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Commissioners approve CDBG closeout and FY25 surplus assignments; OPEB funding debated
Summary
Worcester County commissioners accepted a $55,079 CDBG COVID grant closeout for homeless services, approved multiple project awards and FY25 surplus fund assignments, and debated restoring a $298,000 OPEB-related transfer to the Board of Education budget; staff will provide follow-up details.
The Worcester County Commissioners approved several administrative and financial items on June 16 and discussed outstanding questions about OPEB funding for the Board of Education.
In a public hearing on the Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID amendment, staff reported $55,079 in awarded funds that supported shelter operations for Diakonia and Samaritan Ministries, including PPE, mattresses, bed frames and kitchen equipment; staff said final reimbursement requests totaled $31,942.35 and the grant agreement closed June 30, 2026. Commissioners closed the hearing and later approved the related motion.
On other routine business the board approved a sole-source procurement request from the sheriff’s office and accepted an award recommendation for the Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant emergency storage lagoon vertical expansion project. The board also voted to approve proposed FY2025 surplus assignments after a staff presentation that estimated a FY25 general fund surplus of approximately $29,708,903 and proposed allocations: $13,138,318 to changes for previously approved projects, $6,297,140 for proposed new projects, and $10,273,455 for required obligations (encumbrances, prepaid expenses and prior-year liabilities). Finance staff cautioned the amounts could change slightly after the FY25 audit and recommended adjusting the County Building Improvement project as needed.
Commissioners held an extended discussion about OPEB funding for the Board of Education. County staff and a board finance representative outlined how prior years’ practice shifted certain retiree health payments into the Board of Education’s operating budget and how an additional $298,000 request in the Board of Education’s FY27 request was not included in recently adopted funding. Commissioners debated whether to restore that $298,000 and asked staff for additional analysis of the OPEB trust funding, the annual operating payment and the fiscal effects of the change. One commissioner abstained from the related vote pending more information.
Planning staff also updated the board on pending appeals and proposed text amendments related to cable landing stations and data centers; staff said applicants submitted two Board of Zoning Appeals applications and that staff will present draft policy recommendations for Planning Commission review before returning to the board.
The meeting concluded after remaining consent items and final comments and adjourned by voice vote.
