FREDERICK COUNTY, MD - Frederick county officials say they're open for business, that's according to state of the county address.
Over the past year Frederick County has given job opportunities to over 700 hundred residents thanks to projects like the expansion of Ft. Detrick and the new Technology Park. But it's not all good news, about 200 residents have also lost their jobs.
"We're dealing with other cut backs from the state and teacher's pensions," says Blaine Young, President of Frederick County Commissioners. "There are issues we need to be extremely concerned about."
County commissioners say the number one issue they want to deal with is transforming to a new form of government by 2014, ultimately making it a smooth transition into a charter government.
"When we deliver this government to the next county executive and county council we want to make sure we deliver a government that is not strong, but also solid," says Young. "Solid basically on the fiscal end and dealing with our structure issues."
When it comes to education, Frederick County is right where they want to be.
The county has the third highest graduation rate and the lowest drop out rate in the state. All nine of the high schools are on the country's best high schools list.
"Frederick County is a very popular county that people want to move to. We're a county that people are migrating to because of the quality of life, because of public safety, because of our education system," says Young.
And when it comes to public safety the commissioners pointed out that the crime rate is half of the national average.
Frederick county has also gotten healthier, they're now ranked third in the state.
Over the past year Frederick County has given job opportunities to over 700 hundred residents thanks to projects like the expansion of Ft. Detrick and the new Technology Park. But it's not all good news, about 200 residents have also lost their jobs.
"We're dealing with other cut backs from the state and teacher's pensions," says Blaine Young, President of Frederick County Commissioners. "There are issues we need to be extremely concerned about."
County commissioners say the number one issue they want to deal with is transforming to a new form of government by 2014, ultimately making it a smooth transition into a charter government.
"When we deliver this government to the next county executive and county council we want to make sure we deliver a government that is not strong, but also solid," says Young. "Solid basically on the fiscal end and dealing with our structure issues."
When it comes to education, Frederick County is right where they want to be.
The county has the third highest graduation rate and the lowest drop out rate in the state. All nine of the high schools are on the country's best high schools list.
"Frederick County is a very popular county that people want to move to. We're a county that people are migrating to because of the quality of life, because of public safety, because of our education system," says Young.
And when it comes to public safety the commissioners pointed out that the crime rate is half of the national average.
Frederick county has also gotten healthier, they're now ranked third in the state.
Comments
The article should have continued....and in stark contrast, a mere 25 minutes to the west you have Washington County--wallowing in ignorance and poverty, with Hagerstown as its epicenter for drug trafficking and urban squalor.
Shawn B.
December 7, 2012 at 11:29 am
