Category:garrett county
Garrett Co. Officials Review Proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Budget At Public Mtg.
The Garrett County commissioners held a public meeting yesterday evening at Garrett College to review and receive on their proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget. About 175 people attended the nearly two-hour event.
County officials have been working on the budget for several months, and the commissioners will officially approve its final version on June 4.
Commission board chair Bob Gatto indicated that the real property tax would remain at the current rate of $.99 per $100 of assessed value for FY ’14. Based on that rate, Department of Financial Services director Wendy Yoder estimates the county’s revenue next fiscal year will be $78.3 million, which is $4.4 million less than in FY ’13.
Most of the county’s revenue is garnered from property taxes, particularly those at Deep Creek Lake. Yoder noted that beginning in January 2014, properties south of the Rt. 219 bridge at the lake will be reassessed.
“This area accounts for about 60 percent of the county’s overall assessable base,” Yoder said.
She indicated this could result in a 15 to 20 percent decline in lakefront property assessments, amounting to about $100,000 per property, in FY ’15. This could equate to an overall 6 percent decrease in county total gross assessable base.
“This decrease translates into a potential loss of $2.9 million in total property tax revenue for the county in Fiscal Year 2015,” Yoder said.
To compensate for the drop in revenue for FY ’14, most county departments can expect to receive the same amount of funding they did in FY ’13, while a few will receive less, in particularly the Roads Department.
County officials are proposing to decrease that department’s allocation by about $156,000. This includes a decrease for winter operations overtime. The department was allocated $490,953 for winter overtime in FY ’13. The proposed allocation for that line item in FY ’14 is $350,000.
Allocations for the Roads Department’s winter abrasive expenses, however, will be increased by $200,000. County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said the increase was for the purchase of additional salt.
The Sheriff’s Office is one of the few departments expected to receive an allocation increase. In FY ’13, the office received $2.8 million, compared to a proposed $3 million in FY ’14. The increase, in part, is the result a new plan to assign resource officers at Southern High School and the Northern High/Middle School Complex. Most of the funding will come from three-year grants.
The Detention Center will also receive increased funding. The proposed FY ’14 allocation is $1.89 million, compared to about $1.82 million in FY ’13. The extra money, in part, is to cover such items as training expenses and increases in medical care for inmates, according to Pagenhardt.
The county will allocate the same amount of funding to the Board of Education in FY ’14 as in FY ’13, $26 million.
“I’ve never seen our financial situation in such a state,” said Garrett County Education Association president Mike Pula, noting that the local public school system continues to see “devastating” funding cuts from Maryland.
He said his group recognizes the commissioners’ financial assistance. Pula noted, however, the “grim” statistics: three schools have been closed, salaries have been frozen, classroom sizes have increased, people have been laid off, and 90 positions have been lost through attrition.
“The long and short of the budget story is: What you’ve done is not enough,” Pula said.
He indicated the BOE will continue to lose millions of dollars from the state and asked the commissioners for their help in maintaining high quality education.
“We’re in serious need of help, and there is just no where else to turn,” Pula said. “We need the board of commissioners to commit to making the school system in Garrett County its priority before anymore of it disappears.”
Commissioner Gatto indicated the commissioners would be meeting with school superintendent Dr. Janet Wilson and the BOE in June to discuss funding issues for FY ’15 and beyond.
“I spent 31 years in the public education system, so I know an awful lot about public schools and I know an awful lot about what teachers face,” Commissioner Jim Raley said. “I also spent 14 years on the school board, so I know an awful lot about the school board’s budget.”
He indicated the key to the county’s revenue woes and increasing its population. More here.
Garrett gypsy moth outbreak to lead to more spraying
Treated land will quadruple from 2,500 acres to 11,896
OAKLAND — This year, the amount of acreage in Garrett County to be treated for gypsy moths has more than quadrupled because there are beginnings of outbreaks, according to Bob Tatman, program manager of Maryland Department Agriculture Forest Pest Management.
“This year we are getting into an outbreak, the population is expanding very rapidly,” said Tatman. “In the past, there was a fungus that kept the population down.”
