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Okay, we're gonna bring this meeting to order.

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Okay. Welcome to the Queen

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Annes County Commissioner's meeting.

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This is a public meeting

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that is being aired live on our local cable television

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station, QAC TV seven.

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These media broadcasts provide county citizens an

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opportunity to watch and participate

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with our scheduled public meetings.

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In addition to our live audience this evening,

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we are providing remote options for citizens to watch

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and participate in county commissioner meetings.

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Citizens may watch our meeting live on our website@qac.org

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live, or on our public access governmental television

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channel provided by Breeze Line Cable Services.

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Citizens may also participate

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by joining the live Zoom meeting by going

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to qac.org/public comment

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and citizens may also email comments

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to public comment@qac.org.

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All comments received will be read

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during the present public comment period

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on tonight's agenda.

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We acknowledge everyone's participation

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and by attending you acknowledge

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that this session is both recorded and aired present.

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Public comment will be taken

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and is limited to three minutes per person.

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If you do care to speak,

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please sign up at the information table in the lobby.

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Any comments longer than three minutes can be submitted in

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writing for the commissioner's review and consideration.

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We'll now stand and be led in the Pledge

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of Allegiance by commission.

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President Jim Moran,

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I pledge all allegiance to the flag

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of the United States of America

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and to the republic for which it stands,

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one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

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and justice for all.

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Alright, welcome everybody.

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So the purpose of tonight's session is

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to present the county commissioner's proposed

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FY Twenty's 27 budget for both operating and capital

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and to receive public comment tonight.

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So we will introduce our,

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your county commissioners seated in the center there as

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our president at large, commissioner Jim Moran.

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To his left is Phil Duino, representing district three

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to Phil's left is Commissioner Jack Wilson representing

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district one, also our vice president.

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Seated next to me is Patrick McLaughlin,

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district two commissioner and next

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to Patrick is Chris Corino, district four commissioner.

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So I have a brief presentation that provides a upper level

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overview of the FY 2027 budget.

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So following our presentation we will be receiving public

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comments and again we have the signup sheets in the lobby

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and if you didn't sign up we will go around

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and ask anybody that wants

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to speak tonight if they have any comments as well.

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So we will get right to it.

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So again, I'm Todd Ma, the county administrator

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and this is the county commissioner's proposed

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FY 2027 budget.

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So for next year the budget comes in at $231 million,

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which is a 10.3% increase over the FY 26 budget.

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Our income tax revenue is projected to grow by 13.8%

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and property tax revenues projected to grow

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by about 10% over the FY 25 actual

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income streams.

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For those two sources, we do have some new tax revenue from

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short-term rental permitting and tax collection.

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The tax collection program associated

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with short-term rentals, that's an increase

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of over a hundred thousand dollars in revenue for next year.

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The two tax rates the commissioners control

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and set first is income tax.

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That is proposed to remain the same at 3.2%

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and the property tax rate.

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The commissioners have proposed a reduction in the property

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tax rate for next year of 3 cents per $100 of assessed value

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and the pie chart on the left there shows the income

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and property tax sector is the majority

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of our revenue streams at 86% of our total revenue.

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Some budget highlights from the operations budget

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leading off we have our Board

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of Education public school system.

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We funded them at 8.7 million above the FY 26 appropriation,

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which is about $8.9 million above the required maintenance.

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Maintenance of effort.

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We've included funding for an additional emergency

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medical systems crew.

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This will be our seventh EMS unit

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and that'll be assigned to the grasonville region

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to continue to decrease the unit response time

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for emergency services operations at $1.2 million per year.

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We've also included 16 overall new positions in the budget,

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including a bus driver for our county ride,

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an additional jury commissioner for our circuit court,

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a communications captain for the Department

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of Emergency Services

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and the eight positions for the seventh EMS unit,

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which are also included in that tally.

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For our staffing, we have included funding

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for employee recruitment and retention.

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That includes a 3% cost of living allowance

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and pay for performance.

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And for our capital program we've included $4.4 million

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for capital projects out of the operations account.

