Wicomico County Council Holds Budget Meeting For Public to Address Concerns

On Tuesday, The Wicomico County Council faced a room packed full of people demanding more money for their schools and other county departments. In a race against the clock, council members are making it a priority to hear the concerns the community has before finalizing their budget for the 2019 fiscal year.

"Education is the economic driver and job growth that's the key. It's the driver," said one concerned resident.

Dozens of Salisbury residents, school board members, emergency officials and more filled the Wicomico County Councils meeting room to discuss concerns over the proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year.

"We are funded 84 %of what we were 10 years ago. Not 100 %, not 110, but 84," said one librarian for the Wicomico County Public Libraries.

Budget concerns brought before the council  include funding for volunteer fire fighters, and social service, but what stole the show was education.

"We are the poorest funded library in the state of Maryland per capita—we have been for the last seven years," added the librarian.

One by one, community members and leaders spoke before the county council, expressing concerns over proposed funding for numerous departments. 

"Commit your budget vision and actions moving forward to demonstrate that our county council is pro investment in education," said The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers.

Currently, The Board of Education is expected to receive $43.6 million in the proposed budget, but some say that's not enough to meet the needs of students, and are urging the council to reconsider.

"This county has the opportunity to enact change to improve our public schools, to elevate the professions, and most importantly to facilitate the education and future of generations for our students," added one woman.

County officials say they're anxious to get started with the budget to see exactly what they can do to address each and every concern.

"I love to hear from the public I love it when you have a public hearing like this and so many people come out it means they care it also helps us to be able to get a pulse of what the community wants," said Wicomico County Council President John T. Cannon.

Cannon adds that the council has another six weeks to finalize everything before they return the proposed budget to executive Bob Culver for final approval.