The fungus isn’t keeping the gypsy moth population down this year and the population could either crash or continue to expand, said Tatman.
This year, 11,896 acres will be sprayed for gypsy moths in Garrett County with treatment to start most likely around May 20, depending on weather, according to Tatman.
Last year, about 2,500 acres in Garrett County were sprayed for gypsy moths and it was the only county in the state sprayed. That spraying began on May 16.
“Last year was the earliest we have ever sprayed in Garrett County,” said Tatman, who added that, typically, gypsy moth spraying takes place around Memorial Day weekend. “Because of the weather, it’s a different world in Garrett County.”
Also, more counties in Maryland, as well as other states, are being added to the list for gypsy moth suppression.
This year, spraying for gypsy moths will take place in Worcester and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland as well as counties in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, according to Tatman.
Funding for the spraying comes from a federal, state and county cost-share cooperative.
The federal cost-share is going to be less this year and Tatman expects that the cost for the county will increase.
In addition to fewer federal funds, an increase in the number of acres to be sprayed will cause the cost for the county to increase. For fiscal 2014, the county is recommending $37,00 for gypsy moth suppression.
For fiscal 2013, $37,000 was approved for gypsy moth suppression and it was later amended to $184,325.
The gypsy moth is the most destructive pest of forest and shade trees in Maryland, according to MDA. Large gypsy moth outbreaks have affected hundreds of thousands of acres statewide over the years.
MDA conducts an Integrated Pest Management program to minimize unnecessary losses through monitoring, assessment, information and education, and pest control actions, according to the news release.
In high-infestation areas where die back or mortality cannot be tolerated, MDA will conduct aerial insecticide treatments to protect and preserve the forest and shade trees.
For more information on spraying activities, follow MDA on Twitter @MDGypsyMoth or visit http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/gypsy_moth_spray_schedule.aspx.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Education to take lion’s share of Garrett budget
Despite being fully funded, board predicts a bleak forecast for next few years
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Thu May 09, 2013, 11:46 PM EDT
OAKLAND — The largest appropriation in Garrett County’s proposed fiscal 2014 budget is $32.3 million for public education, or 41 percent of the total Operating and Capital Budget for fiscal year 2014, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.
The county is proposing to allot $26.2 million to the board of education for fiscal 2014. The remainder of the public education funding goes to Garrett College, the Ruth Enlow Library and the Garrett County Scholarship Program.
“The board of education was informed in May of 2012 of this funding level,” said Pagenhardt. “The BOE budget for 2014 is fully funded.” The board was alloted $26 million for fiscal 2013.
Despite being fully funded for fiscal 2014, the board is predicting a bleak financial forecast for the next couple of years, according to a letter from the board to citizens.
Superintendent Janet Wilson, Pagenhardt and respective staff will attempt to develop cooperative points of interest regarding the budget and set up a meeting at a later date.
“County government has for some time reviewed current budgets along with five impending years, and this practice has proven to be a wise judgment, which is evident when comparing actual/final budgets to initial budget estimates,” said Pagenhardt in response to the board’s letter.
“County government and the Board of County Commissioners have made public education a priority for many years. Now, more than ever, open dialog and cooperation, to include the participation of the county administrator, superintendent of schools, and senior staff from both our organizations, is imperative.”
The real property tax rate for fiscal 2014 will be the same as 2013 at $0.9900, according to Pagenhardt.
During the public informational meeting Wednesday, the public questioned Adventure Sports Center International funding and asked questions that were under the authority of the elected board of education, according to Pagenhardt. Four elected board members were in attendance but didn’t speak or provide commentary, said Pagenhardt. Wilson was not in attendance.
The expenditure for ASCI debt repayment for fiscal 2014 is $100,000 to be paid out of hotel rental tax. In March of last year, the county took ownership of ASCI, paying $600,000 to secure the assignment of ASCI debts from Susquehanna Bank.
The fiscal 2014 budget is recommending $1.7 million for Deep Creek 2014 capital improvements to ASCI. The ASCI capital improvements are completely funded by grants.
