[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,96,108],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6250445,"mediaKeyId","3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2","parentId",3202204,"title","Board of Education requests $3.1 million to fund negotiated agreement; commissioners debate trade-offs and reserves","audioSeconds",4382,"startMs",1268000,"endMs",5650000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2&start=1268&end=5650","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2/thumbnail_1268000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250445/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-of-Education-requests-31-million-to-fund-negotiated-agreement-commissioners-debate-trade-offs-and-reserves","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250445-a62d00fcc29926334ed008d041f43a43/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405684&Signature=GBtd37cC5cDwuNny8RZ-yy8PTcXim3mQW6E5Uv6NTpUtj6kLT87FngFig5E~ie9waMLz8Cigh~K-IqxYgbeP~QdRt3d2XIipwjeYi4O06oCL80q49FrRftRQbQ3B0aJHI51NhqIT7UOnAOK3CHRlRlUPtjbfOqGwKKynYwTCl8Szk2QW8kRbN4DeXugtZiUZgRH~ZkY-bWtQFqHaUx9ogk4Yq7IQVjubpmvTB7FX2aQPC9hgVHNXF4~ZwDXm6hrWsJeobSJHPAfBcwHAeF3L3h5i3cJzzqOiCLvj4VKC8vPt7P2svmiPqWnlTCxSA5GSJ9eDNq~c6fpkg97Py8rkmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-05-06T19:28:00.977Z","article","The St. Mary's County Board of Education told county commissioners on May 6 that $3.1 million is the “go/no-go” number needed to meet a negotiated compensation agreement for the coming fiscal year.

Tammy McCourt, a school finance official, and Dr. Smith, a senior school system official, described budget adjustments the school system has made to reduce its original request from $5.4 million to $3.1 million. McCourt said the system reduced staffing assumptions, secured lower-than-expected health insurance increases (including negotiated reductions in a stop-loss component), and planned other structural changes; Dr. Smith said the $3.1 million would allow the district to meet the negotiated agreement as presented to the county.

School officials told commissioners they had identified roughly 15–17 positions as reductions in the adopted budget (a combination of administrative, intermediate response team and teacher positions) and characterized some positions as potentially temporary or subject to “ramp” reinstatement if funding returns. Officials also said enrollment has declined by about 300 students this year — a factor that affects staffing and funding decisions.

Commissioners probed the school’s assumptions, asked for line-item detail and debated whether to use fund balance or lower the county’s commissioner's reserve to free funds. Several commissioners said they were willing to reallocate one-time funds (fund balance) and to consider reductions to the commissioner's reserve; others urged caution, citing recent unexpected expenses (such as snow-event costs) and the need to maintain contingency reserves.

Dr. Smith described the wider fiscal context for the school system, saying the school system has been working to reduce the request from $5.5 million to $3.1 million and that the $3.1 million covers compensation for approximately 2,200 employees who serve about 17,000 students; he warned that if the county cannot provide the $3.1 million, the school board may need to reopen negotiated agreements or consider additional cuts.

Commissioners did not adopt a final binding appropriation at the session. They discussed several options — restoring some fund balance for one-time items, a possible temporary reclassification of transit fare revenue, pilot funding for expanded transit service, and a range of smaller reallocations — and asked staff to model trade-offs and return with final budget figures at the next budget work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/6/25 CSMC Budget Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","The St. Mary's County school system asked the county for $3.1 million to fund a negotiated compensation agreement; school officials said the amount is the minimum needed to honor the agreement as negotiated.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250449,"Commissioners clarify LOSAP funding: $986,043 health rebate added to $1 million appropriation; actuarial review to guide benefit increases",0,2597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2&start=2597&end=2597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2/thumbnail_2597000.jpg","/articles/6250449/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-clarify-LOSAP-funding-986043-health-rebate-added-to-1-million-appropriation-actuarial-review-to-guide-benefit-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250449-f660c4e87179e6b7d4eea4ae2f81bfc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405684&Signature=AQqQ4bQLkIUp8PnuQXESm0xa8hCYUaMeYy2kcICJNctM~Jj50H-DYozPP~Y5yvJXMWEwe9n6bxssLVVrdAKk-sPszZuOw-mQeqbpjN-WS7aqZHRaeSlAF7fi8vfabelRrcU0-jEE4UfCzFVwbEKDABNfwDLrSxlt-UMfnnzLYIo2GvC3LqBZIQzuuthcRniWwRHS~VVNaX6D8GzlRfIdUeGxRp5NEbMsC~BMazcjYEGoVMEcyw6YtL-ZlENMKgGOcbDzCYktKBiA0qtmcduk9AXVlG6nzuBhGtSAxYsE7JNxmzLUsTjOqmF2VPcgu~5davFwgF2NCQlnIOXG0UXzOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County commissioners on May 6 clarified that a reported $986,043 health-care rebate is to be added to an existing $1,000,000 appropriation for the county’s Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), and discussed options for further contributions ahead of an actuarial valuation later this year.

