Democratic sample ballot: Baltimore County

Providing that each budget submitted by the Governor shall include proposed expenditures necessary to implement wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in each collective bargaining memorandum of understanding with State employees, whether the State and State employees reached those terms and conditions by mutual agreement or through a neutral decider's order. A vote FOR this amendment means that the Governor has to include money in the proposed State budget to pay for agreements between the State and its employees. Agreements might include changes to wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Governor must put enough money in the State budget to cover the agreed upon pay and benefits for employees, whether those terms were negotiated or decided by a neutral decision-maker. A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same. (Amending Article III of the Maryland Constitution)

Authorizing temporary substitute appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused or disqualified, or when a member's term expires. In these situations, the Commission Chair may recall a former member of the Commission, or the Governor, at the request of the Commission Chair, may appoint a temporary substitute member or extend the term of a current member until a permanent replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission. A vote FOR this amendment means that temporary appointments to the Commission are allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends without a replacement. The Commission Chair can temporarily fill an opening on the Commission with a former member. The Governor can, at the request of the Commission Chair, pick a temporary substitute to fill an opening on the Commission or extend the term of a current member until a replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission. A vote AGAINST the amendment means that current membership rules for the Commission stay the same. Temporary appointments are not allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends. (Amending Article IV of the Maryland Constitution)

Currently, the Planning Board changes the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL), which separates urban areas from rural areas in Baltimore County, largely in response to zoning changes or water/sewer designation changes enacted by the County Council. The Baltimore County Charter requires a simple majority of the County Council to approve changes by the Planning Board to the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL). This amendment to the Baltimore County Charter would require a vote of six (6) of the nine (9) members of the County Council rather than a simple majority of five (5) votes to approve changes to the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) recommended by the Planning Board. All other planning and zoning matters would continue to be approved by a simple majority vote of the County Council. This would amend Section 522.1 of the Baltimore County Charter and add Section 1015 to the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the amendment requires six (6) of the nine (9) members of the County Council to approve changes to the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL). A vote AGAINST the amendment keeps the current simple majority vote of five (5) members of the County Council on changes to the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL).

This Charter Amendment establishes a Department of Agriculture to promote and support farming and agriculture in Baltimore County as a viable component of the county's economic section, including encouraging local food production and distribution to improve access to food for County residents. This would amend Section 504 of the Baltimore County Charter and add Sections 542.9 and 542.10 to the Baltimore County Charter. Various agriculture issues will continue to be handled by other County agencies depending on the subject matter. As an example, agriculture land preservation is currently handled by the Department of Planning; local food initiatives are currently handled by the Department of Health; and agricultural tourism is handled by the Department of Economic and Workforce Development. A vote FOR the amendment would create a Department of Agriculture to support farming and agriculture in Baltimore County and encourage local food production and distribution to improve access to food for County residents. A vote AGAINST the amendment does not create a Department of Agriculture, and the current County Charter would remain unchanged.

The Inspector General provides oversight of County government by investigating fraud, waste, and abuse. This Charter Amendment establishes an Inspector General Appointment Board; provides for the appointment of members to the Appointment Board; provides authority for the Inspector General Appointment Board to appoint or reappoint the Inspector General and, if necessary, remove the Inspector General for cause. It replaces the current process under which the County Executive appoints or reappoints the Inspector General, and the County Council confirms the appointment. It provides for a residency requirement for the Inspector General. The Inspector General Appointment Board will consist of seven (7) members, with the County Council and County Executive each selecting one member, and the Chair of the Ethics Commission electing the other five (5) members, each of whom must be from specific judicial, accounting, fraud examination or academic professions. There are also several requirements for members relating to potential ethical conflicts between their service on the Inspector General Appointment Board and their employment or business involvement with the County; candidacy for elected office or involvement in campaign finances; registration as a lobbyist; or criminal convictions. This would amend Section 1014 of the Baltimore County Charter and add Section 1014.1 to the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the amendment transfers the authority to appoint or reappoint and remove the Inspector General from the County Executive to an Inspector General Appointment Board to be established. A vote AGAINST the amendment keeps the current process, in which the County Executive appoints or reappoints, the Inspector General and the County Council confirms the appointment.