Total budget for fiscal 2014 is $78.3 million, which is $4.4 million less than the fiscal 2013 budget of $82.7 million. Capital projects and outlay make up $2.6 million of the $4.4 million, according to Pagenhardt.
The fiscal 2014 budget includes $2.2 million from the unreserved/undesignated fund balance (reserves restricted for planned capital expenditures).
“No reserves are used for operating expenses,” said Pagenhardt.
Pagenhardt doesn’t expect changes to the fiscal 2014 budget for now.
“There will be amendments to fiscal year 2013 budget when we have actual revenue or expenditures,” said Pagenhardt. “Final adjustments to the fiscal year budget come with the audit.”
The county commissioners will approve the budget during the June 4 public meeting.
The budget, in its entirety, can be viewed at www.garrettcounty.org.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Accreditation process under way for Garrett health department
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Wed May 08, 2013, 10:56 PM EDT
OAKLAND — The Garrtt County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to support the accreditation of the health department through the Public Health Accreditation Board, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.
The goal of the accreditation process is to have all local health departments and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene accredited, according to Rodney Glotfelty, health officer with the Garrett County Health Department. Accreditation looks at leadership, strategic planning, community engagement, customer focus, work force development, evaluation and quality improvement.
Also during the meeting, the commission voted to approve an application for $400,000 for the Home Repair Program. A public hearing was held prior to the vote to receive on the application of funds from the Department of Housing and Community Development Community Development Block Grant Program.
The commission then discussed economic development and a confidential business interest in an executive session.
The next commission meeting will be held May 21 at 4 p.m. in Room 207 in the courthouse.
Garrett board of education warns of bleak times ahead
Garrett board of education warns of bleak times ahead
Between 2009 and 2014, state aid dropped $4.5 million
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue May 07, 2013, 11:15 PM EDT
CUMBERLAND — OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education posted an open letter to citizens on its website to alert them that the financial forecast for the next couple of years looks bleak.
The board adopted Superintendent Janet Wilson’s fiscal 2014 budget during a special meeting April 18. During that meeting, projections relating to the anticipated fiscal 2015 revenue and 2016 revenue shortfalls were shared.
Garrett County Public Schools receives more than 90 percent of its revenue from state and local sources.
State revenues have continued to decline in recent years as a result of the county’s increasing wealth and the school system’s declining enrollment.
Between fiscal years 2009 and 2014, revenues from state aid have declined by more than $4.5 million, while corresponding aid from county government has increased by $2.2 million.
Last year, Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools closed permanently because of a $2 million shortfall, and other programs were cut.
The decision was made to close the schools despite receiving $500,000 from the county commissioners.
Bloomington Elementary was closed in 2011.
“Last-minute funding offered by the Board of County Commissioners came with no promises of future funding which would have required the advisory group process, and the emotional turmoil that goes with the process, to be repeated the following year,” said the letter.
If reliable and sustainable streams of revenue cannot be identified and committed in a timely manner for fiscal 15 and beyond, the school system is required by state code to begin the advisory process to determine if school closures, consolidation and redistricting are necessary, according to the letter.
“This time, every school (all eight in the county) will be involved in the process requiring that the advisory meetings begin this summer,” said the letter.
The school board will obtain a facility study and the results will be given to the advisory committees.
The study will be conducted on Accident, Broad Ford, Crellin, Friendsville, Grants-ville, Route 40, Swan Meadow and Yough Glades Elementary schools.
The results of the study will help to ensure that the best decisions regarding any school closures, consolidation and redistricting are made for 2015 and for the future of the county schools. Decisions regarding closures, consolidation and redistricting for fiscal 2015 must be made by April 1, 2014.
In fiscal year 2015, the board anticipates that the state aid revenues will decline by an additional $1 million.
The board invited commissioners to discuss the future of the Garrett County Public School System on April 24, but the commissioners couldn’t attend because the meeting precludes the final approval of the county’s fiscal 2014 budget, which will be adopted at the June 4 public meeting.
