Some Members Of Baltimore County Council Not Happy With Decision To Not Seek Reimbursement

WBAL-TV is reporting that some members of the Baltimore County Council are upset over how County Executive Kevin Kamenetz handled his decision to not seek reimbursement for costs the county incurred from sending police and other resources into the city during last spring's riots after the death of Freddie Gray.

Kamenetz announced last week that he would not seek to recover $257,000 from the city in part because the city was denied federal financial assistance and would have to take those funds from its rainy day fund.

Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, said he was not opposed to helping the city during the unrest but believes the county has its own public safety needs and those funds could have been put to use on local projects. Marks was also upset that the council has not informed of the decision before it was announced.

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"We found out about the decision when the press release was sent out," Marks said. "The council has a say in the budget and I'm disappointed we weren't even consulted on this decision."

Marks said those funds could have gone toward funding some of the 37 allocated but unfunded positions within the police department or toward the $500,000 needed to help fund a new Kingsville Volunteer Fire Co. station.

"I'm all for being a good neighbor, but we have a number of public safety issues and projects that still need to be addressed in Baltimore County," Marks said.

Councilman Todd Crandell agrees. The Dundalk Republican said he was surprised and troubled by Kamenetz's decision.

"I have a real problem with this," Crandell said. "We are good neighbors to Baltimore City and it was noble for our men and women in uniform to help in the riots.

"We have vacant positions on the police force, schools and parks in disrepair, un-air conditioned schools, recreation and open space needs. (The) $250,000 does not fix all of that but it could go a long way in our district alone. I talked with our constituents over the holiday weekend. They don't like their taxpayer dollars being used to attempt to gain political points in Baltimore City."

Kamenetz's decision to not seek reimbursement was his to make. It was an administrative action that did not require legislative consent.

Kamenetz said should county assistance be required in the future as the city deals with the trials of the six Baltimore police officers charged in Gray's death, the cases would be evaluated individually and that his action in this case does not set a precedent for the future.

Kamenetz declined to directly address the criticism of his decision.

"When we offered emergency assistance we never did it with the expectation of being reimbursed. We came with a helping hand and not a bill in our hand and Baltimore City is our neighbor and we're there to help them in difficult times," Kamenetz said Monday at the unveiling of a new fire station in Towson. "It's the right thing to do and that's why we did it."

The city announced recently it would pay $1.8 million to surrounding counties for their assistance in helping deal with the unrest. Those jurisdictions include Anne Arundel County, which will receive $426,057; Howard County, which received $373,719; and Carroll County, which will receive $41,000 from the city.

“This is a pleasant surprise," Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees said in a statement. "I didn't send resources to the city with any real expectation of being reimbursed for expenses. I sent my deputies because it was the right thing to do and the Baltimore Police Department needed our help.”