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That'll be a transfer from operating to capital.

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Alright, these next couple of slides, I wanted

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to just touch on our board of education funding.

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As you know, we do receive state funds

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for the public school systems as well

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as the county appropriations.

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So this chart basically shows the state allocations

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beginning in FY 20 and the forecasts going forward.

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The state funding for fiscal year 2027 is 45 million.

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Unfortunately that's about three

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and a half million dollars less than they

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originally forecasted.

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They'd be providing two Queen Ann County based on

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the Kerwin funding plan.

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That adds to the tally

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of about $12 million less than the original funding forecast

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for for the state share between FY 22 and FY 27.

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On the county side of the funding equation,

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the county is funding the public school systems at

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$91.4 million for FY 27.

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Again, that's $8.9 million

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above the required maintenance of effort.

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That value does not include teacher pensions

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and any private daycare costs that the state has

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very graciously shifted to the counties for our pickup.

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So we've picked those up and just to give you an idea,

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over the past several years we're averaging about $7 million

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of above the required maintenance of effort

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for our public school systems.

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This chart demonstrates that the where the state funding is

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and where the county funding is.

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The chart on the left, the blue line is the state

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allocations that we've received for the public schools.

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The red dash line just above that is

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where their forecast was.

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So you can see they are a little shy of

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where the need to be.

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The green line above that is the county funding allocations.

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You can see it's well above the dashed line below that which

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demonstrates that the county has been funding the board

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of education at a much higher level

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above the required maintenance of effort levels.

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On the right hand side of the chart,

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we have the student population,

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and this is, we're not unique in this.

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A lot of the counties in the state are seeing

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a declining enrollment.

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You can see the the peak there in about 2019 at

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7,536 students.

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That was just prior to COVID.

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Since that time the enrollment has been declining, you know,

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every every single year.

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And now in 2026 we're at 7,115 students.

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So even with our declining enrollment, we are increasing our

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spending for our public school systems.

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Okay, this slide generally shows the all

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of the budgeted revenues that we receive in addition to

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property taxes and income taxes.

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So we have over the past several years been

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somewhat conservative from our

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for our revenue projections out

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of concerns at the federal level for tariffs,

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potential federal layoffs and other uncertainties.

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However, we do continue to see income tax growth in excess

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of the state estimates

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and for next year we are forecasting an estimate

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of 105.5 million in total revenue from income tax.

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A few lines down from that our public utility tax is

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expected to decline slightly

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as utility assets are continuing

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to decrease due to depreciation.

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A few lines down we have the recordation

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and transfer tax lines.

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They are both increasing

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and that's primarily due to continued strong new home sales

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and increased home values.

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Here in Queen Annes County,

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our inter intergovernmental revenues are also increasing due

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to increased and higher 9 1 1 fee collections

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and grants for police aid.

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And under miscellaneous our interest income is expected

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to decline as the federal government continues

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to slowly lower interest rates.

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So overall $230.9 million

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for the FY 27 budget revenue.

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All right, this is where the tax dollars go.

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This is just a graphic that shows that 66 cents

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of every general fund tax dollar is allocated

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to education and public safety.

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You know the first block there on the left,

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education comes in at 43 cents followed

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by public safety at 23 cents.

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Next is the general government allocation at 9 cents Public

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works 7 cents parks recreation, natural resources at 3 cents

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and everything else, all the other

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outside agencies 15 cents.

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So the takeaway here obviously is two thirds

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of our county budget goes to education and public safety.

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This slide just provides a demonstration of

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where the real property tax rates are across the state

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of Maryland and Baltimore City.

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This shows the tax rates, the real property tax rates

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for all jurisdictions in Maryland.

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We're the yellow bar all the way to the right hand side.

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We are projected to be the lowest

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property tax rate in the state

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after the FY 27 decrease

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of 3 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value.

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Tax rates obviously go up from there.

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Most of the counties are over a dollar

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and Baltimore city all the way to the left hand side.

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Well over $2 per a hundred dollars of assessed value.

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So just to give you a perspective where we are statewide.

