LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 5/26/2025 – 6/02/2025

*SHORT TIME FRAME FOR ACTION

From our friends at Shadow Cat TNR, comes the following request:

To all of our animal loving friends, please plan to attend the County Council meeting Tuesday, 5/27 at 7:30 p.m. at 212 S. Bond Street, Bel Air to show your support for animal welfare in Harford.

The county is considering the budget request of the Humane Society of Harford County; they have heard a good deal of testimony regarding unneeded euthanasia, substandard care, and fiscal mismanagement. At the meeting on 5/27, HSHC representatives will deliver a presentation and the council will ask them to answer questions raised by residents. The meeting agenda is attached:

https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28353/LSD-25-018-May-27-2025-Public-?bidId=

Issues with the shelter operations have been raised at multiple council meetings since December 2024, with no clear answers or actions.

Any resident may submit questions to the council for consideration at the meeting. You can email the entire council at council@harfordcountymd.gov.

You do not need to speak, although you can sign up to give 3 minutes of testimony. Information on how to register to speak can be found at:https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/2966/How-to-Participate-in-a-Council-Meeting.

We urge you to call or email your council representative with your thoughts if you don’t want to speak publicly but want to be heard.”

Shadow Cats TNR also provided links to prior County Council meetings where additional information is available:

The link to the hearing on May 7 is a very short video: https://youtu.be/tkmujfDYMmU?si=doiaomm6WaWLHHUW.

The link to the following meeting on May 15 is here: https://harfordcountymd.new.swagit.com/videos/342965.

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LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 4/21/2025 – 4/27/2025

Ask County Executive Cassilly to increase funding to Harford County Community College (HCC) and our public libraries. Cassilly has flat funded HCC for the last 3 years, and has continued to underfund our libraries. These public institutions provide critical services for our community. HCC offers a path to a college degree or training in various trades, without unmanageable costs. How will the failure to increase funding impact tuition? Reduce course offerings? Or possibly lead to a loss of faculty and staff?

Please call and/or email your concerns to County Executive Cassilly:CountyExecutive@harfordcountymd.gov OR call at Call 410-638-3350

Dear County Executive Cassilly,

I am a constituent and I am concerned about the failure to increase funding to Harford Community College for the last 3 years, and the chronic underfunding of our libraries which provide critical resources to our community. The continued flat and underfunding of these anchors of the community means more obstacles to information and education. It hinders the advancement of our citizens, our neighbors, who need access to these public resources. I am particularly concerned that this continued underfunding will lead to tuition increases, program loss and loss of staff. Please show that your prioritize education and educational resources for our community

Name and address

______________________________________________________________________

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 4/14/2025 – 4/20/2025

COMPREHENSIVE REZONING ENTERS FINAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EFFECT CHANGE.

Harford County Zoning – Bill 25-002

We are asking supporters across the County to send emails and call the County Executive, Council President Vincente and Council members Bennett and Roberts in reference to Harford County’s 2025 Comprehensive Zoning legislation, known as Bill 25-002.

Script:

Hello, my name is ______________________. I am asking the County Executive and the Council to amend Bill 25-002 to rezone the Mitchell Farm and surrounding Light Industrial (LI) parcels in Perryman to Agricultural (AG), and to reject the proposed upzoning of Parcel F-002 in District F as this next phase unfolds.

Parcel F-002 is surrounded by a community zoned for Agricultural use, making CI zoning incompatible. This rezoning request appears to be more about setting the property up for future industrial development, instead of addressing the actual appropriate use of the property and the needs of the community. Approving CI zoning for F-002 would ignore the infrastructural limitations of the property (ie roads and sidewalks) and the established rural identity of the surrounding community.

I am also requesting that the County Council amend the bill to rezone the Mitchell Farm and adjacent Light Industrial (LI) parcels in Perryman to Agricultural (AG). This change would allow for appropriate land use, and avoid making worse the already dangerous overload of existing infrastructure, and promote more consistent, balanced planning throughout District F.

Perryman also has the highest poverty rate among Harford County communities, and has a population that is a 25% higher non-white than the county average. There are no public resources like those found in other communities in the County – no rec center and no sidewalks. This is not balanced planning. This is an intentional choice to burden a community that is already underserved.

We are asking you to protect this land and this community. We hope the County Executive and Council will act swiftly to amend this bill.

