Prince Frederick, MD – Facing operating budget cuts from both the county and state in the next fiscal year (FY), Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) officials are currently working with a proposed budget that can only be balanced if a significant number of employees are terminated.

In a statement regarding the proposed FY 2016 budget, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel D. Curry wrote, “when we look at our anticipated revenue for FY ’16 and calculate what we need to maintain our present number of employees and benefits, and to offer them a long-awaited small raise, we find that we don’t have the funds. Since the initial public budget presentation of Jan. 22 our revenue estimates have plummeted by more than $5 million.”

The budget currently proposed for CCPS in FY 2016 totals over $196.17 million, over $3.5 million less than the current fiscal year.

While CCPS expects $3.15 million less in state funding next fiscal year—due mainly to a drop in enrollment—Calvert County’s allocation to the operating budget will be $375,449 less than FY 2015 in the next fiscal year. The county government will be contributing $682,890 to the teachers’ pension fund, as mandated by the state.

During a March 19 work session on the proposed FY 2016 budget, one member of the Calvert Board of Education (BOE) stated the county commissioners needed to help CCPS maintain its current staff.

“I believe we have to ask for what we need,” said BOE Member William Phalen. “I believe we have to challenge the county commissioners. I believe the county commissioners need to step up.”

Phalen expressed skepticism about the county’s repeated claim that “there isn’t any money.” He indicated county government holds several million dollars in reserve and less than half of it is encumbered. Phalen noted that in three or four years county government is expected to realize dramatically increased tax revenues due to the exportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Dominion’s Cove Point plant. He indicated the reserve funds in the county’s coffers should be leveraged now with the plant project’s projected revenues as a method for replenishing the reserves in the future.

“It [Dominion’s exportation project] is a long ways away,” said Commissioners’ President Steven Weems [R] when told of Phalen’s comments. “We are struggling with budgetary line items. This is now and until it [LNG exportation project] arrives it’s just projections.”

Weems added that the anticipated larger revenues that the Dominion Exportation project are expected to reap “are going to benefit the next board.” The current board president stated that he anticipates “three years of arduous budgeting” for the current panel of commissioners.

The Calvert County Government Staff will present its recommended FY 2016 budget Tuesday, March 24 at a public hearing to be held at Calvert Pines Senior Center starting at 7 p.m. The proposed budget is $3.8 million lighter than the current fiscal year’s adopted spending plan.

“Funding towards education remains the primary focus of this budget at approximately 52 percent of the general fund operating budget and 36 percent of the six-year capital projects budget,” stated Deputy Director of Finance and Budget Joan Thorp in a memo to the commissioners. “Education funding for operations is greater than maintenance of effort levels. Teacher pension costs—shifted from the state budget—of $4.8 million are included in this budget.”

Thorp also noted there is no money budgeted for county government employee raises.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com