Council signals support for senior-banner donations; budget amendment to be drafted

Pocomoke City Council discussed a community request to fund senior banners for Pocomoke High School and reached a consensus to prepare a budget amendment for consideration at the next meeting.

Staff said the city typically sends the high school a $500 donation and that this year the school received money in September but did not report back how it was used. A council member noted the school has 77 seniors and that roughly half "need assistance every year," a figure provided by the principal, and that the banners cost $50 each.

Council members debated whether the city should fund all banners, pay only for Pocomoke High School students or provide help across multiple schools that Pocomoke residents attend. Options floated included providing $500 (historical amount), $750 or $1,000 to cover Pocomoke students and potentially students attending other area schools. One council member said, "That'd be my concern looking down the road that we have, you know, in Pocomoke, we have students going to at least 5 different schools," and noted the policy implications.

Council did not take a formal vote on the donation at the meeting. Instead, members asked staff (Ms. Matthews and Mr. Barkley) to prepare a formal budget amendment for the next meeting to move money and provide details; one council member said a line item could be created under "school donations" to cover multiple schools if needed. A council member said, "That was a consensus, we didn't need to make a motion. We'll make the motion the next meeting for the budget amendment." The amendment will be presented before any check is issued.

Council emphasized the decision on the dollar amount remains theirs and that any final donation will require a formal budget amendment and a recorded vote at a subsequent meeting.