Your name and address

Find your elected official: https://togetherharford.org/harford-electeds/

______________________________________________________________________

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 4/06/2025 – 4/13/2025

THIS CALL TO ACTION HAS A DEADLINE TUESDAY APRIL 8 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS IN PERRYMAN AND BETTER MANAGEMENT OF OUR LAND RESOURCES THROUGH APPROPRIATE ZONING

Public Testimony/Emails Guidance & Samples

For Harford County Zoning Hearings – Bill 25-002

Thank you for supporting Perryman!

We are asking supporters across the County to participate in the public hearings on HarfordCounty’s 2025 Comprehensive Zoning legislation, known as Bill 25-002.

Even if you do not live in Perryman, your voice matters. The further industrialization ofPerryman affects traffic, infrastructure, environmental health, and community priorities across all of Harford County.

To participate effectively, here’s what you need to know:

How to Participate

Submit written testimony, Attend the final hearing and consider speaking:

Date: Tuesday, April 8
Time: 6:00 PM (arrive by 5:30 PM if speaking)
Location: Harford County Council Chambers212 S. Bond Street, Bel Air, MD

2. Register to speak by 3:00 PM on the day of the hearing:

Email: council@harfordcountymd.gov
Phone: 410-638-3343
Include your name, home address, which property application you will oppose, (Bill 25-002: F-002, A-007, A-008, and A-009), and that you plan to speak.

3. Submit written testimony before April 8:

Email to: council@harfordcountymd.gov
CC: info@protectperryman.com (optional, but recommended & appreciated)
Encourage friends, family, and neighbors to submit—even a few sentences makes a difference.

4. Reference Parcel F-002 in your testimony:

To be included in the record, your testimony must refer to a listed zoning change.

We are asking everyone to oppose the proposed upzoning of Parcel F-002 in District F (fromAG/B1 to Commercial Industrial).

We are also calling on the Council to amend the bill to rezone the Mitchell Farm and nearbyLight Industrial parcels to Agricultural (AG).

5. Speaking Tips:

Keep remarks under 3 minutes
Review tips: protectperryman.com/council-speaking-tips
For broader zoning context: friendsofharford.com/update-2025-comprehensive-zoning-review

Sample Testimonies

Please feel free to personalize these!

For Countywide Supporters

Concerned Parent from Fallston

Good evening. My name is [Name/Address]. I’m here tonight to comment on Bill 25-002and urge you to reject the proposed upzoning of Parcels F-002, A-007, A-008, A-009 and instead adopt an amendment to rezone the District F Mitchell Farm and surrounding land to Agricultural.

I may not live in Perryman, but I care deeply about what happens there. What happens inPerryman doesn’t stay in Perryman. More industrial traffic, more truck routes, and morewear on our shared infrastructure affects all of Harford County.

I’m also concerned about setting a precedent. If we’re willing to pave over workingfarmland in a flood-prone, underserved area with poor roads—what part of the County will be next?

Please amend this bill. Rezone the Mitchell Farm and adjacent parcels to Agricultural.

Protect Perryman, and protect Harford County’s future.

Thank you.

Retired Teacher from Bel Air

Good evening. [Name/Address], and I’m a retired educator from Bel Air. Good evening. Myname is [Name/Address]. I’m here tonight to comment on Bill 25-002 and urge you to rejectthe proposed upzoning of Parcels F-002, A-007, A-008, A-009 and instead adopt anamendment to rezone the District F Mitchell Farm and surrounding land to Agricultural.

I’ve lived in Harford County for decades. The reason people move here and stay here isn’twarehouses—it’s quality of life. And yet we’re watching as farmland disappears, roadsbuckle, and development continues in places that don’t have the infrastructure to handle it.

I stand with my neighbors in Perryman. Their concerns are valid. Their community deserves better. Please show them—and the rest of the County—that our zoning laws are grounded in reality, fairness, and a long-term vision.

Thank you.

Small Business Owner from Edgewood

Good evening. My name is [Name/Address], and I own a small business in Edgewood. I’mhere tonight to comment on Bill 25-002 and urge you to reject the proposed upzoning ofParcels F-002, A-007, A-008, A-009 and instead adopt an amendment to rezone the DistrictF Mitchell Farm and surrounding land to Agricultural.

As a business owner, I understand the value of economic development—but it has to be responsible. Perryman is already overloaded. Adding more industrial zoning without addressing roads, flooding, and quality of life is a short-term gain with long-term costs. Small businesses thrive when communities thrive. And I want my business to grow in a County that protects its communities, not overburdens them.

