Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners voted Tuesday to allow $582,400 for the design phase of the Southern Middle School Renovation Project to remain intact in the fiscal 2014 budget with the condition that no funds will be spent until further discussion with the board of education. They also approved the fiscal 2014 budget.
“At the present time, the $582,400 will remain in the budget as part of the capital outlay for the board of education and earmarked for the Southern Middle School Renovation Project design,” said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.
The decision to expend the design’s fund money or to remove it altogether from the budget will be made upon mutual agreement between the commissioners and the board of education, officials said.
In a letter to Superintendent Janet Wilson, Pagenhardt requested that the board delay any request for proposals or bid preparations for the design and planning until the commissioners and board conduct a public session on public school funding.
“As in the past … commissioners will be presented with a draft Capital Improvement Plan by the board of education in September or October,” said Pagenhardt in the letter.
“I would also ask that this review and approval include a possible deferral of the Southern Middle School project, be finalized prior to any architectural design funding is solicited by the BOE,” he said.
The estimated debt service obligation to the county for Southern Middle School is $750,000 per year for 30 years, according to Pagenhardt.
“Commitment of the debt is a decision that requires more review and evaluation,” said Pagenhardt in the letter.
The fiscal 2015 funding request for the board of education includes an estimated $5.1 million increase.
“If the county were to fund the BOE at the level that is shown, the combination of any new revenue generated from any revenue source or any increase in the real property tax rate would be obligated to the public school system,” said Pagenhardt. “All other departments would need to be reduced or flat funded.”
In past years, major board of education capital projects have been moved to future budget years due to planned funding shortfalls, according to Pagenhardt.
Commissioner Gregan Crawford initially made a motion to exclude funding for the project, which he later rescinded.
Commissioner Jim Raley wanted to proceed with leaving the project in the budget but to discuss with the board of education the possibility of completing the project in phases.
“We just made room in the budget to hire three school resource officers to keep our children safe,” said Raley during the commission meeting. “It’s easy to say this justifies raising taxes, but when does it end? Let’s pull together and pray our work is making a difference.”
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