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Alright, this next series

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of slides shows the proposed budget expenditures for all

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of our county departments, outside agencies

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and our miscellaneous accounts.

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And first I'll say that our departmental

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increases are expected to rise about five to 7% generally

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due to staff salaries, health insurance

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and benefit increases.

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We'll highlight a few additional sections here

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that are going above that slightly.

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First, under county administration our legal services are

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increasing due to continuation

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of some anticipated litigation that we're engaged in.

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Now our budget

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and finance office is up due

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to the additional accounting support for our town of Ville

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water and sewer operations that we recently acquired as part

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of our water

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and sewer division, along with increases for post post

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expenses and tax bills and tax delinquency bills.

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Our human resources now includes a new peer-to-peer

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counseling program for our public safety employees

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and volunteer firefighters.

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So that increase is included there

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and our public housing shows a higher increase

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to cover the hiring of an additional employee

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for maintenance services at our public housing stock.

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Alright, this next slide shows our Department

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of Public Works and Parks and Recreation.

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So we have a larger increase

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for animal services under public works

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that includes additional kennel equipment,

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emergency lighting and safety features

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for our animal services shelter.

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And under parks and recreation you'll see the airport

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and golf course both with significant decreases that's due

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to the reduced general fund support needed

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to balance their budgets.

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And we recently had closed on an airport loan for

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for the runway and we're receiving much greater revenues

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from the golfing fees at our Blue Heron Golf course.

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So some good news there.

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Here we have our outside agencies on this tally

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we have the Board of Education at the top there they've

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00:12:35,845 --> 00:12:39,645
increased by 10.6% as mentioned to cover increase in costs

269
00:12:40,725 --> 00:12:41,725
mandated by the blueprint

270
00:12:41,725 --> 00:12:45,205
for Maryland's education future which we are compliant with

271
00:12:46,025 --> 00:12:49,325
our state's attorney's office shows a larger increase

272
00:12:49,425 --> 00:12:52,565
to cover new case management software for their agency.

273
00:12:53,265 --> 00:12:55,685
The circuit court will be getting an additional jury

274
00:12:55,685 --> 00:12:57,965
commissioner as mentioned earlier next year to help

275
00:12:57,965 --> 00:12:59,525
with their increasing caseload

276
00:13:00,265 --> 00:13:03,445
and our board of elections has an increase, higher increase

277
00:13:03,445 --> 00:13:06,045
to cover the leasing of additional poll book equipment

278
00:13:06,705 --> 00:13:07,885
for the election program.

279
00:13:09,385 --> 00:13:11,445
Lastly, I'll mention that the Soil Conservation Service

280
00:13:12,025 --> 00:13:15,405
is lower next year due to a reduction in their workforce

281
00:13:15,625 --> 00:13:18,085
by one and a half full-time equivalents.

282
00:13:21,475 --> 00:13:23,645
Alright, This slide shows other miscellaneous

283
00:13:23,715 --> 00:13:26,565
expenditure accounts for debt other and transfer.

284
00:13:27,465 --> 00:13:30,645
Our debt for the board of education is higher next year

285
00:13:30,645 --> 00:13:33,125
to cover debt service for the new administration building

286
00:13:33,625 --> 00:13:36,485
and two roof projects at matte elementary

287
00:13:36,485 --> 00:13:39,445
and matte middle schools that are now complete

288
00:13:40,645 --> 00:13:42,125
under the other category.

289
00:13:42,185 --> 00:13:44,805
Our intergovernmental expenses have increased due

290
00:13:44,805 --> 00:13:48,005
to continued increases for the state assessment office,

291
00:13:48,005 --> 00:13:50,205
which was another cost shift from

292
00:13:50,205 --> 00:13:51,285
the state over to the county.

293
00:13:51,285 --> 00:13:55,245
That's a Maryland agency that we now pay for also increases

294
00:13:55,245 --> 00:13:57,725
to town rebates via the tax offset program

295
00:13:58,065 --> 00:14:00,885
and an increase in the state pension administration fees.