Please amend the bill. Support community first zoning. Support Perryman.

Thank you.

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LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 3/31/2025 – 4/05/2025

TIME SENSITIVE:

COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THEIR TUESDAY EVENING MEETING!

Oppose Harford County Council Resolution 007-25

We’re in the final stretch in the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session. It ends April 7. So we have 9 days to pass several bills to protect immigrants in Maryland from Trump’s mass deportation machine. In particular, we are all hands on deck for the Maryland Values Act (HB1222) which passed the House, had a Senate hearing this week, and now needs be voted on.

Background on “Resolution 007-25 [Opposition – HB1222]”: This Tuesday evening 4/1 at 7:30pm, the Harford County Council President, on the Sheriff’s request, will introduce and have the Council vote on a Resolution to express opposition to the MD Values Act HB1222. This is a purely political, symbolic resolution meant to rally opposition to this bill. Also, being the day after the trial begins in the horrific murder of Rachel Morin, allegedly by an undocumented non-citizen, this will play on the raw emotions of that case.

Why take action: We have just over a week left in Session to pass HB1222 so this is an important chance to show local support for defending immigrants’ rights, and making them feel safe. We can show that there is widespread local opposition to 287(g) in the counties that currently have the program.

How to take action: From now until Tuesday, we want to email and call Councilmembers. On Tuesday, we will show up to the Council meeting in solidarity with our immigrant communities. Please note that is likely that we will not be allowed to speak at the Council meeting as a result of a standing rule that does not allow public comments on matters being voted on that evening.

✉️ EMAIL YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS

How to Use This Template:

✅ Copy and paste the template into an email to edit.
✅ Fill in your details – name, role, and organization (if applicable)
✅ The email will be sent to all Council Members.
✅ Personalize your message – Share how anti-immigrant policies like 287(g) impact you or your community by creating more fear for your families and neighbors.

TO: council@harfordcountymd.gov

Subject:Support public safety and our immigrant neighbors, vote NO on Resolution 007-25

Email Template:

To the Harford County Council President and all members,

I am a Harford County Resident (I live in …) and I ask that you vote against the Resolution in opposition to HB1222. I support the Maryland Values Act, HB1222 because it is a data-driven public safety bill. HB1222 would reduce our immigrant community’s fear of police by ending ineffective 287(g) programs that deputize Corrections staff as ICE agents. HB1222 would still allow counties to continue to arrest criminals and fully cooperate with ICE, as most counties in MD do, to deport convicted violent criminals. 287(g) is unnecessary and harmful.

287(g) is an ineffective public safety tool. It does not target the most violent criminals. Just the opposite. It targets the innocent and those charged with minor offenses. Data proves that in 287(g) counties in MD, most who are deported were arrested for minor offenses (including 60% for traffic violations) and most are never found guilty of a crime. In Harford County in 2023, 83% of 287(g) detainers were for people with no conviction. This is because 287(g) doesn’t follow the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” It allows ICE to exact the punishment of exile before they have their day in court and the criminal charges (however minor) heard by a judge.

Rachel Morin’s murder is tragic and horrific. It caused real fear in the community, as would any murder in a public recreational space that so many of us use. However, the fact is that 287(g) would not have prevented it. Her heart-breaking murder occurred here in Harford County where we have an active 287(g) agreement. There is no scenario in which this murder would have been prevented by the existence of a 287(g) agreement. The only law enforcement agency that could have prevented this murder was the Department of Homeland Security, had they been able to prevent Mr. Martinez Hernandez’s entry to the U.S.

[Add your own additional comments, especially support for the immigrant community and public safety HERE]

All county residents, regardless of legal status, deserve to feel safe. 287(g) actually makes us less safe by eroding trust by making immigrant victims of crime and witnesses afraid to come forward and report crime to law enforcement.

Nothing in HB1222 prevents counties from engaging in full cooperation with ICE, short of doing its job for them, as is required by 287(g). Please vote no on Resolution 007-25.

Thank you for your consideration,

[Name, address or city (if Harford County resident]

📲 CALL YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Use the text below to share with your Council Member’s office WHY you are calling and WHY you support protecting immigrant rights and families. Respectfully urge your councilmember that you expect her or him to stand with immigrant families, data-backed approaches to public safety and VOTE NO on Resolution 007-25.

