2/21/2020 Ocean City Today

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OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY

SPORTS

STATE CHAMPS

Stephen Decatur HS wrestling team captures second consecutive dual meet title – Page 57

FREE

Water rates rise to cover project costs City needs to raise $4.4M for infrastructure overhaul

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

BOATS STEM TO STERN The 37th annual Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club’s Seaside Boat Show drew an estimated 16,000 guests during the three-day event last weekend at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street. The club raised an estimated $100,000 for youth. See story page 19.

Kirwan heads into hearings County can only wait on school bill results By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Feb. 21, 2020) After a sixand-a-half-hour joint public hearing on Monday, the Blueprint for America’s Future, which is based on the Kirwan Commission recommendations, will move on to committees for possible amendments. The multi-billion-dollar bill calls for a revamp of public education, including increasing teacher pay,

providing free preschool for 3- and 4-yearolds living at 300 percent below the poverty level and strengthChip Bertino ening vocational education. Numerous local officials have voiced concerns about the bill, especially the high cost for Worcester County and the lack of local control. Worcester County, which is rated as the wealthiest county per capita in the state

by Kirwan standards, would have to budget an added $5.3 million for public schools in 2030. The state contribution would grow by $7 million for a combined $12.3 million increase in 2030 school spending for Worcester public schools. The public hearing involved the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, the House Appropriations Committee and the House Ways and Means See COUNTY Page 54

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Feb. 21, 2020) Ocean City residents and property owners can expect an increase in their water bills during the next five fiscal years, after the Ocean City Council approved a new five-year water rate structure Tuesday evening. The additional revenue gained from the water rate increase will help pay for the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. “You can see the total six-year investments we are planning for these [water] systems is just over $40 million on the water side,” said Eric Callocchia, NewGen Strategies and Solutions executive consultant, at a Jan. 14 council meeting. “These improvements are necesSee WATER Page 55

County updates ICE detainees contract By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Feb. 21, 2020) The Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to sign a contract amendment to their agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigration-related detainees at the Worcester County Jail in Snow Hill. Even so, a bill in the General Assembly in An-

napolis could end that contract. The commissioners moved to sign the amendment to come into compliance with the National Detention Standards 2019. The updated contract will incorporate the robotics process automation, detention-transportation invoice template, the bed space tracking initiative and email submission See IMMIGRATION Page 54


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