Chip Bertino and the Ocean Pines Association taking stand against Worcester County due to unfair water rates

OCEAN PINES, Md. – The Ocean Pines Association is taking a stand against a proposal in the 2026 Worcester County fiscal year budget. They wrote a letter to the commissioners regarding water rates in the county. The plan would require the 11 water service areas to pay for county debt.

Chip Bertino, said the current proposal is unfair. “The county mismanagement got us into this situation, and it’s unfair to hold accountable the Ocean Pines district that has nothing to do with this fiasco.”

Under the current structure, 55% of Ocean Pines residents would pay for the water debt. That 10,000 ratepayers out of the 18,000 countywide. Ocean Pines Association Board of Director member, Elaine Brady, doesn’t think the community should get hit the hardest.

“If we were part of the problem, we would work to resolve it, but we’re not and shouldn’t be the ones because we are the largest population base. It’s an expedient way to get this taken care of.”

The homeowners association believes the county intends to evade public attention from the issues connected to the misuse of enterprise funds. Brady said that the neighborhood could make the money work, but the burden it would place on community members is severe.

“The community is not in a negative position; we offer 5% this year, and we’ll pay that amount. Going forward; however, each household in our community over this year and next year will pay over $500 out of pocket.”

Residents fear that if they’re required to bear the current costs, the precedent will be in place, enforcing ideas that the service area will pay for the county’s errors. Bertino, who is the commissioner for the Ocean Pines voting district, said the final decision needs to be fair.

“The money needs to be paid, there are no two ways about that, but how it’s repaid is of significant importance to all of us in Ocean Pines. And quite truthfully, the plan that is put forward is unfair.”