Wicomico County hosts a successful legislative breakfast

SALISBURY, Md. — Local leaders met for breakfast this morning to discuss goals for the upcoming legislative session in Maryland.

Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes said she particularly appreciated the opportunity to listen to department heads and get some of her questions answered immediately.

“I enjoyed the most being able to listen to the department heads and also specifically get some of my questions answered right then and there,” Sample-Hughes said.

She highlighted several key topics that left a lasting impact, including the state’s Department of Corrections. The agency discussed the challenges of housing state inmates at a reimbursement rate of $45 per day, which is significantly lower than the $236 rate needed to cover costs.

The group also discussed issues such as state parks, affordable housing, pay for volunteer firefighters, and rising juvenile crime.

“The cry is real, and unfortunately, it’s a challenge,” Sample-Hughes said.

She added that better communication and accountability are needed. “We have to bridge that gap,” she said. “As our superintendent from Wicomico County Schools stated, the communication is not there. The accountability is not there.”

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano also stressed the importance of holding individuals accountable when it comes to youth crime. She emphasized the need to install weapon detection systems in all schools.

“Regardless of the cost, I think it’s something we need to do,” Giordano said. “The price tag is irrelevant.”

Giordano also proposed installing a similar detection system at the Wicomico County Government office following a few concerning incidents.

“We owe it to not only our kids, parents, and schools, but to the entire community for them to feel safe in our county buildings,” she said.