296
00:14:02,225 --> 00:14:05,965
Our general insurance is up also due to increasing premiums

297
00:14:06,385 --> 00:14:09,285
and the addition of the public housing authority facilities

298
00:14:09,285 --> 00:14:11,005
under the county's overall umbrella

299
00:14:11,825 --> 00:14:14,605
and under the transfer sections as I mentioned earlier,

300
00:14:14,705 --> 00:14:18,445
we have a capital fund increase to for the pego support

301
00:14:18,545 --> 00:14:20,925
to the capital projects account for FY 27.

302
00:14:21,505 --> 00:14:25,285
And lastly, our ag transfers shows a decrease due

303
00:14:25,285 --> 00:14:27,445
to a reduction in the anticipated funding support

304
00:14:27,445 --> 00:14:29,765
that would be necessary for next year.

305
00:14:33,315 --> 00:14:36,205
Okay, so what's changed from FY 26 to FY 27?

306
00:14:36,235 --> 00:14:39,205
This is just a simple tally that shows the FY 26

307
00:14:40,325 --> 00:14:41,365
allocations, the budget

308
00:14:41,425 --> 00:14:42,765
and then the total change in revenue.

309
00:14:42,945 --> 00:14:46,285
On the left hand side you can see income tax leads the way

310
00:14:46,565 --> 00:14:47,565
followed by property taxes

311
00:14:48,305 --> 00:14:52,525
and then at 21.5 million overall new revenues for FY 27

312
00:14:53,225 --> 00:14:55,845
and the corresponding expense on the expenditure side.

313
00:14:55,845 --> 00:14:58,125
On the right hand side of the chart the board

314
00:14:58,125 --> 00:15:01,725
of education at 8.9 million followed by the transfer

315
00:15:01,725 --> 00:15:03,205
to capital at 3.8 million

316
00:15:03,845 --> 00:15:06,005
and then the public safety group in the center there

317
00:15:06,005 --> 00:15:09,765
of the chart, $2.3 million for the expenditure tallies.

318
00:15:12,595 --> 00:15:14,845
Okay now we can move into the capital project section

319
00:15:14,945 --> 00:15:16,645
of the budget.

320
00:15:17,475 --> 00:15:18,925
Once again leading off with our board

321
00:15:18,925 --> 00:15:21,285
of education we've included funding for design

322
00:15:21,345 --> 00:15:23,965
of the new Centerville Middle School here in Centerville.

323
00:15:23,965 --> 00:15:27,205
Obviously HVAC replacements at Kenard

324
00:15:27,385 --> 00:15:28,845
and Centerville Elementary,

325
00:15:29,485 --> 00:15:33,045
a roof replacement at Kenard Elementary, a repaving

326
00:15:33,045 --> 00:15:35,725
of all the surfaces at the Kent Island High School,

327
00:15:36,645 --> 00:15:38,645
some bus replacements, furniture replacements,

328
00:15:38,645 --> 00:15:42,285
and some other minor capital projects at 16.4 million.

329
00:15:42,785 --> 00:15:45,685
And I also mentioned that we have $7 million in state

330
00:15:45,725 --> 00:15:49,165
revenues that are included in this 16.4.

331
00:15:49,225 --> 00:15:51,885
So we do leverage those state funds that they support

332
00:15:51,885 --> 00:15:53,525
with our local dollars as well.

333
00:15:53,905 --> 00:15:57,525
On the larger capital projects for Chesapeake College,

334
00:15:57,585 --> 00:15:59,725
we have funding for the Queen Ann's Technical Building.

335
00:16:00,065 --> 00:16:01,645
That's a multi-year project funded

336
00:16:01,645 --> 00:16:02,845
by the five Midshore counties

337
00:16:03,195 --> 00:16:05,365
that we have $2.9 million there

338
00:16:05,365 --> 00:16:07,565
and that project is currently under design.

339
00:16:07,585 --> 00:16:09,205
We hope to be in a position to maybe

340
00:16:09,955 --> 00:16:12,485
have a groundbreaking ceremony about this time next year.

