County group to study school cost savings
Members have until Dec. 31 to submit proposals to Ulman, Cousin
Posted 9/18/08
Howard County has formed a new group designed to find ways to cut costs in the public school system, according to a county news release.
The Cooperation and Efficiency in Government Work Group is responsible for gathering ideas from within government and from the general public to cut expenses, in part by avoiding duplication of services between the school system and the county government and improving efficiency, the release states.
The group’s members will file a report to County Executive Kenneth Ulman and Howard County School Superintendent Sydney Cousin by Dec. 31. The report is to include a list of proposals, an evaluation of the proposals and the potential cost savings, a recommendation on which proposals should be implemented and any other findings, according to the release.
“Over 60 percent of our taxes go to education, so it is imperative that we closely scrutinize how government and the school system best consolidate their resources,” Ulman said in a written statement. “Now more than ever we must do all we can to maximize the use of tax dollars.”
The Chief Administrative Officer of Howard County and the Chief Financial Officer of the Howard County Public School System will co-chair the group. The rest of the members will be drawn from within the government and the school system.
“We are always looking for ways to save money, and I know county government does that, too,” Cousin said in a written statement. “But this work group will review proposals and recommendations together; this way the right hand knows exactly what the left is doing. If there is duplication of services or opportunities to consolidate services, we’ll find them."
The public can offer suggestions on ways to cut costs through Nov. 1 by logging on to www.howardcountymd.gov and clicking on “Requests/Feedback.” Ideas also can be sent by mail to: Budget Administrator Ray Wacks, Howard County Government Budget Office, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
The Cooperation and Efficiency in Government Work Group is responsible for gathering ideas from within government and from the general public to cut expenses, in part by avoiding duplication of services between the school system and the county government and improving efficiency, the release states.
The group’s members will file a report to County Executive Kenneth Ulman and Howard County School Superintendent Sydney Cousin by Dec. 31. The report is to include a list of proposals, an evaluation of the proposals and the potential cost savings, a recommendation on which proposals should be implemented and any other findings, according to the release.
“Over 60 percent of our taxes go to education, so it is imperative that we closely scrutinize how government and the school system best consolidate their resources,” Ulman said in a written statement. “Now more than ever we must do all we can to maximize the use of tax dollars.”
The Chief Administrative Officer of Howard County and the Chief Financial Officer of the Howard County Public School System will co-chair the group. The rest of the members will be drawn from within the government and the school system.
“We are always looking for ways to save money, and I know county government does that, too,” Cousin said in a written statement. “But this work group will review proposals and recommendations together; this way the right hand knows exactly what the left is doing. If there is duplication of services or opportunities to consolidate services, we’ll find them."
The public can offer suggestions on ways to cut costs through Nov. 1 by logging on to www.howardcountymd.gov and clicking on “Requests/Feedback.” Ideas also can be sent by mail to: Budget Administrator Ray Wacks, Howard County Government Budget Office, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
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