“Public education is certainly a priority for the county and the identification of long-term financial planning has been and will continue to be a high priority,” said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator. “Just as the public school system is experiencing a reduction of funding, all other county government core areas of public interest must be cognizant of the current economic times.”
The board has no revenue-generating authority and is squarely dependent on the commissioners’ commitment to providing an adequate operating budget, according to the letter.
The county is proposing to allot $26.2 million to public school system for fiscal 2014, according to Pagenhardt. The largest portion of the county’s fiscal 2013 budget allotted $26,023,714 to the board.
Without additional aid from the commissioners, the approximate fiscal 2015 budget gap for the board would be $1.7 million, according to the letter.
Projections indicate that in fiscal 2016, the school system faces an additional $450,000 deficit.
“The local share of the current county government’s budget does not represent an adequate amount to operate our school system and has not been adequate for some time,” states the letter.
The commissioners will conduct an informational budget meeting today at 7 p.m. at Garrett College auditorium.
“It is our hope that the fiscal 2014 budget discussion will include a promise of revenue that will secure the future of the school system in fiscal 2015,” said the letter. “Without guaranteed streams of funding and with the additional requirements of reform focusing on massive change at the classroom level, there will be consequences.”
The board needs a committed amount of revenue for 2015 and beyond in order to avert the need for school closure, consolidation and redistricting advisory meetings and to plan for instructional programs necessary for current reforms, according to the letter.
Wilson, Pagenhardt and respective staff will get together to develop cooperative points of interest regarding the budget and set up a meeting at a later date.
The letter can be read in its entirety at http://www. ga.k12.md.us/. The county budget can be viewed at www.garrettcounty.org.
May 17-18: Maryland in the War of 1812: A Living History Event at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, Md.
May 17-18: Maryland in the War of 1812: A Living History Event at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, Md. Learn about “The Star-Spangled Banner” and hear ballads and sea chanties, with presentations from historians such as Chris George, Vince Vaise, Mike Dixon and David Hildebrand. 301-387-4386.
Last day for Garrett County students June 12
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Thu May 02, 2013, 10:30 PM EDT
OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education approved changes to the end of the 2012-2013 school calendar during Tuesday’s meeting. The final day for students will be June 12. The staff will participate in professional development sessions June 10 and 11 in the afternoon, after student departure.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation of Keith Harvey, director of human resources, according to a news release. According to the teacher contractual language, if student days are waived then teacher days must be waived, too. This resulted in some inequities for other employee groups because this language was not in their contracts.
The board granted a three-day waiver for students and employees.
The final three days, June 10, 11 and 12, will change from a two-hour early dismissal to a three-hour early dismissal for students. This adjustment, per conversation with middle and high school principals, will not affect the time needed for final exams, according to the news release.
The afternoon of June 12 will be a record-keeping time for staff as contractually agreed. June 13 will be a professional day and the final day for staff with a seven-hour, 36-minute work day.
To make the waiver equitable for all employee groups, it was proportionally calculated to the number of days each group works, according to the news release. There will be three waiver days for 10-month employees, four waiver days for 11-month employees and five waiver days for 12-month employees.
In March, the Garrett County Board of Education made a request to the Maryland State Board of Education to waive five student days, and that request was granted.
MDA to Treat 12,000 Acres for Gypsy Moth
MDA Preparing to Treat More than 12,000 Acres for Gypsy Moth Invasive Pest Threatens Forest and Shade Trees
Weather permitting, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will begin aerial spraying next Thursday (May 2) in some southern areas of the state to combat the destructive Gypsy Moth, an invasive pest that destroys forest and shade trees. However, most of MDA’s gypsy moth spraying will take place later in the month in Western Maryland.
On Thursday, MDA is scheduled to spray a small portion of St. Mary’s County along MD Route 235 and Bay Forest Road. MDA will also spray a small portion of Worcester County on Rt. 12 (Snow Hill Road) at the Wicomico County line. Most spraying will be done later in May in Garrett County where MDA will spray more than 11,000 acres over 58 individual areas across the county. All property owners directly affected by the spraying have been notified by letter.
