Maryland: Harford County Government

“I know we didn’t make all your dreams come true last year and I’d venture to say we’re not going to make all your dreams come true this year”

Harford County Government employees gathered on Monday, March 11th at the Fallston Recreation Complex to hear what their boss, County Executive Bob Cassilly had to say about expectations moving forward with county employees compensation/wages, improvements to employee workplace conditions, financial support for county departments and current financial state of affairs with Harford County…

That was one of many statements made by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly to his blue collar middle class workforce of Harford County Government.

It appears from the view point of Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly that asking for competitive wage increases, financial support of employees and requests to improve current working conditions of the county employees, operating in their respective departments are just a pipe “dream” and nothing more.

Interestingly enough though, County Executive Bob Cassilly has no problem paying himself his 6 figure income, a salary paid for by tax payer dollars, estimated to be over +$145,000/year (Salary figure based on former County Executive Barry Glassman in 2022). He also brought several of his supporters along, also with 6 figure salaries.

However, when his county employees inquire as to fair competitive wage increases and other proposals to support & retain the current workforce employees, then it becomes a financial constraint and hardship that the county cannot take on. One of many false narratives presented by Bob Cassilly.

For a man elected by the people, for the people of Harford County, there was a very apparent and sizable disconnect with Bob Cassilly and his workforce employees during the presentation on Monday night.

During his opening address to Harford County Government employees, Bob Cassilly spoke to members about what his expectations were heading into the new fiscal year; making the statement that he believed that tax return income from the state of Maryland would yield a 5% (13 Million dollars) increase in budgeting income revenue. He then added that the State of Maryland returned less than what was anticipated, resulting in unexpected “Hard Times” and hardships for Harford County’s current financial state.

One could ask: ‘Why, in terms of fiscal budgeting and planning is Harford County relying on income return funds from the state, that are never a guarantee?’.

A great question, one of many that went unanswered or were not directly answered, during Monday nights meeting.

When questioned by Department Of Emergency Services EMS liaison Michael Schwind, of the MCEA Local 610 bargaining unit, about a potential county “Public Safety Millage Tax” to act as a direct line of funding for the Department of Emergency Services, Bob Cassilly provided no direct response to the question, speaking in circles and providing vagueness, creating confusion for members who now didn’t know what Bob Cassilly was talking about by the end of his response.

But don’t worry, Bob Cassilly will “Look into that”, as he stated multiple times during the course of the meeting.

Throughout Monday night’s event, Bob Cassilly continually provided confusing responses to questions posed by his employees. Fumbling & stumbling with his words, speaking in a low voice and talking in circles when hit with hard lines of questioning. Employees, who had come to the meeting Monday with concerns and questions, left with even more concerns and questions. By the end of that meeting Monday night, Harford County employees all had the same thought: My County Executive doesn’t support me or the work that I do and my County Government doesn’t want to support me as an hard working middle-class employee.

Current employees were then left with the million dollar question: ‘Should I start looking for employment elsewhere, where I can be fairly treated & compensated?’

Bob Cassilly, Harford County Executive who relies on hardworking men & women to provide essential services to the county, while also expecting employees to make & earn less than other established workforce areas. Bob Cassilly, who wants to provide services, without the associated price tag attached to them , and who made abundantly clear, through his responses to employee questions, does NOT support:

-Department of Public Works employees

-Department of Parks & Recreations

-Department of Treasury

-Department of Emergency Services.

Office workers in general (when employee George Wiggins asked why the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Employees received a higher increase than other County employees last year, Mr. Cassilly expressed his frustration over the way the money that was given to the Sheriff’s Office last year was distributed. while he intended it to only go to the armed uniformed officers, it was also given to clerical workers and lawyers, which was not his intention.)

Bob Cassilly does NOT support 9-1-1 Dispatchers, Paramedics or EMTs. When asked about the usage of the funds collected from his 911 fee/tax hike, which was approved by a majority vote of the County Council in April 2023, Cassilly skirted the issue and made statements that were contrary to statements made when the Resolution for this fee/tax was introduced to the Council.

Specifically, in 2023, Harford County Treasurer Robert Sandliss told the council “It IS part of the General Fund” when speaking about the monies collected from this fee/tax.

At last night’s meeting, Mr. Cassilly stated “The 911 fee, by State law, it can’t go to the General Fund”.

Additionally, Monday night, he mentioned the new starting pay for teachers being 60k, then mentioned how all of the seasoned teachers need to be compensated to avoid a pay compression. Oddly, that exact thing happened with 911 dispatchers when the salary for incoming employees rose nearly 20k a year. Now, a seasoned 12 year dispatcher is making $2 more an hour than the brand new employee sitting next to him. Bob Cassilly knows about this situation, and made the statement that he would “FIX IT”. Many months and several meetings later, he finally released a statement that he would not fix it. This pay compression will remain. And that 12 year employee is considering other job offers.

Additionally, there are other concerns when it comes to the Department of Emergency Services.

The DES employees are the front line of the worst situations you can imagine. From the 911 Dispatchers answering the calls and facing the most traumatic situations, then dispatching out Fire/EMS/Police to the EMS personnel arriving on the scene of some of the most horrific situations imaginable. Putting themselves on the front line, in often dangerous situations, to protect our citizens and treat them for everything from Covid to gunshot wounds. Day in and day out.

It’s no wonder the personnel of this department are facing a mental health crisis. When mental health seminars for information meetings are posted, he does not afford the employees time off or paid time off to attend these seminars?

“We have already felt the loss of a suicide amongst our own” said one dispatcher, referring to the suicide of a coworker. Concern is that there may be more with such little support for the mental health of these employees.

The Department of Public Safety is hosting an awards ceremony this month, however, award winners may not attend unless they use their own accrued leave to take off of work.

Bob Cassilly, Harford County Executive who WON’T provide the financial support to the men & women of this county who have put their blood, sweat and tears into supporting the citizens of this county, in all of the services that they provide daily.

To include men and women in uniform, carrying out essential services, life saving measures and high quality emergency medicine to Harford County residents.

Bob Cassilly, Harford County Executive taking advantage of county employees since 2023.

Information about Millage Tax:

[Government entities set mill rates based on the total value of property within the entity’s jurisdiction, to provide the necessary tax revenue to cover projected expenses in their annual budgets, including things such as infrastructure, police and emergency services, and public schools. For this reason, and also because of fluctuating real estate values, a tax assessor typically updates the taxable value of the property annually. Mill rates frequently vary for different types of property, such as residential, commercial, or industrial properties.]