2004 Presidential General Election - Ballot Questions

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Question A

Charter Amendment

Purchasing Contract Limits

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to permit the County Council to increase the minimum value of purchases and contracts requiring competitive bidding from $10,000 to an amount up to $25,000.

Baltimore City, Maryland

Question A

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment - Municipal Elections

Resolution No. 04-49, for the purpose of providing that the general election for the Mayor, the Comptroller, and the President and Members of the City Council will be in 2007 and in every succeeding fourth year thereafter.

Question B

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment - Department of Transportation

Resolution No. 04-56 for the purpose of amending the City Charter to establish a Department of Transportation among the City Executive Departments and providing for the powers and duties of the Department.

Question C

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment - Department of Human Resources

Resolution No. 04-54 for the purpose of renaming the Department of Personnel to be the "Department of Human Resources"; renaming the Director of Personnel to be the "Director of Human Resources"; and clarifying and conforming certain language.

Question D

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment - City Council - Vacancy

Resolution No. 04-55 for the purpose of deleting an inoperative provision of Article III, Section 6 of the Charter relating to the filling of vacancies in the City Council; and clarifying certain language.

Question E

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment - City Council - Age Requirements

Resolution No. 04-53 for the purpose of lowering the minimum age requirement for members of the City Council from 21 years of age to 18 years of age.

Question F

Bond Issue

School Loan

Ordinance No. 04-800 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $34,000,000, to be used for the acquisition of land or property in Baltimore City and thereon, or on other property, to construct and erect new school buildings, athletic and other auxiliary facilities, and for additions and improvements to, or modernization or reconstruction of, (including costs of inspection, removal, encapsulation, management, containment and abatement of asbestos) in existing school buildings or facilities, and to equip all buildings authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by the Ordinance, and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question G

Bond Issue

Community Development Loan

Ordinance No. 04-713 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $33,500,000, to be used for, or in connection with, planning, developing, executing and making operative the community development program of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; and for the doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question H

Bond Issue

Economic Development Loan

Ordinance No. 04-714 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $29,875,000 to be used for, or in connection with, planning, developing, executing and making operative the commercial and industrial economic development program of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question I

Bond Issue

Public Buildings Bond Issue

Ordinance No. 04-799 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $7,580,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities owned or controlled by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by the Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question J

Bond Issue

Recreation and Parks Loan

Ordinance No. 04-719 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $6,945,000 to be used for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, installation, erection, protection, extension, enlargement, renovation and modernization of, and additions to, public park or recreation land, property, buildings, structures or facilities and for the equipping thereof; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question K

Bond Issue

Enoch Pratt Library Loan

Ordinance No. 04-715 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $2,600,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Enoch Pratt Library; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question L

Bond Issue

National Aquarium in Baltimore Loan

Ordinance No. 04-718 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $1,500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the National Aquarium in Baltimore; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question M

Bond Issue

Health Care for the Homeless

Ordinance No. 04-716 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $1,300,000 to be used for, or in connection with the purchase of land or property and for constructing new buildings, structures and other facilities, and for the renovation, alteration, construction, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of existing buildings, structures and facilities, to be or now being used in connection with the activities of Health Care for the Homeless and for equipping all new or existing buildings, structures or facilities; and for doing all things necessary, proper and expedient in connection therewith.

Question N

Bond Issue

B&O Railroad Museum

Ordinance No. 04-711 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $1,000,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of new or existing buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the B&O Railroad Museum; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by the Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question O

Bond Issue

Maryland Science Center Loan

Ordinance No. 04-717 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $700,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Maryland Science Center; and for equipping any and all existing and new buildings, structures and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question P

Bond Issue

Walters Art Museum Loan

Ordinance No. 04-720 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Walters Art Museum; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by the Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Question Q

Bond Issue

Baltimore Museum of Art Loan

Ordinance No. 04-712 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Baltimore Museum of Art; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by the Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.

Baltimore County, Maryland

Question A

County Ordinance

School Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $78,661,000 for school projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 48-04)

Question B

County Ordinance

Parks, Preservation and Greenways Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $5,550,000 for parks, preservation and greenways projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 45-04)

Question C

County Ordinance

Public Works Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $79,385,000 for public works purposes, for the class of projects which includes, among other things, streets and highways, bridges and storm drainage systems, to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 46-04)

Question D

County Ordinance

Community and Economic Improvement Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $8,493,000 for community and economic improvement and development projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 42-04)

Question E

County Ordinance

Operational Buildings Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $27,122,000 for public operational buildings including, but not limited to, general, health, police, fire, recreation, libraries, senior center and detention buildings or facilities and necessary or desirable equipment, to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 44-04)

Question F

County Ordinance

Refuse Disposal Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $1,710,000 for refuse disposal projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 47-04)

Question G

County Ordinance

Community College Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $22,352,000 for community college projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 43-04)

Question H

County Ordinance

Agricultural and Rural Land Preservation Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $3,777,000 for agricultural and rural land preservation projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 41-04)

Question I

County Ordinance

Waterway Improvement Borrowing

AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County, Maryland to borrow $2,950,000 for waterway improvement projects to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal years starting July 1, 2005 pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter. (Bill 49-04)

Calvert County, Maryland

Question A

Code Home Rule

Adoption of Code Home Rule Status for Calvert County

Authorizes the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County, Maryland, to adopt Code Home Rule Status for Calvert County and to operate under Article XI-F of the Constitution of the State of Maryland.

