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Commissioners approve $1 million school funding transfer for health claims and back SMCPS capital plan
Summary
The board approved a $1,000,000 transfer from St. Mary's County Public Schools fund balance to cover outstanding health-care claims and signed a letter supporting the Board of Education's FY2015–2020 State Capital Improvements Program, including funding requests for a new elementary school and Spring Ridge renovation.
The Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 24 approved a $1,000,000 supplemental appropriation to the St. Mary’s County Public Schools to create an outstanding-claims account that will cover a 90-day run-out period for healthcare costs and allow the district to produce two years of data for actuarial work on OPEB liabilities.
Greg Norris, director of fiscal services for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, told commissioners the appropriation is a one-time action to pay for the 90-day post-fiscal-year run-out for claims and to provide better data for an actuarial study that could lower future OPEB payments. “This is to pay for the 90 day carryover for our healthcare costs,” Norris said. The board of education will fund $1,925,000 from its internal resources and sought the additional $1,000,000 appropriation from the county. Commissioners discussed the school fund balance trajectory and urged the Board of Education to plan for long-term health-care volatility.
The commission also signed a letter of support for the St. Mary’s County Public Schools FY2015–2020 State Capital Improvements Program. Brad Clemens (presenting for the school system) outlined three state-eligible projects for the board’s endorsement: the new Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, continued work on Spring Ridge Middle School following the accelerated schedule after last year’s fire, and relocatable classrooms needed to phase the Spring Ridge renovation. Clemens and Superintendent Dr. Robert (Doctor) Martirano explained that the county’s $10 million local allocation last year was critical to cash flow and allowed the school system to pursue both projects in parallel.
Commissioners approved both the $1,000,000 appropriation and the CIP support letter by voice vote. School officials said the CIP request will seek state construction funds for the new elementary school and additional state support to keep Spring Ridge moving; staff will continue redistricting planning and site searches for future projects.
