Wicomico Co. schools raise concerns over proposed county budget
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver released a proposed budget for FY 2019 a few weeks ago , and schools are already speaking out and expressing their displeasure.
"Education must be a priority in Wicomico County says," says Mike Dunn, the CEO and President of the Greater Salisbury Committee.
For the upcoming fiscal year, Culver has allocated 43 million dollars, and a one time appropriation $750,000 with the use to be determined through work sessions.
A figure the Board of Education called 'disappointing', and not enough to meet their three priorities: Universal Pre-K, improving graduation rate, and ensuring and retaining a strong workforce.
"I'm sorry to hear that because we've done everything we can do. We talk to the Board of Education about what they needed, what they're desires were, and we've funded a great deal of that. We've funded several million dollars more, 3 or 4 million dollars more in repairs and renovations above maintenance of effort," says Culver.
However some believe the county is only funding the bare minimum set by the state and making a huge mistake by not funding things like pre-kindergarten.
"We think universal Pre-K is of paramount importance, we know that kids fall behind if they enter Pre-K behind the curve, they stay behind the curve ," says Culver.
Local business groups say skimping on funding education will only hurt the local economy down the line.
"We know that our top employers, PRMC and Perdue Farms are having trouble retaining and recruiting top level doctors and executives because they look at the quality of the schools and they wonder how well they are performing," says Dunn.
Culver says there is wiggle room in the proposed budget, but the county council will have the last say on how money will be allocated.
"They will go through the different sections and different department says to what they want to cut or that type of thing," says Culver.
The county council has until June 15th to pass the budget.
