WASHINGTON — Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh said his budget has a strong focus on police, calling for more officers and higher pay.
“We’ve initiated an unprecedented effort to improve our public safety infrastructure,” Schuh said in a speech on Tuesday outlining his new spending plan during an election year.
Schuh’s proposal for the 2019 fiscal year budget includes 20 new sworn police officers plus a 15 percent raise for police over two years.
“We’ve come to the conclusion that current levels of compensation are inadequate to attract the talent we need to fill the positions we’ve created,” he said, noting the county added 80 new positions in public safety over the past three years.
The budget would increase starting pay for officers from $46,854 to $51,500.
“Three years ago, we said we would make historic investments in every agency of public safety and we have kept that promise,” Schuh said in a comment that reminded everyone that he is running for re-election against Democratic opponent Steuart Pittman.
Education was also a focus of Schuh’s speech.
His budget proposal includes $15 million to improve school safety with additional mental health professionals and thousands of new lockable interior doors and security cameras.
Schuh also called for 80 new teacher positions and a two-step pay increase for teachers.
“These increases reflect the ongoing strengthening of our local economy and the great work of these outstanding professionals,” he said.
The Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County was not satisfied with the proposals.
“County Executive Schuh’s budget proposal is below the superintendent’s recommendation, below the Board of Education’s recommendation and far below what our students and educators need and deserve,” said the group’s president Richard Benfer.
“It is insufficient to reverse the harm he has done during his time in office as teacher pay plummeted to the lowest in any urban district in Maryland,” he said.
