County rejects school board’s budget

Spending bump meant for wages, but commissioners cite lack of transparency

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(May 12, 2023) The Worcester County Board of Education will have to meet with teachers, bus drivers and other personnel to figure out what they must do without for the next year after the county commissioners voted 4 to 2 on Tuesday to give the school system none of the additional money it had requested for the year ahead.

Instead of granting the board’s request that the county up its funding by about $4.5 million, or approximately 4.78 percent to help cover salary increases for school employees and contractors, the commissioners gave it a flat budget.

“We’re very disappointed,” said board President Todd Ferrante. “We have a $4.5 million shortfall in our budget … They did fund the county employees (raises). They didn’t fund the teachers but they funded the county employees so I’m not sure for what reason. We have tried, we have worked with (Worcester County Chief Administrative Officer) Weston (Young) to try to give them as much information as requested.”

“It’s devastating to some of our employees who are looking to make ends meet and we are all suffering higher costs in this environment.”

Commissioners Joe Mitrecic and Diana Purnell voted in opposition.

Commissioner Ted Elder was absent while attending the funeral of his wife, Joyce.

Per state law, counties and Baltimore City must fund their school systems with at least what was provided in the prior fiscal year, a practice known as maintenance of effort (MOE). The 1984 law was designed to prevent jurisdictions from looking at cutting school spending as a way to save money.

Tuesday’s meeting — a special