Members of the Baltimore County Council have unanimously voted to repeal a disputed pension policy and apply the change retroactively in a move designed to prevent any current or former council member from benefiting from the arrangement.
The legislation approved on Monday makes the repeal effective from April 10 rather than May 11, closing a window that could have allowed some officials to retire under the previous system. Critics had argued that the policy would have significantly increased retirement benefits for council members, with some pensions potentially doubling.
One of those who could have been affected by the earlier rules is veteran council member Julian Jones, who is leaving the council to contest the Baltimore County executive election.
Speaking on the issue, Jones said, “To me, full-time pay for part-time work is not a good deal for the citizens.”
The pension controversy has become a major issue in the race for county executive. Democratic candidate Nick Stewart described the matter as “probably one of the worst scandals in Baltimore County’s recent history.”
Stewart also criticized the council’s handling of pension and salary legislation, saying, “On the very same day, keep in mind that Baltimore County Council passes a law that changes the way that their pensions are going to be calculated in the future. They’re going to be tied to whatever future council members make in salary on the very same day they passed that law – they introduced a new law that says those future salaries will go from part-time to full-time.”
Jones rejected the criticism, arguing that his opponents were focusing on controversy rather than their own achievements.
“Well, that’s because they haven’t done anything. And when you’ve done nothing, my wife always reminds me, heavy is the head that wears the crown. When you’re sitting here trying to make things better for the citizens of Baltimore County, and you’re running against people who have done nothing, they have nothing to talk about; they have no record of anything they’ve done. So all they do is point fingers at other people,” he said.
The debate intensified after the resignation of council member Wade Kach in May. Following public criticism, the council moved to block any potential pension increase linked to his departure and later voted to abolish the law connecting retirement benefits to future salary hikes.
Commenting on Monday’s vote, Jones said, “I think the council is making the right steps today. I (also) wish they would have supported my measure to get rid of full-time pay for part-time work.”
When asked whether the council acted because critics believed members had improperly benefited from the pension arrangement, Jones dismissed the suggestion.
“No, it’s not true. That’s not true, because the reality is no one voted to double their pension,” he said.
Under the newly approved measure, any future adjustments to council pension benefits will first require review by the Personnel and Salary Advisory Board before they can take effect.