341
00:16:13,475 --> 00:16:15,085
Emergency services we have funding

342
00:16:15,145 --> 00:16:18,645
for the Motorola console upgrade new ambulances for the

343
00:16:18,745 --> 00:16:21,925
for the seventh Crew Radio subscriber replacements,

344
00:16:22,105 --> 00:16:24,125
our new public safety network replacements

345
00:16:24,145 --> 00:16:26,885
and additional protective gear, PPE

346
00:16:27,265 --> 00:16:29,205
and other projects For emergency services

347
00:16:30,385 --> 00:16:31,725
for the regional hospital,

348
00:16:31,815 --> 00:16:34,165
we've allocated $5 million over four years

349
00:16:34,565 --> 00:16:38,125
for FYI 27 we're allocating the 1.25 million

350
00:16:38,125 --> 00:16:40,485
for our new regional hospital for the University

351
00:16:40,485 --> 00:16:44,005
of Merrill Medical Systems under construction now.

352
00:16:44,005 --> 00:16:45,285
If you haven't been by there, it's a really,

353
00:16:46,035 --> 00:16:48,125
obviously it's come up out of the ground nicely

354
00:16:48,265 --> 00:16:49,325
so we're anxious for that.

355
00:16:51,675 --> 00:16:53,945
Continuing with capital we have for the housing authority,

356
00:16:53,945 --> 00:16:56,745
we have major repairs planned for the maintenance

357
00:16:56,745 --> 00:16:59,865
of Fisher Manor, Riverside States, Grayville Terrace, Terra

358
00:16:59,865 --> 00:17:00,905
and Grove FoxTown,

359
00:17:00,985 --> 00:17:03,985
and our scattered site housing stock at 1.4 million

360
00:17:04,885 --> 00:17:09,305
of our volunteer fire companies, 835,000 for funding

361
00:17:09,625 --> 00:17:11,985
for purchases of a new apparatus and facility.

362
00:17:12,345 --> 00:17:15,505
Construction Animal services we have funding for the design

363
00:17:15,565 --> 00:17:17,225
of a new animal services shelter

364
00:17:17,365 --> 00:17:21,305
and adoption center at 300,000 for our Rose division.

365
00:17:21,325 --> 00:17:24,385
We have funding for a new pedestrian bridge over US 50

366
00:17:25,245 --> 00:17:27,505
on Kent Island to connect the South Island trail

367
00:17:27,565 --> 00:17:28,625
and the cross island trail

368
00:17:28,625 --> 00:17:32,265
that is largely grant funded at 85% at 3.1 million

369
00:17:35,325 --> 00:17:36,745
for our parks department.

370
00:17:36,745 --> 00:17:38,545
We have funding for the continuation

371
00:17:38,545 --> 00:17:40,385
of the South Island Trail extension,

372
00:17:40,655 --> 00:17:43,865
various capital equipment replacements, athletic field work,

373
00:17:44,195 --> 00:17:47,145
major maintenance and other lighting projects.

374
00:17:47,345 --> 00:17:49,520
Two lighting projects, one at White Marsh Marsh Park

375
00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,285
and one at Bats Neck Park at $2.9 million.

376
00:17:53,545 --> 00:17:55,325
For our recreations group we have funding

377
00:17:55,465 --> 00:17:57,845
for land acquisition and design

378
00:17:57,945 --> 00:17:59,165
and contract development

379
00:17:59,165 --> 00:18:01,245
for a new recreation center in the Kent

380
00:18:01,245 --> 00:18:03,205
Narrows Kent Island region.

381
00:18:04,135 --> 00:18:06,405
Under General Services and Engineering, we have funding

382
00:18:06,405 --> 00:18:08,205
and renovation funding for renovations

383
00:18:08,205 --> 00:18:09,565
of the historic courthouse

384
00:18:10,105 --> 00:18:12,925
and other renovations to other county facilities at,

385
00:18:13,265 --> 00:18:17,365
on just about $6 million for information technology.

