Chesapeake Beach, MD – If Calvert County Commissioners’ President Tom Hejl [R – At large] seemed a little bit frustrated Thursday evening, April 6 when he addressed those gathered at the county public school system’s event in Chesapeake Beach honoring top employees, the reason was quite clear. Hejl and other commissioners have been criticized for not budgeting adequate funding for school employees’ pay steps. With many of his vocal critics in the room, Hejl tried to set the record straight.
“Contrary to what you hear on the street, we [county commissioners] appreciate teachers,” said Hejl, adding, “we are working on a formula to give you your back steps.”
Noting that many of the critics have cited the anticipated revenue Calvert County Government is expecting from Dominion Cove Point, Hejl reminded school officials and school employees that the money isn’t coming until January.
On Tuesday, April 11 the county commissioners will hold a work session on fiscal year (FY) 2018 unresolved issues and budget strategy. According to a memo to the commissioners from the Department of Finance and Budget, one of the items up for discussion during the work session is a proposed funding formula for the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE). The memo stated both the county commissioners and BOE have discussed the proposal, which will be subject to the approval of both boards.
In the county government’s proposed FY 2018 budget, the school system is to receiving funding from the county totaling over $119.86 million, more than $5.5 million over the state-mandated maintenance of effort.
According to the Department of Finance and Budget, the funding formula would take the prior year’s appropriation and multiply it by three factors to determine the next year’s appropriation. The factors are change in student enrollment, the consumer price index (CPI) and an adjustment factor of 1.00 percent for new initiatives. The student enrollment funding component would increase if positive and remain flat if the enrollment is declining. The CPI factor would be rounded up to the nearest 0.5 percent, to a maximum 3.5 percent.
Also up for discussion April 11 will be a proposed $2 million payment in FY 2019 and a plan to put BOE unassigned fund balances greater than $5 million into the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) trust.
The commissioners also plan to discuss a “longevity salary step” for county employees during the work session. A second work session is tentatively scheduled for April 25. A public hearing on the commissioners’ proposed budget will take place in May.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com