BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND SPECIALIST CARE, PHARMACEUTICALS, A HEALTH ACTION PLAN AND TEAM OF HEALTH COACHES WHO WILL FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND PREVENTION.

OUR GOAL IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WILL NEVER NEED TO SET FOOT IN THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, NOT ONLY SAVING ALL OF US MONEY, BUT FREEING UP THE RESOURCES OF THE HOSPITAL FOR TRUE EMERGENCIES.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT AND A RESPONSIBILITY, EACH PARTICIPANT HAS THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF AN AFFORDABLE MONTHLY FEE AND A BEHAVIORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF FOLLOWING THE ACTION PLAN. IF THE ACTION PLAN IS NOT FOLLOWED, THE PARTICIPANT WILL LOSE BENEFITS.

WE WILL MEASURE THE RESULTS OF THIS PLAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT JOHNS HOPKINS AND I WANT TO PAY SPECIAL THANKS TO JOHNS HOPKINS, TO HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL, ESPECIALLY TO VIC BROCCOLINO, AND ALSO TO CHASE BREXTON, OUR PARTNER IN PRIMARY CARE.

WE ARE PROUD THAT PART OF THIS PLAN IS ALREADY BEING REPLICATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THE HEALTHY HOWARD PLAN, WHICH WILL BE RUN BY A NEWLY CREATED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ENTITY, IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SO MANY IN OUR COUNTY. AND OF COURSE, IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE GROUNDBREAKING LEADERSHIP OF DR. PETER BEILENSON AND HIS TEAM AT THE HOWARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, PETER.

IN ADDITION TO OUR HEALTH INITIATIVES, WE ARE DEVOTING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY’S ENVIRONMENT.

AS WITH ALL CHALLENGES, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TAKING STEPS NOW -- SOME BIG, SOME SMALL -- WILL HAVE DRAMATIC IMPACTS IN THE FUTURE. OUR GREEN BUILDING POLICIES EMBODY THIS BELIEF.

BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED TODAY WILL STAND FOR HALF A CENTURY OR MORE. BY IMPLEMENTING AND FOLLOWING A NEW GREEN BUILDING POLICY, WE – GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTY’S BUSINESSES – ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT WILL PAY OFF FOR YEARS TO COME—BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

WE HAVE ALSO CREATED A VOLUNTARY GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY THAT WILL ENCOURAGE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, PUTTING HOWARD COUNTY AT THE FOREFRONT OF GREEN DEVELOPMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE BRIEFLY HERE TO THANK THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF BOTH OF THESE INITIATIVES — AND FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF HOWARD COUNTY.

OUR GREEN BUILDING POLICIES CAME OUT THE WORK OF OUR COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, A COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE COUNTY’S BRIGHTEST INDIVIDUALS WITH BACKGROUNDS IN SCIENCE, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND AGRICULTURE. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO IMPLEMENT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH THE CREATION OF AN OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

THIS EXECUTIVE-LEVEL OFFICE WILL COORDINATE AND STRENGTHEN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT BODY WITHIN GOVERNMENT THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT ENSURES THAT SUSTAINABILITY WILL ALWAYS BE A PRIORITY IN HOWARD COUNTY.

I AM PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE ARE ALREADY MAKING. WE INITIATED THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE COUNTY’S FLEET OF VEHICLES TO HYBRIDS WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND WE NOW, IN ONE YEAR’S TIME, HAVE MORE HYBRIDS THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN MARYLAND, INCLUDING THE STATE ITSELF. WE ARE DEVELOPING SOLAR AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS AT PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITIES. WE ARE ACTIVELY AND STRATEGICALLY PURSUING PRESERVATION AGREEMENTS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PARCELS, ALREADY RESULTING IN OVER 150 ACRES BEING PRESERVED.

WE ARE CONDUCTING A CARBON FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LIMIT OUR CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS TO PREVENT FURTHER HARM TO OUR ATMOSPHERE.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF RECYCLING, BECAUSE DIVERTING WASTE FROM LANDFILLS IS GOOD FOR OUR PLANET AND OUR POCKETBOOKS.

WE ESTABLISHED A PILOT PROGRAM IN ELKRIDGE, WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDED RESIDENTS WITH LARGE, COVERED CONTAINERS WITH WHEELS THAT MAKE RECYCLING EASIER. ALREADY, IT HAS RESULTED IN AN 18% INCREASE IN RECYCLING, AND WE HOPE TO EXPAND THIS INITIATIVE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

SOME OF YOU MAY THINK THIS IS LEADING IN A LIBERAL, TREE-HUGGER DIRECTION. NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY’S BUDGET AS WELL AS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE A CHALLENGE BEFORE US — IN JUST FIVE YEARS, THE LOW FIXED RATE THAT HOWARD COUNTY PAYS FOR TRASH DISPOSAL WILL EXPIRE, AND THAT RATE WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. LET ME EXPLAIN. WHEN YOUR TRASH IS COLLECTED, IT’S TAKEN TO A FACILITY AT ROUTE 1 AND 32 WHERE IT IS TRANSFERRED ONTO A TRAIN AND TAKEN TO VIRGINIA. AT THIS FACILITY, WE ARE CHARGED BY WEIGHT FOR OUR TRASH.

