Wicomico County leaders highlight wins, challenges in State of the County address

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Wicomico County leaders made the delivery of Thursday’s State of the County address a joint effort.

Collaborating on Goals

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano and department heads joined together to celebrate wins, and provide updates on challenges from the past year.

Ahead of the address, department heads were asked to submit strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analyses.

With that data, Giordano’s office developed six pillars to strive for in 2024: employee recruitment and retention, economic development, modernization of local government, public safety, education, and creating a more business friendly county.

County Coffers Healthy, Revenue Cap a Challenge

Looking into the coming year, Finance Director, Pam Oland, said that the county’s coffers were healthy. The county’s available spending money balance grew by $14 million by the end of 2023.

“This growth was due primarily to higher collected amounts than budgeted income tax, investment income, and lower than budgeted amounts in most expense categories,” Oland said.

However, Giordano says the county’s revenue cap remains a challenge. She said that the 2% growth cap won’t be enough to keep the county afloat in the long term. For example, Giordano said, the county is behind on making salaries for its employees competitive.

“You have to be very strategic with your decision making, and a lot of times employees suffer, or salaries suffer, or somewhere, somebody is kind of falling short,” Giordano said.

Recruitment and Retention

Donna O’Hara, Director of Human Resources, reported that seven new job fairs were added to the annual recruitment plan.

Through those events, the county made in-person contact with more than 300 candidates. In 2023, the county onboarded more than 150 full-time new-hires.

“Employee recruitment and retention was a huge one,” said Giordano. “We want to make sure that we’re budgeting appropriately, so that we can keep the really good employees. That’s more of the long-term planning, when it comes to that.”

Propping Up Public Safety

However, public safety agencies, like police and fire, are still struggling.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 111 President, Scott Hamilton, said the silver lining is that last week, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office made considerable progress towards their new contract with the county. He said maintaining an open dialogue was key in that process.

“A draft agreement will be presented to the sheriff’s deputies for a vote within the next few days,” Hamilton said. “I’m optimistic that this new contract will make the sheriff’s office an attractive option for those seeking this career path.”

Giordano agrees that it has been a productive effort, thus far. She says that maintaining a healthy relationship between the county and local law enforcement is a necessary and important step to take.

“Public safety, in general, is suffering,” Giordano said. “We need these people in place to make sure that our county is a functional county.”

Changing Education Landscape

The education landscape is also changing, with the arrival of Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirements.

Wicomico County is currently funding its schools at $7 million dollars above the Blueprint’s minimum standard.

“Blueprint is going to be costly,” Giordano said. “Right now, we’re okay, but it’s obviously going to increase as the years go on.”

Despite that expected expense growth, Giordano says the county’s schools are well-equipped to launch their students into the future. “We have Parkside’s CTE program, and I can’t even imagine what it would cost the county to build a facility like Parkside’s, having the welding, the automotive, the CNA,” she said.

Working on the Workforce

Workforce development outside of K-12 is in county leaders’ sights, as well. One big area of opportunity on that front could be the Salisbury Airport’s fledgling aviation maintenance technician program.

“To continue to maintain, and to grow service, we have to maintain and grow the maintenance operation,” said Dave Ryan, Executive Director of Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development. “The best way to do that is start a training school for mechanics.”

Airport manager and Director of Aviation, Tony Rudy, says improving infrastructure at the facility will be crucial to a successful school. In particular, Rudy said a runway extension, and the construction of a snow removal and rescue equipment maintenance building, will be important facets.

“Both of these projects have been slightly delayed, but we expect to break ground anytime now, very soon,” Rudy said. “Facility improvements are greatly needed for our current operational needs, and future success and growth of the airport.”

Boosting Business

Other economic sectors, like the small business community, are also getting a nod from the County Executive’s office.

Giordano says over the past year, county leaders have been working with entrepreneurs to ensure they have all the necessary materials when navigating processes like permitting or planning and zoning. One new business partner that Giordano is particularly excited about, is with developer Ed St. John of St. John’s Properties.

In addition, Giordano highlighted the passage of legislation that would do away with what business leaders have called an antiquated liquor dispensary system.

“Our restaurant owners will be able to purchase their spirits from the distributor that they want, rather than just a dispensary system,” Giordano said.

Modernizing Local Government

In order to make Wicomico County attractive to a wider net of entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders, Giordano says modernizing the service that local government has to offer will be key.

One such effort would include consolidating the Wicomico County Health Department into one location. Within the last year, the county purchased the Verizon Building on Mount Herman Road, which will serve as the agency’s new home. The property is located next to Route 50, and includes 250 parking spaces. The hope is for increased accessibility and convenience.

“I was appalled when I was elected to this position, and I realized how people have to travel all over the county to receive [the Health Department’s] services,” Giordano said.

Waste Wins and Woes

Another win, that will bring Wicomico County into the future, is the creation of a sanitary district, says Giordano.

That plan is still being fleshed out, and may be revealed in the coming months. Giordano says the county’s attorney is looking into other counties’ sanitary districts, and their strengths and weaknesses.

“There’s so much comprehensive planning that has to go into this,” Giordano said. “We’re excited about the steps that we’ve made thus far.”

However, Public Works Director Mike Svaby had an urgent warning for the county, regarding a different kind of waste. He said that if the landfill continues to be loaded up at the same rate it’s already going, it will hit capacity within three years.

Svaby added that the county is working on renewing its ten-year waste management plan, which will include a lot of innovation and some possible expansion.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Giordano teased that collaboration will continue between county leadership and the Eastern Shore’s delegation. Future wins in Annapolis will depend, she says, on Wicomico County being a leader for the region.

“We want to show that united front, because we’re mighty as we come from the Lower Shore rather than just Wicomico,” Giordano said.