This Charter Amendment increases the number of Charter Review Commission members appointed by the County Council from seven to nine for purposes of matching the expansion of the County Council. This would amend Section 1203(a) of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the amendment increases the number of Charter Review Commission appointments made by County Council members from seven (7) to nine (9). A vote AGAINST the amendment keeps the current Charter provisions, under which County Council members make seven (7) appointments to the Charter Review Commission.

This Charter Amendment changes the membership of the Board of Recreation and Parks by increasing the number of at-large members from three (3) to four (4) and provides that district-level members are appointed based on recommendations from County Council members. The amendment also amends and modernizes the Board duties to reflect both current board practices and its role to serve in an advisory capacity to the Department of Recreation and Parks. This would amend Section 533 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the amendment changes the membership of the Board of Recreation and Parks and clarifies that the Board is an advisory body to the Department of Recreation and Parks. A vote AGAINST the amendment keeps the current membership and duties of the Board of Recreation and Parks.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $5,000,000 for refuse disposal projects, including but not limited to: construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, closing and capping, repair, and modernization of county refuse disposal facilities, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $5,000,000 for refuse disposal projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $5,000,000 for refuse disposal projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $18,620,000 for community college projects, including but not limited to: acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension, improvement, enlargement, alteration, maintenance, repair, modernization, and development of buildings and other improvements for community colleges; the architectural, engineering, and other services incident thereto; and the acquisition of land, furnishings, and equipment, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $18,620,000 for community college projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $18,620,000 for community college projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $54,380,000 for public works projects, including but not limited to: streets and highways, bridges, storm drain systems, sewer systems, refuse disposal systems, viaducts, environmental projects, grade crossings and parking lots and structures, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $54,380,000 for public works projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $54,380,000 for public works projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $2,000,000 for the purpose of parks, preservation and greenways projects, including but not limited to: acquisition, construction, maintenance, and equipping of playgrounds, parks, community centers, and recreational facilities; related engineering, architectural, and other services; and the acquisition and maintenance of equipment, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $2,000,000 for parks, preservation and greenways projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $2,000,000 for parks, preservation and greenways projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $200,000,000 for school buildings and site projects, including but not limited to: the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, alteration, maintenance, conversion and modernization of buildings and sites for school purposes; architectural and engineering services; and recreation and pedagogical equipment for such buildings and sites, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $200,000,000 for school buildings and site projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $200,000,000 for school buildings and site projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $6,000,000 for agricultural and rural land preservation projects, including but not limited to the purchase of land, development rights, conservation easements and other real property approved by the County Council pursuant to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program and the Rural Legacy Program or other similar federal or state programs, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $6,000,000 for agricultural and rural land preservation projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $6,000,000 for agricultural and rural land preservation projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $4,000,000 for community improvement projects, including but not limited to construction, renovation, extension, alteration, repair or modernization of: street curbs; gutters; water; sewer and other utilities; sidewalk improvements; interior and rear access improvements; landscaping and lighting improvements; building and other structural improvements; and sidewalk and pedestrian system improvements, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $4,000,000 for community improvement projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $4,000,000 for community improvement projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $20,000,000 for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension, alteration, repair and modernization of waterway improvement and stormwater-related projects, including but not limited to: shoreline stabilization; shore erosion control; wetland restoration; streambank and riverbank restoration; stabilization and reconstruction; control and monitoring of nonpoint pollutants; landscaping; dredging; planting of trees and similar waterway improvement projects in residential, rural and commercial areas; and engineering and other services incident thereto, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $20,000,000 for acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension, alteration, repair and modernization of waterway improvement and stormwater-related projects. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $20,000,000 for acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension, alteration, repair and modernization of waterway improvement and stormwater-related projects.

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $81,750,000 for public operational buildings, including but not limited to: general, health, police, fire, recreation, library, senior center, and jail buildings or facilities, and necessary or desirable equipment, to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. A vote FOR the bond issue authorizes Baltimore County to borrow $81,750,000 for public operational buildings. A vote AGAINST the bond issue precludes Baltimore County from borrowing $81,750,000 for public operational buildings.