HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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outside the regular budget process. Moreover, the shortcomings
of this budgetary approach is magnified when salary increases are
to be funded entirely by State general funds and other sources of
funds would not be charged their proportionate share.

I am also very concerned about the precedential effect of
requiring the State to fund salary increases for local Council
employees that possess only a tenuous and optional funding link
to the State and no connection to the State personnel system. As
noted earlier, while State employee salaries are governed by a
defined salary schedule subject to State modification, employees
of the Council receive such remuneration as set solely by the
Council. In fact, a review of the existing salaries for
employees of the Council and comparably positioned State
employees reveals a weak correlation. Several comparative
positions are similarly salaried; however other Council employees
are compensated at a level significantly higher than their State
counterparts.

Therefore, for the above reasons, I have decided to veto
House Bill 248.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

House Bill No. 248

AN ACT concerning

Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland -
Employee Compensation

FOR the purpose of providing that when a general pay increase is
given to State employees, an increase in pay at a rate equal
to that given to State employees shall also be given to the
permanent employees of the Tri-County Council of Southern
Maryland; providing for the funding of any such pay
increase; and generally relating to the compensation of the
employees of the Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 20 - Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland

Section 2-402 and 2-403

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1981 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: