Garrett commissioners add $700,000 to schools budget

Board of Education asked to develop long-term plan
For the Cumberland Times-News
The Cumberland Times-News Tue Apr 26, 2011, 11:29 PM EDT

OAKLAND — After numerous budget review sessions, the Garrett County commissioners have added $700,000 to the $1 million already allocated for the Board of Education for fiscal 2012.

The funds will be transferred from the county’s unrestricted/undesignated fund balance and will assist the board with a projected residual shortfall of $1.365 million.

The county commissioners have asked the Board of Education to develop a long-term financial plan that will allow Garrett County public schools to operate proficiently despite the loss of funds from changes to the state funding principles and a declining student enrollment, according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

Pagenhardt said that the commissioners are willing to work with the board in developing the plan. The county has not been presented with a comprehensive budget from the board, according to Pagenhardt. But county staff projects that the additional allocation combined with cost savings from the board’s employee retirement incentive plan and supplementary public education funds secured during the Maryland General Assembly session will reduce the funding shortfall to $665,000.

The county commissioners along with the county administrator and Department of Financial Services have worked to close a $17 million dollar funding shortfall and all county departments have incurred budget cuts or have been flat-funded in fiscal 2012. Capital projects have been repeatedly scrutinized and reprioritized.

Under county policy, the funds that were transferred must be restored within two years. The county commissioners anticipate a similar amount in new revenue for fiscal 2013 from the Synergics wind project located on Backbone Mountain.

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