The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners met Tuesday, June 29 and approved the Public Schools revised FY11 Budget. The board OK’d the additional $295,849 in the budget, but was eager for answers from Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano.
Commissioner Dan Raley inquired about hot topics: textbooks, transportation and teacher retirement. Martirano and SMCPS Fiscal Director Gregory Nourse openly discussed the issues with the board.
Martirano explained that a “very judicious decision” had been made to delay the purchase and implementation of new textbooks in FY11. In 2010, more than $1 million was spent upgrading textbooks and supplying Evergreen Elementary with materials. In the newly approved budget, only a quarter of that sum will be spent. Martirano and Nourse said options, like online textbooks and copies of required texts via the print shop, were being explored.
The superintendent also said the size of St. Mary’s County adds to the budget’s transportation costs. “We’re always looking for efficiencies, that’s the name of the game,” Martirano said. Of teacher pensions, he said, “That’s the thing I worry about the most,” adding that changes to funding, “…would have a dramatic effect on everything.”
The board heard an update on repairs to the Chancellors Run Activity Center from Department of Public Works and Transportation’s Gary Whipple. The county facility sustained damages during severe winter weather in Feb. 2010. Whipple said the department is pushing to get this done and working with insurance and FEMA officials to ensure a solid end result and a maximum recovery of funds. The BOCC approved $100,000 to fund mold remediation before the project’s repairs can continue.
Public Works Deputy Director John Groeger also received the commissioners’ approval for a multi-way stop sign in the growing Wildewood neighborhood. He and Raley indicated the action was in response to a petition of more than 160 residents’ signatures requesting the sign for safety reasons.
The board authorized Commissioner President Jack Russell’s signature confirming a hefty county contribution to the health department, while state funding decreases. County Administrator John Savich pointed out that without the additional county-level funding, “Our health department would be much smaller and providing fewer services.” The board concurred that a letter illustrating this to the Delegation was in order.
Social Services’ Director Ella May Russell and Finance Officer Dawn Dent sought a small amount of funding to aid eligible families with burial expenses. Sixteen burials were covered, more than the 10 the department had budgeted for, helping families and i
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