Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County commissioner says St. Mary's has funds to meet this year’s needs despite state cuts
Summary
A county commissioner told the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners that despite reductions in state aid the county has sufficient funds to meet this year’s needs; the commissioner said school funding will remain a focus at upcoming public hearings and work sessions.
At a St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners meeting, a county commissioner said the county has enough money to meet its needs for this year despite some funding reductions from the state. "I believe that we have sufficient funds to meet all of the needs for the county for this county for this year," the commissioner said.
The commissioner said the board still faces decisions tied to education funding and announced an upcoming public budget hearing and additional work sessions to refine the county budget. The official said the county cannot control state policy but favors more local control and accountability.
Why this matters: School funding has been a recurring focus in the county's budget process, and county leaders have previously raised concerns about how state policy affects local school budgets. The commissioner said the schools submitted requests tied to a multi-year negotiated agreement and that the superintendent may propose cuts at administrative and other levels during the budget process.
The meeting remarks said state leaders have reduced some funding, though the commissioner did not specify amounts. The commissioner said some commentators have suggested closing small schools, a move the commissioner said they oppose: "personally I'm kind of opposed to that. I think small schools are better anytime we can do it." The commissioner added that the state’s "Blueprint" policy is influencing funding decisions.
The county will hold a public budget hearing (date not specified in remarks) and additional work sessions, where commissioners said they will consider tweaks and changes to balance needs across departments. The commissioner said the board aims to finish the budget on time and to meet the school system’s negotiated needs for the year while noting that next year’s state fiscal outlook could be worse.
The remarks also included brief community updates unrelated to the budget, including praise for local events such as a hospice fun run/walk in Leonardtown, a Piney Point Museum and Lighthouse historical event, a craft show organized by the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department auxiliaries, and a performance at Chopticon High School.
