County Re-Organization and Director Hirings Save

Accounts in local media recently included inaccurate information about the cost of reorganizing Frederick County Government. Two columns published in the Woodsboro Walkersville Times and the Emmitsburg News-Journal claimed that new positions in the Office of the County Executive and the hiring of three division directors have added substantially to Frederick County Government’s payroll. In fact, County Executive Jan Gardner has trimmed nearly $45,000 annually through these actions.

As part of the transition to charter government, the staff of the former County Manager’s Office became the staff of the County Executive’s Office. Most of the new staff in the County Executive’s Office filled like positions that existed as part of the former County Manager’s Office. For instance, the chief administrative officer is the same position that was previously titled as the county manager. The director of government affairs is the same position as the previously titled Board of County Commissioners’ liaison. Executive Gardner has hired five new individuals to serve in the County Executive’s office at a slightly lower cost than during the previous administration.

County Executive Jan Gardner has filled three division director positions including the director of Planning and Permitting, the director of Animal Control, and the chief of Fire and Rescue Services. All of these positions have existed for decades. These positions were filled at the same or lower level of pay and benefits as compared to the prior administration. To suggest that these are new positions and that the dollars spent to fill these positions is an increase in spending is simply factually wrong.

For example, the position of chief administrative officer replaced the former county manager position. Salary and benefits total $187,387 for this top administrative position, compared to $227,358 for under the previous administration, for a savings of $39,971. Salary and benefits for the director of government affairs is $35,710 less than the same position that existed during the prior administration. A new role of education liaison was funded by the cumulative savings in these two positions. The current salary and benefits for the administrative director (special projects) cost $123,425, far less than the $152,505 for a special projects position under the prior administration. (See attached for details.)

The cumulative effect of County Executive Gardner’s reorganization and new hiring mentioned in the
publications is a savings of $44,785 a year.

• Chief Administrative Officer
  • Replaced County Manager position
    • Current administration – salary $177,105 plus fringe of $10,282 = $187,387
    • Prior administration – salary $177,105 plus fringe of $50,253 = $227,358
    • Net Savings: $39,971
• Director of Government Affairs
  • Replaced BOCC liaison position
    • Current administration – salary $85,000 plus fringe of $27,528 = $112,528
    • Prior administration – salary $112,139 plus fringe of 36,099 =$148,238
    • Net Savings: $35,710
• Education Liaison
  • New position, funded by savings from above two positions
    • Current administration – salary $50,000 plus fringe of 18,439 =$68,499
    • Cumulative Savings: $7,182
• Administrative Director (Special Projects)
  • Prior Administration had Special Projects in County Manager’s Office
    • Current administration – salary $114,400 plus fringe of $9,025 = $123,425
    • Prior administration – salary $105,321 plus fringe of $47,184 = 152,505
    • Net Savings: $29,080
• Communications Director
  • Position funded in part from salary line remaining when administrative analyst accepted Council Manager position; balance added through adoption of FY16 budget
    • Current administration – salary $102,000 plus fringe $32,640= $134,640
    • Prior administration (eliminated Admin Analyst position)– salary $65,429 plus fringe $42,313 = $107,742
    • Net Cost: $26,898
• Cumulative Savings from Re-organization: $9,364
• Division Directors
  • Chief, Fire and Rescue:
    • Current administration – salary $158,334 plus fringe $59,046 = $217,380
    • Prior administration – salary $158,334 plus fringe $53,729 = $212,063
  • Director, Animal Control
    • Current administration – salary $106,411 plus fringe $42,522 = $148,933
    • Prior administration – salary $115,953 plus fringe $38,154 = $154,107
  • Director, Community Development
    • Current administration – salary $145,000 plus fringe $44,609 = $189,609
    • Prior administration – salary $156,461 plus fringe $68,712 = $225,173
• Net Savings: $35,421
• CUMULATIVE SAVINGS: $44,785