Carroll County, Maryland

Question A

Referendum by General Assembly

Election of the Board of County Commissioners

Proposing that the Board of Carroll County Commissioners be expanded from 3 members to 5 members and that the 5 members each be elected from Commissioner districts instead of at large. Providing for the establishment of a Commission Redistricting Committee, appointed by the County Commissioners, to make certain recommendations to the Carroll County Legislative Delegation to the General Assembly.

Cecil County, Maryland

Question A

Referendum by General Assembly

Selection of Board of Education Members

The members of the Cecil County Board of Education are currently appointed by the Governor. This proposal would change the Education Code so that the members of the Cecil County Board of Education would be elected by the voters. Please indicate which method of selecting members of the Cecil County Board of Education you prefer.

Howard County, Maryland

Question A

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment to fill vacant Council positions by Special Election

Amending Section 202 "The County Council" of the Howard County Charter allowing an ordinance to provide that vacant Council positions will be filled by Special Election.

Question B

Charter Amendment

Charter Amendment to remove members of Boards and Commissions that are appointed by the Council

Amending Section 903 "Removal of members of Boards and Commissions" of the Howard County Charter by clarifying that the authority and procedure for removal applies to members of Boards or Commissions appointed by the Council.

Montgomery County, Maryland

Question A

Charter Amendment by Petiton

Property Tax Limit

Eliminate the authority of the County Council, by an affirmative vote of 7 out of 9 Councilmembers, to levy a tax on real property that will produce revenue that exceeds the revenue limit set in Section 305 by amending Section 305 of the County Charter.

Question B

Charter Amendment by Petition

Term Limits - County Council and County Executive

Amend Sections 105 and 202 of the County Charter to:

• limit the County Executive and members of the County Council to 3 consecutive terms in office, and
• provide that a County Executive and any member of the County Council who will have served 3 or more consecutive terms on December 4, 2006, cannot serve another successive term in the same office.

Question C

Charter Amendment by Petition

County Council - Election by District

Amend Sections 102, 103, and 104 of the County Charter to:

• divide the County into 9, rather than the current 5, Council districts;
• elect all Councilmembers by district, rather than the current 5 by district and 4 at large;and
• [eliminate each voter's ability to vote for a majority of Councilmembers by reducing] reduce from 5 to 1 the number of Councilmembers each voter can vote for.

Prince George's County, Maryland

Question A

Charter Required Referendum

Public Works and Transportation Facilities Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $55,900,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Public Works and Transportation Facilities (including roads and bridges, parking lots, and maintenance facilities), as defined therein.

Question B

Charter Required Referendum

Library Facilities Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $14,468,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Library Facilities, as defined therein.

Question C

Charter Required Referendum

Public Safety Facilities Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $9,476,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Public Safety Facilities (including Fire Department Facilities), as defined therein.

Question D

Charter Required Referendum

County Buildings Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $11,780,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of County Buildings, as defined therein.

Question E

Charter Required Referendum

Community College Facilities Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $5,290,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Community College Facilities, as defined therein.

Question F

Proposed Charter Amendment

County Council - Term Limits

To provide that members of the County Council may not be elected to more than two consecutive terms; and to provide a precedence clause in the event of conflicting charter amendments ratified by the voters at the November 2004 general election.

Question G

Proposed Charter Amendment

County Council - Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

To reaffirm the manner of election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council, and provide a precedence clause in the event of conflicting charter amendments ratified by the voters at the November 2004 general election.

Question H

Proposed Charter Amendment

County Council - Enlargement of Council - At Large Members

To enlarge the Council from nine to eleven members, adding two at-large members; providing that term limits on district members do not apply to a district member running for an at-large seat on the Council; providing that the at-large member receiving the greatest number of votes shall be Chairman of the Council.

Question I

Proposed Charter Amendment

County Council - Voting Rights for At Large Members

To establish voting rights for at-large council members and to provide a precedence clause in the event of conflicting Charter amendments ratified by the voters at the November 2004 general election.

Question J

Proposed Charter Amendment

County Personnel - Temporary and Seasonal Positions - Limitation of Hours

To provide a limitation on the number of hours worked by persons in temporary or seasonal positions, and amend the provisions for action on the County classification plan.

Talbot County, Maryland

Question A

Straw Ballot by General Assembly

Selection of Board of Education Members

Do you favor changing the method of selection of the members of the Talbot County Board of Education from appointment by the Governor to election by the voters of Talbot County?

Question B

Local Referendum

Zoning Amendment - Bill 924

BILL 924 AMENDS TALBOT COUNTY CODE, "ZONING" TO DEFINE "MAJOR RETAIL" AS USES OCCUPYING MORE THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR AREA, ENACTS DESIGN STANDARDS FOR MAJOR RETAIL, IMPOSES MAXIMUM SIZE LIMITATIONS ON MAJOR RETAIL, IMPOSES A 65,000 SQARE- FOOT LIMITATION UPON BUILDING SUPPLY & LUMBERYARDS AND GENERAL RETAIL STORES, AND ADDS THE SALE OF HOME AND GARDEN SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO "BUILDING SUPPLY AND LUMBERYARDS". BILL 924 DOES NOT APPLY TO AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS OR TO SALES OF FARM MACHINERY AND SUPPLIES

Bill 924 applies only in the County and does not apply in any of the incorporated towns, which have their own zoning laws.

Do you approve Bill 924?

Wicomico County, Maryland

Question A

Charter Revision

Charter Resolution No. 579

A comprehensive revision of the Charter of Wicomico County establishing a system of government with an elected County Executive who would have executive functions and an elected County Council which would have legislative functions.