BUT RIGHT UP THE ROAD AT ROUTE 1 AND KIT KAT ROAD, WE HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING SORTING FACILITY WHERE THEY PAY US BY WEIGHT FOR OUR RECYCLABLES.

JUST TO RECAP…FOR TRASH, WE PAY THEM; FOR RECYCLING, THEY PAY US. SO CLEARLY, IT IS IN EVERYONE’S BEST INTEREST TO INCREASE OUR RECYCLING AND MINIMIZE OUR TRASH.

WHILE THERE WAS MUCH PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGAGED IN THE MORE MUNDANE, THOUGH NO LESS IMPORTANT, TASK OF MAKING GOVERNMENT RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.

FROM MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, I INSTRUCTED MY STAFF, AND HAVE MADE IT A POINT PERSONALLY, TO ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE -- TO BETTER SERVE CITIZENS AND SAVE MONEY – IDEALLY, AT THE SAME TIME. TOGETHER, WE HAVE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, TURNED OVER A LOT OF ROCKS, EXPLORED A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES AND THEN ASKED MORE QUESTIONS.

AS WE WORK TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT OVER 60 PERCENT OF OUR COUNTY TAX DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY TO ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. FROM THIS YEAR’S GENERAL FUND OF 812 MILLION DOLLARS, OVER 500 MILLION DOLLARS WENT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LIBRARIES. THEREFORE, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE BREAK DOWN INSTITUTIONAL BOUNDARIES AND WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER.

THAT IS WHY HOWARD COUNTY IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE LEADERS WHO EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION. I WANT TO THANK DR. SYDNEY COUSIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DR. KATE HETHERINGTON AND MEMBERS OF HCC’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND VALERIE GROSS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE COUNTY FUNDS FOUR SEPARATE TELEVISION STUDIOS, EACH WITH ITS OWN FULL STAFF? IT’S TRUE. WE HAVE ONE FOR GTV, ONE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ONE FOR HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ONE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, COSTING COUNTY RESIDENTS OVER 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, AND THAT NUMBER DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EQUIPMENT AND SPACE COSTS.

WE HAVE EXAMINED EACH STUDIO AND HAVE ASSEMBLED A CONSOLIDATION PLAN THAT WILL SAVE OVER $500,000 A YEAR WHILE MAINTAINING THE SERVICES THESE STUDIOS PROVIDE. AND BY PARTNERING WITH HCC, WE WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO GAIN VALUABLE, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WITH TELEVISION PRODUCTION.

PURCHASING IS ANOTHER AREA WE HAVE TARGETED — BY COMBINING OUR BUYING POWER, WE CAN SAVE MONEY.

THIS YEAR WE COMBINED THE EMPLOYEE POOLS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HCC AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM TO INCREASE OUR BARGAINING POWER. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE JOINTLY BID HEALTH INSURANCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CONTRACTS THAT WILL REDUCE COSTS TODAY AND IN THE YEARS AHEAD. INDUSTRY WIDE, THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN THE COST OF MEDICAL BENEFITS THIS YEAR WAS 11 PERCENT, BUT FOR HOWARD COUNTY IT WILL ONLY RISE THREE PERCENT, FOR A NET SAVINGS OF 3.7 MILLION DOLLARS.

TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER AREA RIPE FOR EFFICIENCY GAINS. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR, IRA LEVY, WE ARE MAKING A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL LEAD TO SAVINGS OF OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING EMAIL SPAM FILTERS, UPDATED SOFTWARE, REPLACEMENT OF INEFFICIENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND STREAMLINING OUR PRINTING OPERATIONS.

