Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Thursday warned the county needs to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to meet basic needs, like new schools, police stations and firehouses.
While presenting his budget for the coming fiscal year that begins in July, Olszewski told the County Council that for decades the county failed to keep its buildings up to date. So in November, county voters will be asked to approve nearly $600 million in borrowing for future projects.
“We think voters should and will approve this borrowing,” Olszewski said. “But if they do, these funds must be paid back. Doing so will be difficult, if not impossible without significant new resources or significant reductions in county services in the years ahead.”
In an interview after his address, Olszewski said he did not consider raising taxes this year to help pay for the proposed borrowing. But Olszewski said he wants to be up front about the fiscal challenge the county is facing.
Read more (and listen) at WYPR.