386
00:18:17,505 --> 00:18:20,285
We have funding for continuation of IT infrastructure

387
00:18:20,345 --> 00:18:21,725
and other technology projects

388
00:18:22,265 --> 00:18:24,245
to enhance our cybersecurity efforts at

389
00:18:24,245 --> 00:18:29,035
500,000 Back to roads.

390
00:18:29,045 --> 00:18:30,435
We've included obviously funding

391
00:18:30,495 --> 00:18:33,315
for systems preservation including asphalt overlays

392
00:18:33,315 --> 00:18:34,315
and capital equipment

393
00:18:34,315 --> 00:18:38,715
and bridges, 5 million Kent Island sewer extensions,

394
00:18:39,255 --> 00:18:41,035
phases three and four, 4.8 million.

395
00:18:41,035 --> 00:18:44,475
This is for the last two phases of that sewer line extension

396
00:18:44,475 --> 00:18:47,555
for Queen and Colony Kent Moore, Chesapeake State,

397
00:18:47,555 --> 00:18:49,435
sunny all Kent Bats neck

398
00:18:49,535 --> 00:18:51,715
and maneka state at 4.8 million

399
00:18:52,815 --> 00:18:56,315
up in Sellersville we have a $3 million grant in funding

400
00:18:56,375 --> 00:18:58,435
to complete the wastewater treatment plant e

401
00:18:58,435 --> 00:19:00,315
and r upgrade improvements for

402
00:19:00,315 --> 00:19:01,955
that particular wastewater system.

403
00:19:03,015 --> 00:19:05,435
And our next sewer extension project,

404
00:19:05,915 --> 00:19:09,315
we have 500,000 in planning money for extension

405
00:19:09,315 --> 00:19:11,075
of public sewer to the modeling farms

406
00:19:11,095 --> 00:19:13,395
and Dominion area, which is south

407
00:19:14,275 --> 00:19:16,395
on Maryland Route 5 52 in Chester.

408
00:19:19,765 --> 00:19:22,615
Okay, this slide just shows the variety

409
00:19:22,715 --> 00:19:24,295
of capital budget funding sources

410
00:19:24,325 --> 00:19:26,455
that we have in the capital plan.

411
00:19:27,635 --> 00:19:30,135
As I mentioned earlier, we have $4.4 million.

412
00:19:30,265 --> 00:19:32,535
We're going across the chart from the left to right,

413
00:19:32,925 --> 00:19:35,055
$4.4 million in PEGO funding,

414
00:19:35,645 --> 00:19:38,015
just about $8 million in grant funding.

415
00:19:38,875 --> 00:19:41,935
$30.8 million in bond funds,

416
00:19:42,935 --> 00:19:45,615
$13.2 million in capital fund balance.

417
00:19:46,195 --> 00:19:49,415
We have some loans, 5.2 million that's for the

418
00:19:50,265 --> 00:19:51,935
sewer line extensions that are paid back

419
00:19:51,935 --> 00:19:53,855
with special benefit assessments from the users.

420
00:19:54,515 --> 00:19:57,175
And then we have another other funding source category from

421
00:19:57,375 --> 00:19:58,535
developer Exactions

422
00:19:58,995 --> 00:20:01,135
and other special benefit assessments we collect

423
00:20:01,135 --> 00:20:04,455
for road improvement projects at $1.9 million

424
00:20:05,315 --> 00:20:06,695
for our capital plan overall

425
00:20:07,235 --> 00:20:10,975
for FY 27 63 $0.5 million.

426
00:20:14,685 --> 00:20:18,335
Alright, so that's the bulk of the presentation.

427
00:20:18,335 --> 00:20:21,055
There is a lot more information that we have on our website.

428
00:20:21,055 --> 00:20:24,335
There is the web link, you can get into all the details

429
00:20:24,475 --> 00:20:26,375
of all the agencies

430
00:20:26,395 --> 00:20:27,735
and all the line items of the budget

431
00:20:27,755 --> 00:20:28,895
if you choose to look at that.