Council President Patrick Vincenti: 410-638-3525 (he is introducing the resolution)

Here is link to find the contact information for your Council representatives:

https://togetherharford.org/harford-electeds/

Phone Script: Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling from [Your City] to urge the County Council to vote against Resolution 007-25. I support the Maryland Values Act that would end 287g. 287g is unnecessary, and actually makes us less safe. Rachel Morin’s murder was horrible and tragic. However, 287(g) did not prevent it and isn’t designed to prevent similar tragedies. In the many counties without 287g, ICE is already able to target those who commit the most serious crimes. 287g just allows them to target everybody else, mostly innocent and those who commit minor offenses, like traffic violations, by using local resources. And it erodes public trust with those most needed to report crime and cooperate in investigations. Police should be keeping our communities safe and building trust, not helping separate families and spreading fear. Thank you.

🗓ATTEND 4/1 TUESDAY COUNCIL HEARING

Help us pack the room and show support for immigrants! Please note that we may not be allowed to speak directly on this matter as there is a standing rule that prevents public comments on matters that are being voted on that evening.

When/where: 7:30pm in Council Chambers 212 S. Bond Street, Bel Air, MD 21014

📌SEE ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS BELOW

287(g) is an awful public safety tool. It does NOT target the most violent criminals. Just the opposite. It targets the innocent and those charged with minor offenses. Data proves that in 287(g) counties in MD, most who are deported were arrested for minor offenses (60% traffic violations) and/or never found guilty of a crime.

§ Maryland, from 2016-2023:Of the detainers issued via 287(g): 92% (706 of 771 people), were for people with either no conviction or the least serious “Level 3” conviction, which includes traffic offenses and minor misdemeanors.

§ Harford County in 2023: In 2023, 83% of detainers were for people with NO conviction

§ Frederick County in 2012: In 2012, 88% of 287(g) detainers were for folks arrested for misdemeanors, 60% for traffic violations

287(g) actually makes us less safe. In addition to not mostly targeting people who are potential threats to public safety, 287(g) erodes public trust. 287(g) programs make immigrant victims of crime and witnesses afraid to come forward and report crime to law enforcement in 287(g) jurisdictions as they see them as an extension of ICE. This makes all of us less safe.

§ Uniform Crime Report, 2008-2016: There was much larger drop in serious crime during Montgomery (44%) and Prince George’s County’s (57%) than in Frederick County (30%). Both have much larger immigrant populations and no 287(g) agreement.

With a majority of 287(g) deportation coming from traffic violations, widespread fear in the community comes from the reality that driving as an immigrant in a 287(g) county is more likely to lead to deportation and family separation.

287(g) is unnecessary. 90% of MD counties don’t have 287(g) and they are still able to arrest criminals and our system has processed in place for ICE to deport them. HB1222 does not prohibit the current cooperation that most counties do with ICE, it just doesn’t allow specific 287(g) agreement that deputize local corrections staff to target those who are not public safety threats.

287(g) violates due process. A consequence of 287(g) is often that an accused does not stand trial in criminal court. Instead, the accused is transferred into ICE custody to undergo removal proceedings, depriving the accused of their day to defend themselves in court, thwarting the core principle of “innocent until proven guilty”, and in cases where an accused did indeed commit a crime, depriving the victims’ families of the opportunity to see justice done.

______________________________________________________________________

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 3/17/2025 – 3/23/2025

Email or call the County Executive to demand increased funding for our schools.

Email CountyExecutive@harfordcountymd.gov

Call 410-638-3350 or 410-879-2038

Losing summer school for a second year in a row shows the devastating effects of the County Executive’s failure to fund education.

On March 13, 2025, Harford County Public Schools announced that there will be no summer school this summer due to budget constraints.

“As we work to develop a sustainable and responsible budget for the upcoming fiscal year, adjustments are being made to align resources with available funding. As part of these efforts, all summer school sessions for 2025 have been canceled. This includes elementary and middle summer school sessions, as well as the high school credit recovery summer program.”

The district said the decision does not impact Extended School Year (ESY) for students receiving special education services per their Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is a federally mandated program that will continue as planned.

This is the second year that summer school has been canceled due to budget shortfalls.

This is another example of the loss and degradation of student instruction as a result of the underfunding of our school budget. Summer school offers an opportunity to help students that are struggling and to help provide a continuity of learning.

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/harford-county-public-schools-budget-no-summer-school/64188694

Email or call the County Executive to demand increased funding for our schools.