Maps of areas to be sprayed as well as the spray schedule are on MDA’s website at: http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/gypsy_moth_spray_schedule.aspx
When MDA begins spraying, residents can follow MDA’s Gypsy Moth Twitter feed for frequent updates on the progress of the helicopters. Follow @MDGypsyMoth.
Every year, MDA monitors the presence and severity of gypsy moth infestations and assesses potential damage and tree loss. Predators, parasites, and diseases often kill gypsy moths; however, when the natural enemies fail to suppress high infestations, MDA will work with federal and local governments to conduct aerial insecticide treatments to protect and preserve forest and shade trees. In FY 2012, MDA surveyed more than 467,000 acres and treated 2,530 acres – all of it in Garrett County. The last major outbreak was in 2007-2008 when more than 68,000 trees lost most of their leaves and MDA treated more than 99,000 acres.
For more information about the Forest Pest Management Program, see: http://mda.maryland.gov/Documents/ag_brief/AgBrief_FPM_FINAL.pdf
See a recent blog post about the Gypsy Moth Program: http://news.maryland.gov/mda/mda-blog/2013/04/15/april-is-national-invasive-plant-pest-disease-awareness-month-learn-about-marylands-most-unwanted-pests-2/
For more comprehensive info on gypsy moth, see: http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/gypsy_moth_program.aspx
Fourmile Ridge wind farm gets PSC approval
Building begins after Garrett issues permits
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
FROSTBURG — The Maryland Public Service Commission approved the Fourmile Ridge wind project on Wednesday.
Synergics is planning on constructing 24 wind turbines in two arrays with an eastern array located on the west side of Big Savage Mountain and western array located on Fourmile Ridge.
Construction will begin on the project as soon as the permits are issued by Garrett County, according to Frank Maisano, spokesman for the Synergics project.
The county has provided Bennett Brewer and Associates of Frostburg, the engineer of record for the project, on the sediment and erosion control plan as well as the stormwater management plan, according to Jim Torrington, chief of the Garrett County Permits and Inspections Division.
“There are a host of things that need to be added to plan; it needs a major revision,” said Torrington. “We are awhile out before a permit for activity can be issued.”
The project is also awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval because there was an issue with the Grantsville VOR/DME system.
The FAA is proposing to decommission the Grantsville VOR/DME system and that request is under way, according to Maisano.
Ed Kelley, manager of the Garrett County Airport, and the Maryland Aviation Administration have expressed opposition to the plan to decommission the Grantsville VOR/DME system.
With Garrett County as an ideal spot for wind turbines, all of the projects will and do affect the safety and economic outlook of the Garrett County Airport, said Kelley in a letter to Melinda George of the FAA.
“Local economic growth and commerce could be lost by the proposed decommissioning causing additional economic hardships to Garrett and Allegany County Airport,” he wrote. “The region cannot afford to lose critical all weather, en route and terminal access in the National Airspace System.”
The PSC recommended that Fourmile Wind Energy LLC’s request of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity waiver application be granted but with conditions.
The conditions are similar to those that Synergics was required to meet when constructing the Roth Rock project, which prevented it from going into operation until such conditions were met.
The project raised concerns with environmentalist because a major portion — 75 percent — of it is in the state’s designated “sensitive areas.”
Matt Brewer, a partner with Bennett Brewer and Associates, indicated during a PSC public hearing that the project was adjacent to those “sensitive areas.”
“We have been fully cognizant about that through the design process. We have very deliberately avoided impact to those areas,” said Brewer.
“We have completed numerous environmental studies and testing over the last three years and have incorporated those studies into the design.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article. Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Blood Drive - Garrett County Board of REALTORS
American Red Cross presents: Battle of the REALTORS! Come donate blood on behalf of your favorite Realtor or real estate office! Please give blood. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to make your appointment today! Event will be held in the Garrett College gymnasium (not CARC).
https://www.facebook.com/events/140037902848180/?context=create#
