As Talbot County prepares for a primary election next week (June 24), there is some good news and bad news to share on some of the central issues facing the community in 2014. We base this on our interviews with the candidates running for Talbot County Council over the last few weeks.
The best news, hands down, are the candidates themselves. The County should be very proud that these folks have decided to enter the race. To a person, each one represents some of the best virtues of Talbot County, including honesty, service, and thank heavens, a good sense of humor.
Equally helpful was to remember how difficult the last four years have been for Talbot County and recount how the current council painfully but successfully navigated through the great recession. While there were some clear budget consequences, the county’s primary services remained functioning and are now in the process of rebuilding. The voters should not underestimate the kind of leadership and teamwork this took at the council level.
And finally, some of the issues that emerged from election forums, as well as our own interviews, can and will be rectified quickly. An example would be the licensing and permitting delays experienced over the last few years. It was clear from each candidate’s perspective that this was a problem that could be quickly dispensed with through new project tracking software and better personal service.
While all of this is encouraging, the fact remains that for many of Talbot County’s most challenging problems, including drug use, education expenses, and environmental regulation, the solutions are extremely limited at the county council level.
A case in point has been the State’s so-called Maintenance of Effort requirement. Each year, the state expects counties to spend 51% of their tax revenue to fund local public schools. Regardless of where the candidates stand on the M.O.E., the fact is that the county council has no option to increase or decrease the percentage of their budget going to education. In short, 51% of their total budget is permanently protected, regardless of circumstances.
Another example is the destructive toll that the return of heroin has had on Talbot County. Week after week, new reports of overdose cases are filed as crime rates tick up to reflect the junkie’s need for quick cash. Alas, the real answer to the drug problem cannot be solved through budget allocations for law enforcement alone. While more funding might help, it must also be a community effort, with support from every government entity, school, service clubs, churches, and nonprofit organization. The council can help lead the charge, but in terms of direct action, they have very few choices.
The realities of running county government can be sobering when faced with tight budgets, limited revenue, and top-down mandates. Voters should take heart that the candidate pool for managing these troublesome factors is so rich.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.