Dear County Executive Cassilly, my name is ____________________ and I am a constituent. We need public education to be a priority in this County. The reputation of our public schools helps draw residents to our County; it draws employers seeking employees with a strong educational foundation and it is the right thing to do. We are facing crippling teacher shortages and the loss of our summer school for a second year. This is not how we build a strong community and support out students. Find a way to increase funding to HCPS. This is the priority for your constituents.

Sincerely,

______________________________________________________________________

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 3/10/2025 – 3/16/2025

Email Harford County Public Schools Board of Education with concerns about Religious Education in HCPS.

There are efforts to bring a religious education program to students, during the school day by members of the Harford County community. These types of programs are known as “released time”. The one currently being pursued is Lifewise. www.Lifewise.org On their website, they describe that they are on step 6 out of 10 in preparation for launching a program here. They call their program “bible study,” and say it is to take place off-site during the regular school day, with parental permission. They seek to schedule it during the school’s specials rotation. This program is also known for its efforts to encourage students to return to school and proselytize.

More information can be found at: https://parentsagainstlifewise.online/about/

When we already have educational challenges before us, this raises questions about the best use of instructional time during school hours. What possible improved educational benefit comes from disrupting the school day with noneducational instruction?

Since Maryland requires 1,080 K-8 instructional hours per school year, how will time be made up if students are pulled out for LifeWise?

Concerns are:

Missed instructional time, most likely specials. How will this be made up? Will teachers be required to provide extra instructional opportunities for these missed activities?
Classroom disruption due to LifeWise student pullouts
Erosion of local control if this Ohio-based program is implemented in Harford County. Will local school officials be in a position to monitor LifeWise curriculum and instruction?
Safety of students transported off-site. What is the district’s liability?

Released Time policies for religious instruction are currently a “may,” not a “must,” according the Supreme Court.Some school districts in the United States have said “no.” Maryland apparently does not have specific laws regarding Released Time. As a result, a Released Time program in Maryland would need to obtain permission from the local school board for students to participate in the program.

Please reach out to all Board of Education members and ask them to investigate this organization and deny the disruption to student education and instructional time.

Potential script:

Harford County Board of Education, my name is _____________________. I have learned that an organization promoting removing students from school during the school day for the purposes of religious education is actively working to start this type of “Released Time” program in Harford County. It is known as LifeWise.

When we already have educational challenges before us in our school system, and are fighting to improve reading and math scores, a program that removes students from the school building during the school day seems counter to improving these scores. What possible improved educational benefit comes from disrupting the school day with noneducational instruction?

Since Maryland requires 1,080 K-8 instructional hours per school year, how will time be made up if students are pulled out for this program?

Concerns are:

1. Missed instructional time, most likely specials. How will this be made up? Will teachers be required to provide extra instructional opportunities for these missed activities?
2. Classroom disruption due to student pullouts.
3. Erosion of local control if this Ohio-based program is implemented in Harford County. Will local school officials be in a position to monitor LifeWise curriculum and instruction?
4. Safety of students transported off-site. What is the district’s liability?

We urge you to review any such program carefully and reject anything that disrupts the school day and decreased instructional time.

Thank you,

Email the Full Board: https://www.hcps.org/contactus/contactform/default.aspx?subject=2

You can also email your representative on the Board directly. Board of Education districts match councilmanic districts, so if you vote in Councilmanic District A, your Board of Education representative is from District A as well.

Click here to find your representatives and their contact information

______________________________________________________________________

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 3/02/2025 – 3/08/2025

Call/email Harford County Executive Cassilly
Call/email your Harford County Council representative.

Click here to find your representatives and their contact information

Current funding for Harford County Public Schools is staggeringly below what would be expected of one of the wealthiest counties in the State, but we rank 19^th out of 24 counties in funding of our public education. The State of Maryland requires counties to at least match the prior year’s budget numbers – this is called maintenance of effort. Except the State did offer a onetime opportunity to reduce the maintenance of effort during Covid. Most Counties did not reduce their maintenance of effort, but in Harford County, County Executive Cassilly did.

Funding as a percentage of the County budget has fallen to historically low levels over the last 22 years. In 2002, public education was almost 50% of the County budget –49.4% compared to 41.2% this year and 41% last year. That equates to a $64 million dollar difference – the difference between funding at 41.2% and 49.4%. And now you see both the problem and the solution. And you can see in the chart below, that during Cassilly’s term we have gone from 43.1% down to the 41.2% . That equates to a $30 million dollar difference. We would not be in the extreme distress we are in financially if he had only kept the commitment the same when he took office, but he chose to reduce it dramatically.

Any increase over the proposed maintenance of effort that Cassillyhas historically proposed, has only come as a result of PUBLIC PRESSURE, and he did increase the budget each year after public pressure.

Fiscal Year	BoE Operating	HC General Fund	BoE % of HC General Fund
2002	$138,335,279	$280,078,557	49.4%
2003	$146,076,098	$306,001,829	47.7%
2004	$147,397,439	$302,373,907	48.7%
2005	$154,047,408	$323,213,155	47.7%
2006	$175,414,800	$379,987,329	46.2%
2007	$189,414,800	$410,093,871	46.2%
2008	$199,614,800	$452,729,169	44.1%
2009	$210,914,800	$472,316,523	44.7%
2010	$210,914,800	$446,240,857	47.3%
2011	$214,061,789	$454,504,275	47.1%
2012	$214,291,627	$476,439,692	45.0%
2013	$219,821,368	$487,488,257	45.1%
2014	$221,300,729	$496,925,918	44.5%
2015	$223,667,302	$488,486,824	45.8%
2016	$228,208,971	$502,604,595	45.4%
2017	$233,534,504	$524,570,000	44.5%
2018	$238,715,645	$543,100,000	44.0%
2019	$245,815,645	$571,655,000	43.0%
2020	$256,465,645	$595,390,000	43.1%
2021	$276,927,778	$632,435,000	43.8%
2022	$293,812,984	$658,625,000	44.6%
2023	$324,237,657	$752,570,000	43.1%
2024	$314,852,402	$768,496,000	41.0%
2025	$321,352,402	$780,108,000	41.2%

Email/phone script:

Hello, is County Executive Cassilly available? My name is__________ and I am a constituent. I wanted to call/write to let you know that I believe that public education should reflect a larger percentage of the County’s budget. This is our most important investment in our children, in our County and in the future for all of us. When you came into office you made a decision to devalue public education and I, and many of my neighbors, disagree with you. Increase public education as a percentage of the County budget as a reflection of the importance that we place on public education in our community. The failure to do so will have serious and immediate consequences, as there is no more delaying the impact of the multi-year damage you have caused. The loss of student facing positions is at a critical point and cannot be avoided without a commitment from you. We need you to hear us and increase the Harford County Public Schools budget back to the percentage of the County budget it was when you took office.

Name and Address

*** If the elected official is not available to speak, make sure to note the name of the person you are speaking with and use it when expressing your concerns, thank them and ask them to confirm that they will deliver the message to the elected official.

Email CountyExecutive@harfordcountymd.gov Call 410-638-3350 or 410-879-2038

Find your County elected Officials: https://harfordgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=ff48a552e07543c5b0efa41d049424c3

LOCAL CALL TO ACTION

Week of 2/24/2025 – 3/1/2025

Call/email Harford County Executive Cassilly
Call/email your Harford County Council representative.

Click here to find your representatives and their contact information

Current funding for Harford County Public Schools is staggeringly below what would be expected of one of the wealthiest counties in the State. After taking advantage of a one-time reduction in local funding permitted by the State during Covid, Cassilly has continued to propose budgets at the lowest levels possible, called maintenance of effort – only committing to match the prior year’s funding. Any increase over the proposed maintenance of effort has come as a result of PUBLIC PRESSURE, and he did increase the budget each year after public pressure. The prior years’ budgets have had a brutal financial impact, especially in light of our inflationary environment. The current budget talks indicate that this year’s proposal would potentially put local funding $41 million below the needs of HCPS, as the deficit has only intensified over his term. Cuts facing the school system will predominately be student facing positions, meaning an increase in class sizes and loss of many specialized instruction/services.

Email/phone script:

Hello, is County Executive Cassilly available? My name is__________ and I am a constituent. I am concerned about budget talks which indicated that the HCPS budget will be severely underfunded, causing increased class sizes. Increased class sizes leads to a variety of problems, for example it would create safety concerns in science departments. Lab safety manuals recommend a cap of 28 students for labs. Larger class sizes will limit educational opportunities as teachers have to eliminate curriculum and experiences due to safety concerns. Language labs are already over capacity with a limit of 32 students and many classes at 35 students. Fully fund our schools, we do not want our children’s educational opportunities limited by increased class sizes. Thank you for your time.