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Barry Rascovar basically mimics Senate President Miller's line on teacher pension transfer to the counties ("House, O'Malley take easy road on teacher pensions," April 2), but he doesn't take his analogy as far as he should.

Since most government services are performed at the county level, they should all be devolved to the counties. More crime in Baltimore city? Greater health care costs in Prince George's County? The Eastern Shore counties dump the most toxins into the Bay? Let each pay its fair share of the costs.

Montgomery County pays roughly 80 percent of the costs of its public schools; Baltimore city pays only 20 percent. Yet, the state carries the pensions for both. Fair distribution of costs and benefits?

Montgomery County generates 25 percent of state GDP, making us a major contributor to the state's status as wealthiest and most educated in the country. Yet, we get back less than 20 cents on the dollar.

The governor and the House of Delegates are correct. There are other alternatives. The pension funding process needs serious repair. Our state taxation system needs to be made more equitable. Large corporations need to be prevented from avoiding their legally mandated taxes.

Further burdening the counties is not the solution.

Dana Beyer, Chevy Chase