HB 692
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader
House Bill 692 (Cecil County Delegation)
Ways and Means Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Cecil County - Board of Education - Member Terms and Compensation
This bill increases the maximum number of terms a member of the Cecil County Board of
Education may serve from two to three terms. The bill also increases by $1,500 the
minimum compensation provided to school board members. The minimum compensation
for the board president increases from $4,000 to $5,500 annually, while the minimum
compensation for other voting board members increases from $3,500 to $5,000 annually.
The salary increases only apply to board members serving in a term of office beginning
after the effective date of the bill. Additionally, the bill removes the authority of the
Cecil County Commissioners to set board member compensation levels and gives that
authority to the county council. The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None.
Local Effect: Cecil County expenditures increase by approximately $2,600 in FY 2023,
rising to a total of $7,500 annually in FY2026 as board member minimum compensation
increases take effect.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law: The Cecil County Board of Education consists of five voting members and
one nonvoting student member who is not paid. Board members are elected from
commissioner districts in staggered four-year terms. The board president receives an
annual salary of $4,000, and other voting board members receive $3,500 annually. The
president and other board members are entitled to annual compensation for travel and
expenses of up to $1,000.
Chapter 390 of 2003 established a $4,000 annual salary for the board president and a
$3,500 annual salary for the other voting board members. Prior to that, members of the
board served without compensation but were entitled to reimbursement expenses of up to
$1,400 for the board president or $1,000 for other board members.
The Cecil County Commissioners are authorized to increase the salary of the county board
of education. At the November 2010 general election, voters in Cecil County approved a
new charter that established an elected county executive and a five-member county council,
which went into effect on December 3, 2012. Prior to the new charter, the county was
governed by county commissioners.
Local Expenditures: Because the bill increases compensation levels for board members,
expenditures for the Cecil County Board of Education increase by $7,500 once the bill fully
takes effect. The bill specifies that higher salary amounts take effect with the next term of
office. Three board members terms expire after the 2022 election, and two board members
terms expire after the 2024 election. As a result, Cecil County expenditures increase by
approximately $2,600 in fiscal 2023, rising to a total of $7,500 annually beginning in
fiscal 2026 as the minimum compensation increases take effect.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: A similar bill, HB 621 of 2017, passed the House with amendments
and was referred to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.
The bill was subsequently withdrawn before receiving a committee hearing.
Designated Cross File: SB 823 (Senators Gallion and Hershey) - Education, Health, and
Environmental Affairs.
Information Source(s): Cecil County; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 8, 2021
rh/hlb Third Reader - March 19, 2021
Analysis by: Michael E. Sousane Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 692/ Page 2