Queen Anne's County Board approves FY2026 local capital-improvement request for county review

The Queen Anne's County Board of Education voted Feb. 26 to approve submission of the fiscal year 2026 local project capital improvement program (CIP) request to the Queen Anne's County commissioners. The request lists 35 potential projects with a combined local ask of about $6,500,000 and was advanced to the commissioners for their consideration by a voice vote of the board.

The vote followed a detailed presentation by Daryl Baricla, supervisor of facilities and design for Queen Anne's County Public Schools, who outlined project priorities and the process used to develop the list. "My name is Daryl Baricla. I'm the supervisor of facilities and, design for Queen Anne's County Public Schools," Baricla said as he opened the CIP overview. He told the board the list is separate from the operating budget and explained that projects are drawn from a comprehensive maintenance plan, maintenance work-orders, school roundtables and enrollment projections.

The CIP request groups projects by priority and funding eligibility. Baricla said five projects already submitted for state participation remain in the state's review process; the 35 projects presented to the board are local-only capital items. "We have 35 projects that we've listed as potential projects in the CIP," he said, and he provided estimated costs and a running total so the board and the commissioners could see how far typical county capital support would progress.

Why it matters: The local CIP funds non-state-eligible projects such as security hardware, perimeter fencing,…