In order to maintain a moderate taxation rate, the County must pursue economic development to help offset the cost of residential services. Economic development provides jobs to the citizens of the County. Over 50 percent of the labor force in Carroll County commutes out of the County to jobs. The most requested geographic areas are Finksburg, Westminster, Eldersburg, and Hampstead. Most businesses we assist want to stay near the Baltimore market within easy access to a major highway and their customers.
Public services are only available in or near the towns.
It is critical that future industrially zoned land is served with infrastructure that is required for basic operations. Unfortunately, so much of the County is included in the watershed protection area, including areas adjacent to existing industrial parks, that Carroll County would be severely limited to any industrial rezoning in the most attractive areas in terms of geographic location and availability of infrastructure. Without rezoning of additional marketable land, Carroll County will lose its ability to attract industrial users who help maintain a fiscal balance while providing jobs to the citizens. The original Agreement and Action Strategy were adopted before many current environmental laws and regulations were passed by the federal and state governments. Since strict adherence to those laws and regulations is mandated, and since Carroll County intends to comply with those laws, the language now in Sections 3.6.2 and 3.6.3 is no longer needed as currently written.