County finance staff explained LOSAP currently sits in an enterprise fund with a $1,000,000 budgeted contribution and that the health-care rebate would be in addition to that amount. A commissioner asked that the full $986,043 be placed into the LOSAP trust in addition to the previously budgeted $1,000,000; staff indicated the combined contribution would raise the trust balance and that an actuarial review later in the year will determine whether the trust has reached the funding threshold that would allow benefit distributions or increases.

Commissioners and staff discussed the potential effect of additional deposits. One commissioner summarized that putting $2 million into the trust (current balance plus proposed deposits) would move the trust toward an 80% funding level; staff said the trust target is about $23 million and that actuary guidance is required to confirm whether the plan could begin to use returns to pay benefits. County officials noted actuarial work would occur in the fall and any benefit changes would likely be effective Jan. 1 of the following year.

Staff described a modeling example: at a projected 6.5% return, the trust could generate roughly $1.3 million annually; using a portion of returns might allow modest increases to current participants. Commissioners emphasized the need to wait for the formal actuarial valuation before promising or implementing an increase. The discussion included clarification that the rebate is general-fund-derived and would be treated in addition to the enterprise fund contribution.

No formal ordinance or final appropriation was adopted at the session; commissioners indicated consensus support for the clarification and directed staff to proceed with actuarial review and to return with implementation options after that analysis.","The board agreed that a $986,043 health care rebate would be added to an existing $1 million LOSAP appropriation and discussed possible additional contributions and timing for actuarial valuation before any benefit increases for long-tenured participants.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250455,"St. Mary's County commissioners authorize $30 million bond award; winning interest rate 3.93%",3422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2&start=3422&end=3422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2/thumbnail_3422000.jpg","/articles/6250455/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-commissioners-authorize-30-million-bond-award-winning-interest-rate-393","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250455-823050e66f34ca3640082a9b2d71276f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405685&Signature=jb7sa-bS1JRncCaa4F19VoW5-Gs3Q8ahmqAuSk4cd0DVCU9dhX3B7TE5RhmG5bWwV70iFfsD5XOciUXVBlG5SeFXVof37-565SN4FikBv~woluISco3xZijdnBgQiZLxl-OD~gkgnocieatoLdJNDE9GjMj7GNS6BWxmfzgQnlp~ecOIALo2P188XOolAj8pHBYoVJzZeia5EOBccx0qbz7ZpzTOVJC3zhkqib2-UMJOc79xWEh-55bpAFoaWnOuKPiu6s~wf7A-LW1i9tf28PEg4B3eZhDRxkWXftBWlS9VzumkHx626lP3CZfVYotXIgh31zVm7PBYEcJQZd79WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County commissioners on May 6 authorized the county administrator to accept the certified winning bid on a $30 million bond sale, approving a winning interest rate of approximately 3.93% and a 20.5-year term.

The approval came after county finance staff reported the sale attracted 12 bids, above the historic norm. Michelle Van Cleef, county finance staff, said the result was “very happy with that” and noted the winning yield “was 3.93.” Joy Sapp, the county deputy finance officer, told commissioners the bond issue produced a premium of about $1,588,000; after transaction costs (including the underwriter’s discount) of roughly $276,000, the net premium available to the county was reported as about $1.3 million.

