Wicomico County: 2019 State Of The County Report
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md – County Executive Bob Culver presented the state of the county report on Monday. It was a night spent highlighting the county’s achievements as well as challenges that have yet to come.
This year alone, the county has launched several programs tailored to helping those in need. At the beginning of 2019, Warming Up Wicomico kicked off asking businesses to help collect items for those in need; items that would then be taken to local shelters and homeless camps. Another program, meals on wheels got a cut in funding from Maryland. Fortunately here in Wicomico County, the county council stepped up to the plate eating the cost to keep it running. Another program, Wicomico Goes Purple sprouted amidst national recovery month. The Wicomico County Opioid Intervention Team, Salisbury area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation joined forces to educate folks on the dangers of substance abuse and misuse. They asked the community to help by taking a stand.
But, Looking forward isn’t as simple as you may think. Outside of recession concerns on a national scale, there was also uncertainty at the state level and that’s not going away anytime soon. Culver says that the county stands to both gain and lose if the Kirwan Commission’s education funding formula is implemented.
The 26-member panel put together in 2016 says that Maryland needs to increase school funding by $3.8 Billion.
We know now that about half that money will be generated by county and city governments, and that’s a concern for any county leader.
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver tells 47ABC, “I think we’re all focused on one thing and that’s the Kirwin Commission, we have no idea right now what the state legislature will pass down to us, it could mean as much as a two cents a year tax, for the next ten years and then, of course, we have the $15 /hour wage that’s going to be probably eight cents to our taxpayers.”
Culver didn’t share his thoughts on cuts to services but there is a concern that some programs will lose funding. The county executive also says that there is no plan to raise taxes unless it’s required for state-mandated items.
