Pocomoke City budget session: council weighs donations, Discovery Center debt and building repairs

Pocomoke City mayor and council discussed proposed donations to local nonprofits and the financial and maintenance status of the Discovery Center during a fiscal-year 2026 budget work session. Council members and staff reviewed individual requests, agreed on several recommended amounts, and directed staff to collect a prioritized list of needed repairs for the Discovery Center before making further commitments.

The discussion opened with a review of line‑item requests. Staff presented specific recommended amounts: $500 each for high‑school banners and the senior prom, $10,000 requested for the Samaritan shelter (noting last year’s gift was $1,500), $10,000 requested for Marwood Theater (previously budgeted $5,000), $7,000 for the Christmas parade, $3,500 for Sturgis School (down from a prior $10,000 allocation), and sponsorship for youth sports teams (amount to be covered from a $1,500 youth‑sports line). The Life Crisis Center requested $5,000; staff noted the organization had received $1,000 last year. During the meeting,…