County officials and outside bond specialists listed high-level capital uses for the issue, including highway projects, regional water quality work (Johnson Farm Pond), road and safety improvements, culvert replacement, public facilities work for the adult detention center and airport, school improvements (Park Hall, Dinyard, Leonardtown Marshall Dent and Piney Point elementary schools), parks and recreation facility work including the gymnastics center, and solid waste improvements for the Clements Convenience Center.

Commissioners moved and seconded a motion authorizing the county administrator to accept the certified bid; the motion passed on a voice vote. The authorization allows staff to finalize acceptance and proceed with issuing the bonds and applying proceeds to the listed capital projects.

The county noted the 20.5-year term is slightly longer than staff’s suggested 20-year target; staff said that was a highlight for commissioners to note. Bond counsel and the county’s underwriting advisor were present on the call for technical questions.

Funding details and next steps: staff said premium dollars will be reduced by transaction costs and underwriter discount before county use; the precise allocations of bond proceeds to individual projects will follow the county’s capital project accounting process and any related procurement or grant conditions.

Commissioners did not identify any statutory citations during the discussion; the item proceeded as a routine financing authorization by majority vote.","Commissioners authorized the county administrator to accept a $30 million bond bid that yielded a winning interest rate of about 3.93%, a 20.5-year term and roughly $1.59 million in bond premium; proceeds will support highways, schools, public facilities and other capital projects.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":101,"_47":102,"_49":103,"_51":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":106,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":107,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250435,"CIP update: county aligns site costs for Sheriff’s headquarters and evidence storage; bidding expected late 2025",358,5122000,5480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2&start=5122&end=5480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2/thumbnail_5122000.jpg","/articles/6250435/St-Marys-County/Maryland/CIP-update-county-aligns-site-costs-for-Sheriffs-headquarters-and-evidence-storage-bidding-expected-late-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250435-0d846be1f1e6dbd8cf32a18b9082f63e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405685&Signature=KZc5zf5-v9niDXw9Ly9X~6LgkJR5H-aTKYTrStcMVfy-rk-NFirhoD70~kf~kFEDsV9~Njq6Pz05MQUD9gkPgK9g0s-388TzXsulpcmeKlEULGsur4c3yqtyKJighRqpLs87fCI4AZEfLpuLYS0mSr~NbefQHu6p8nx188pAPLonT9l9EC5zjf~9hEqgFKSq4uf1rM-w-7MzUQtErc9s9ZSjDDdOMtXnZlNfarh7RhNhRTH4Zos~Ak2OSm3MJMFtyNgtYltlFgLE4poTdtp1g6uIHCENnocuI25DgHQBnOPlaGYgR~ECDrK9Qr8kKFlUJSLK~u22Ej44mS-Jm0aKQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff updated commissioners on May 6 about a reallocation of site costs between the Sheriff’s Office headquarters project and a separate evidence-storage building. The change reassigns certain site- and phase-related costs from the second phase into the first phase; staff said the adjustment is a net zero across the overall project budget but moves dollars to align with the phased work on site development.

Project leads said design and agency reviews are substantially complete and that the remaining approvals — including town planning and the local fire marshal — need to be scheduled. Staff said that once town approvals and final plan sign-offs are obtained they will finalize bid documents and take procurement steps; county staff estimated that if the scheduling and review process proceeds without major delay the earliest realistic timeline for going to bid would be late 2025, with construction start to follow procurement timelines.

Commissioners asked whether the project cost estimates had been escalated to reflect post-pandemic construction pricing; staff said they had applied escalation assumptions when rolling forward from earlier estimates and that procurement would produce firm bid numbers. No new appropriations or votes were taken at the update; the action was informational with staff advising commissioners of the timing and site-cost reallocation.

