An anonymous reader picked up on this over the weekend, noting that the student loan repayment program "appears in the Human Resources operating budget as a miscellaneous employee benefit. It sounds like the administration and/or new Council has deliberately chosen not to implement the program. You need to raise the issue now because Mr. McClure is proposing to cut it from the 2025 budget."
I've scoured the proposed 2025 spending plan and am unable to find any reference to the $500,000 set aside by County Council at all. If any of you see it (Human Resouces is on p. 35), please let me know.
But I can understand why no student loan repayment program is in place. Although County Council certainly has the right to set aside funds for such a program, and has extensive powers under the Home Rule Charter, it has no authority to engage in administrative functions. That is the prerogative of the Executive.
I remember that when this budget amendment was discussed last year, Executive Lamont McClure said he had no idea how it could be implemented.
Nonsense anyway. Let these people pay their debts like other hard working Americans.
ReplyDeleteSo basically, the county council can pass any resolution or ordinance it wants but McClure can ignore it if 'he' claims it is not appropriate. Your sugary sweet defense of this little big man is nothing if not entertaining, you should get a check. Or maybe you can sit next to Krafty on council.
ReplyDeleteIn the approved 2024 HR operating budget the line item for Miscellaneous Employee Benefits is $550,000. In the proposed 2025 budget the same line item is $50,000.
ReplyDeleteNot that difficult to implement. Agree to a reasonable annual dollar amount per eligible employee then create an application process similar to tuition reimbursement.
A total waste of money.
ReplyDeleteThey're waiting, because Biden/Harris have promised to eliminate student loan debt (i.e. make others assume that debt). That way, 63% of families who didn't incur college debt for worthless degrees, will pick up the tab. Bidenomics.
ReplyDeleteTell me you don't understand federal fiscal policy without saying so.
DeleteWait, wait, next you're going to compare federal spending to a household budget, right?
That was Cusuck's sucky initiative. Get rid of it. Completely unfair for those who don't have loans.
ReplyDeletePoliticians always mess with the people's money, and they get away with it.
ReplyDeleteSince when do you take a loan out and then not pay it back? When is someone going to do something about these colleges that raise tuition at 3 times the rate of inflation over the last 25 yrs?
ReplyDeleteannon7:44, you hit it on the head in your hatred. McClure hated Cusick because he saw through Mclure and Barrons BS, especially with money. McClure wanted democrats on council to not vote for any Cusick initiative. If this had been McClure or an approved democrat's idea McClure would have crowed about it like he does everything else.
ReplyDeleteYour excuse for McClure is ridiculous and is anti-democratic government. You are an advocate for strong man tactics from a county official who thinks he is something more? Too bad.
Ah, it was a dumb, unworkable idea meant to steal money from affordable housing which is desperately needed, and you can thank Lucille Heffner for that.
DeleteAt this point, the politics is irrelevant. It was passed and signed into law. There was no veto. Due to lack of implementation, we are potentially poised to collectively miss out on up to a 500K employee benefit.
ReplyDelete