thursday,march 21, 2013 - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

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COUNTY NEWS The County Times Thursday, March 21, 2013 4 Sheriff, Libraries, Schools Receive Funding Increases By Alex Panos Staff Writer The Board of County Commissioners continued to hammer out the budget this week, and are likely to award 5 percent increases to the Sheriff’s office and the public library to the budget in fiscal year 2014, and a 3 percent increase to public schools. After originally debating over a 5 percent increase for the school system, the board changed their stance – by a vote of 3-2 – to increase the school budget by 3 percent, adding $1.6 million to the budget surplus. The addition puts the total budget surplus at just over $3.9 million. Commissioner Cynthia Jones feels the county must be conservative with the budget now, because with sequestration on the horizon it is important to be prepared for the next several years. “We don’t know enough to make projections like that,” Jones said. Jones, and commissioners Dan Morris and president Francis “Jack” Russell opposed a $4 million increase to the school budget, while Larry Jarboe and Todd Morgan said for now they could support the 5 percent increase. Morgan wanted time to review the requests from the Board of Education and have an opportunity to “play with the numbers.” As it stands now, the schools are likely to receive around $2.4 million; Superintendent Michael Martirano originally requested $6.2 million in funding from the county. The school system will likely have to renegotiate with the teacher’s unions, because their tentative agreement relies on $3.5 million in county funds, according to Greg Nourse, assistant superintendent of finance. If they don’t receive more than the 3 percent increase, they will eliminate the proposed nine teachers, National Flight Academy instructor and 10 security assistants Martirano had hoped for in the original budget. Nourse added, the school system will begin forming a new plan in the coming weeks, noting they are in “wait and see mode.” Martirano, who wants to put school resource officers at each elementary school, told the board he is open to implementing the officers over time instead of all at once. Jones feels sequestration is going to cause many families to relocate out of St. Mary’s County, while Jarboe feels parents will find ways to save money by relocating children from private schools into the public system. Morris believes parents will not relocate children from private schools, but will instead save money by avoiding restaurants and retail shops. The Sheriff’s office will enjoy a $1.5 million increase from last year if the budget is approved. School Resource Officers will be added to two middle schools, and Sheriff Timothy Cameron will only be permitted to promote half of the employees he requested. The increase in funding will allow the libraries to open the Lexington Park Library on Sundays. According to Library Director Kathleen Reif, when the library had to close on Sundays in 2012 they experienced a decrease in checkouts by the same number of Sunday’s checkout number in 2011. Instead of picking another day to go to the library, people simply weren’t going, she said. “It’s very rewarding that they [county commissioners] recognize this is a service that needs to come back,” Reif said. Rescue Tax is going to increase by .3 cents per $100 assessment for Hollywood and Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squads – from .8 cents to 1.1 cents at Ridge and 1.1 cents to 1.4 cents in Hollywood. By a 3-2 vote during the work session, the commissioners decided to renovate the jail instead of building an expansion to it. For now county employees are scheduled to receive two step pay raises, although the board has yet to discuss the issue. Jones expects some discussions to take place in the near future. According to Morris, among things being considered are the number of steps, cost of living and stipends for high-ranking employees. At one point during the meeting, Jones noted Jarboe is voting for 5 percent increases in the budget now, particularly to the schools, libraries and the Sheriff’s office, but he has a history of electing not to sign the budget. Jarboe countered, “I’ve voted for the budget more times than I’ve not over the last 12 years.” The budget will be approved next week and go to public hearing on April 30 at Chopticon High School. The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. alexpanos@countytimes.net AMAZING UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT AT THE RUDDY DUCK TAPPING OUR NEW SUMMER SEASONAL! THURSDAY, APRIL 11 SAM GROW LIVE FRIDAY, APRIL 12 THE PIRANHAS LIVE 410-394-3825 CORNER OF DOWELL RD & RT. 4 NO COVER! WWW.RUDDYDUCKBREWERY.COM FACEBOOK.COM/RUDDYDUCKBREWERY
5 Thursday, March 21, 2013 The County Times Wildewood Shopping Center 23415 Three Notch Rd California, MD 20622 301.866.0101 LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED 255 Solomons Island Road Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-535-0774
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