Staff also noted that because some site work had been budgeted in prior years, the current request reflects a reclassification and not an increase in the county’s overall obligation for the combined project.","Staff reported a realignment of site costs between the sheriff's headquarters and evidence-storage projects, explained why costs shifted into the first phase and said the projects are on track for planning approvals and bids could go out by year-end if town approvals are obtained.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_47":114,"_49":115,"_51":116,"_53":117,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":118,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":119,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250440,"Commissioners direct one-time fund balance to transit pilot, SDAP expansion and library support; debate over commissioner's reserve",3148,1922000,5070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2&start=1922&end=5070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202204-51fa40514f7f9d9543783543cd131ec2/thumbnail_1922000.jpg","/articles/6250440/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-direct-one-time-fund-balance-to-transit-pilot-SDAP-expansion-and-library-support-debate-over-commissioners-reserve","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250440-9c8ade059fe18390251b94f479c0098f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405685&Signature=OY8HxsF1NV3d1DhhJvsuh~2Omy6CS7MlDUwxZ0jGvzDURn-6WkZpoQqa4dtH2NWw1WHEHjYs44DPQe7PuI7CXxiTG57rMkeANxCbjw61D0~Fa0Yq91Xq4NyBrqkWbyEZf3I-7xKqz6QX8HxxsdhIUWFTqb1AgrjnNkE8JVLUDZ72o5vutfvElQwLrdL12bTFS-VO5LmeSjD68zEshk90zA1cwgjfXG5h~KNO~IQluohNLUmz1vR3rjOymF26G6tPd5FidMw8vvX8xEQV--aIFH~cA6tvGw9KzX3bLaq0zGKhSVEltrM9HtQlGuANIcaW-bKMPxnRD4DPFltc3nXDSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During a lengthy May 6 budget work session, St. Mary's County commissioners agreed to direct several one-time fund-balance allocations to selected operating priorities and discussed trade-offs to preserve contingency reserves.

Staff and commissioners confirmed three fund-balance uses: $118,000 for the public library (materials and utility costs), $356,000 to expand the county’s Specialized Demand-Response (SDAP) transit service to cover more areas and times, and $200,000 to fund a one-year pilot of fare-free local bus service. County staff confirmed that those items, if paid from fund balance, would temporarily restore revenue or cover operating costs without adding recurring general-fund obligations for the current fiscal year.

Allison Swint, deputy director involved in transit operations, described SDAP and how the program differs from ADA paratransit: SDAP covers eligible riders whose origin or destination falls outside a three-quarter-mile fixed-route buffer and provides scheduled trips under current operating windows. Swint said the expansion would allow elderly and disabled clients who live outside the fixed-route buffer to travel during more hours and that the county currently collects “just under $200,000 a year in fare box revenue.” She and transit leadership told commissioners the county expects hiring efforts (including training non-CDL drivers to CDL) to support service expansion.

Commissioners discussed trade-offs to fund the items, including reducing the commissioner's contingency reserve from historic levels. One commissioner urged caution about lowering the reserve below $500,000 after recent weather-related expenses; another proposed lower levels (including $250,000) to free funds for one-time needs. Staff said the fund-balance impact of the decisions would leave the county near a roughly 16% reserve level after the proposed uses.

Commissioners also discussed nonprofit requests, college and special agency appeals, and asked county administrators to refine numbers and return updated spreadsheets for final action at the scheduled May 20 budget adoption. The county agreed that appeals not explicitly funded at the session should be treated as not approved and that staff will follow up where directed.","As part of budget work-session trade-offs, commissioners agreed to use fund balance for a one-year free-fare pilot ($200,000), a $356,000 expansion of the Specialized Demand-Response (SDAP) transit program and $118,000 in library materials and utilities, while commissioners debated whether to reduce the commissioner's reserve.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board of Education requests $3.1 million to fund negotiated agreement; commissioners debate trade-offs and reserves

Commissioners clarify LOSAP funding: $986,043 health rebate added to $1 million appropriation; actuarial review to guide benefit increases

St. Mary's County commissioners authorize $30 million bond award; winning interest rate 3.93%

CIP update: county aligns site costs for Sheriff’s headquarters and evidence storage; bidding expected late 2025

Commissioners direct one-time fund balance to transit pilot, SDAP expansion and library support; debate over commissioner's reserve