WHEN DONE RIGHT, HOWEVER, INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY ALLOW SAVINGS TO ACCRUE YEAR AFTER YEAR. LOCALLY, WE ARE INVESTING IN A FIBER OPTIC WIDE AREA NETWORK THAT WILL ALLOW US TO OFFER ADDITIONAL WEB SERVICES, BETTER DISASTER RECOVERY AND DATA BACK UP, AND VOICE OVER IP. THAT LAST PART IS MOST IMPORTANT. INSTEAD OF PAYING VERIZON OVER $20 PER MONTH PER PHONE LINE – AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS OVER 4000 PHONE LINES – OUR WIDE AREA NETWORK WILL ALLOW US TO OVERLAY PHONE SERVICE AT A COST OF ONLY $4 PER MONTH PER EMPLOYEE. THIS CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS BACKBONE WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER CONTROL THE OPERATIONS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AT COSTS THAT ARE DRAMATICALLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE PAY TODAY.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW, CREATIVE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY, AND INDEED WE WILL BE FILING LEGISLATION WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO ALLOW US TO PURSUE ONE SUCH OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE PROPOSING CHANGING HOW RECORDATION TAXES ARE COLLECTED IN HOWARD COUNTY.

BY SHIFTING THE COLLECTION FROM THE CLERK OF THE COURT, A STATE OFFICE, TO THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, WE WILL SAVE THE 5% COLLECTION FEE WHICH THE STATE WITHHOLDS TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. THAT 5% FEE IS PROJECTED TO BE $875,000 THIS YEAR. THE COUNTY ESTIMATES THAT MANAGING THE COLLECTION OF THE TAX INTERNALLY WOULD COST AROUND $250,000 A YEAR, MEANING OVER $600,000 MORE IN REVENUE WILL GO TO THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT INCREASING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, WILL BE HALLMARKS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THESE ARE TOUGHER ECONOMIC TIMES. THE COOLING REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS LED TO A DOWNTURN IN SALES AND, THEREFORE, A REDUCTION IN TRANSFER AND RECORDATION TAXES. WHILE ENDURING THIS SLOWDOWN IN REVENUES, WE ARE ALSO FACING SIGNIFICANT STATE CUTS. WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE CUTS FROM THE SPECIAL SESSION AND ARE BRACING FOR FURTHER REDUCTIONS DURING THIS SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

MAINTAINING THE BALANCE OF EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICES AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE DIFFICULT IN THE COMING YEARS. WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND THE GUIDANCE OF BUDGET DIRECTOR RAY WACKS, WHO THANKFULLY HAS RETURNED HOME TO HOWARD COUNTY, AND FINANCE DIRECTOR SHARON GREISZ, WHOSE FINANCIAL ACUMEN IS A TRUE ASSET, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL NOT ONLY WEATHER THIS STORM BUT COME OUT OF IT STRONGER THAN EVER.

OUR CHALLENGE IS NOT ONLY TO MAKE A GREAT COUNTY EVEN BETTER TODAY, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOWARD COUNTY CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT COUNTY FAR INTO THE FUTURE. WE MUST ENSURE THAT HOWARD COUNTY NEVER SUFFERS THE FATE OF COUNTLESS OTHER ONCE-STRONG COMMUNITIES. I WANT THE NEXT COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ALL THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES AFTER THAT TO LOOK BACK AT THIS TIME WITH APPRECIATION FOR OUR CONCERN AND COMMITMENT TO HOWARD COUNTY’S LONG TERM SUCCESS.

TO BE SURE, WE ARE A GREAT COUNTY AND OUR FUTURE OUTLOOK REMAINS BRIGHT, BUT OUR STRENGTH IS NOT ASSURED INDEFINITELY. RATHER, WE MUST BE COGNIZANT OF ITS VULNERABILITY AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO VIGOROUSLY MAINTAINING IT THROUGH SOUND, FORWARD-FOCUSED INVESTMENTS AND INITIATIVES.

OUR INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS LONG-TERM APPROACH. AND SO IS OUR COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH GOOD PLANNING AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN REVITALIZATION.

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ALONG ROUTE 1, IN COLUMBIA’S OLDER VILLAGES AND MOST PROMINENTLY IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA, THE PORTRAITS OF OUR FUTURE ARE BEING PAINTED BY CITIZENS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT.

THESE PLANS, COUPLED WITH OUR EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, EMBODY THE FORWARD THINKING PARTNERSHIPS AND INVESTMENTS THAT ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HOWARD COUNTY STRONGER TODAY AND FOR DECADES TO COME.

THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES FOR HOWARD COUNTY, BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT A BRIGHT FUTURE IS NOT OURS BY RIGHT AND IS NEVER GUARANTEED. AS WE FOCUS ON THE DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTY, WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF HOW OUR ACTIONS TODAY WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE.

AND WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS AS A COUNTY IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY – THE INTERCONNECTED WEB OF CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT. AS INDIVIDUAL THREADS, EACH IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING. BUT WHEN WOVEN INTO A FABRIC, OUR STRENGTH IS UNPARALLELED.

SO I THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO HOWARD COUNTY. I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER WE WILL RISE TO OUR CHALLENGE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE HOWARD COUNTY — A GREAT COUNTY — EVEN BETTER.