SNOW HILL – County officials agreed to use a $16 million surplus to fund various capital projects and increase the county’s reserve.
The Worcester County Commissioners voted 4-3 this week to approve the assignment of fund balance after the county ended the year with a surplus of $16.1 million. The money will be used for various projects, including increasing the county’s reserve to 12%, replacing the roof at Pocomoke Middle School, a bulkhead at the commercial harbor and supporting Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB).
“We’re fortunate that we do have this excess,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said.
Staff told the commissioners the $16.1 million surplus was attributable to a strong labor market and related income tax revenues as well as better than anticipated transfer and recordation tax revenues related to a robust real estate market. The commissioners were presented with a list of projects, including $4.6 million in board of education initiatives, funding for OPEB and $4.5 million to bolster the county’s reserve, for approval.
Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said he’d like to see $150,000 assigned to support a boys and girls club in Pocomoke. His motion to add that to the fund balance list failed with lack of a second, however.
I guess the hell they did have a surplus. They only gave a cost of living wage increase to the employees, no step raises. But they’re always sneaking in raises to certain ones, and not across the board. Nasty bunch, these commissioners.
Josh, just sit down and keep quiet. It’s a good ole boys club, and you ain’t in it.
Why not give the $ back to the tax payers -problem solved. Of course that would make too much sense . Govt is not supposed to make sense just waste $ until it all collapses as it enriches itself !