432
00:20:29,275 --> 00:20:32,455
We also have a nifty handout that our finance team prepared

433
00:20:32,805 --> 00:20:34,095
that shows all the information

434
00:20:34,095 --> 00:20:35,895
that I have in this presentation along

435
00:20:35,895 --> 00:20:37,255
with additional pie charts

436
00:20:37,595 --> 00:20:39,135
and some other information about our

437
00:20:39,135 --> 00:20:40,175
special revenue accounts.

438
00:20:40,175 --> 00:20:42,055
If you want to dig into that, be happy

439
00:20:42,055 --> 00:20:43,055
to answer any questions

440
00:20:43,255 --> 00:20:45,135
after the meeting with any of

441
00:20:45,135 --> 00:20:46,495
that information that is available.

442
00:20:46,595 --> 00:20:48,005
So please if you haven't picked one of those,

443
00:20:48,005 --> 00:20:49,205
upgrade one on the way out

444
00:20:49,205 --> 00:20:53,005
and take it with you for for your reference.

445
00:20:54,995 --> 00:20:58,165
Okay, so I think we, that concludes the presentation.

446
00:20:58,385 --> 00:21:01,045
We can now begin with the public comment period.

447
00:21:01,785 --> 00:21:04,565
So when your name is called, please come up

448
00:21:04,565 --> 00:21:06,965
to the microphone and let us know who you are

449
00:21:06,965 --> 00:21:10,365
and where you live and we'll listen to your testimony.

450
00:21:10,465 --> 00:21:11,725
So Jim, you got the list?

451
00:21:12,085 --> 00:21:15,125
Yes I do. First person on the list is Gregory Gilbert.

452
00:21:19,155 --> 00:21:20,165
Greg? Yes.

453
00:21:20,165 --> 00:21:23,405
Gregory Gilbert. I live 1 0 3 South Liberty Street here.

454
00:21:24,275 --> 00:21:26,765
I've been in resident for 26 years

455
00:21:27,545 --> 00:21:31,165
but I'm speaking today as the president of the board

456
00:21:31,165 --> 00:21:33,325
of trustees of the Queen Annes County Library.

457
00:21:34,325 --> 00:21:35,765
I wanna take this moment to thank you

458
00:21:35,785 --> 00:21:38,445
for your continued support of the library, our services

459
00:21:39,105 --> 00:21:41,765
and staff that we provide to the community.

460
00:21:41,825 --> 00:21:43,405
We especially appreciate the funding

461
00:21:43,465 --> 00:21:45,125
for the new outreach position,

462
00:21:45,125 --> 00:21:48,005
which will help us strengthen connections across the county

463
00:21:48,065 --> 00:21:51,005
and expand access to residents who may not be

464
00:21:51,005 --> 00:21:52,605
otherwise visit our branches.

465
00:21:53,225 --> 00:21:55,565
We also want to thank you for including funding

466
00:21:55,665 --> 00:21:57,205
for the new North County branch.

467
00:21:57,555 --> 00:21:59,445
This project is an important investment

468
00:21:59,545 --> 00:22:01,005
to expand library access

469
00:22:01,505 --> 00:22:04,045
and we are working to gather community input

470
00:22:04,065 --> 00:22:06,525
to ensure new branch reflects the needs

471
00:22:06,625 --> 00:22:08,525
and interests of the local residents.

472
00:22:09,155 --> 00:22:12,925
Finally, if additional funding is available, we ask you

473
00:22:12,925 --> 00:22:15,925
to consider supporting an additional full-time makerspace

474
00:22:16,205 --> 00:22:17,645
position at the Ken Island branch.

475
00:22:18,285 --> 00:22:22,485
Makerspace use has increased by 90% in less than a year,

476
00:22:22,565 --> 00:22:25,805
highlighting the strong demand for these services

477
00:22:26,785 --> 00:22:29,245
and continue providing valuable opportunities

478
00:22:29,305 --> 00:22:31,765
for creativity, technology, education

479
00:22:31,985 --> 00:22:33,205
and workforce development.

480
00:22:33,755 --> 00:22:35,165
Okay, thank you. Thank you.

481
00:22:35,175 --> 00:22:39,165
Thank you. Cliff Coppersmith. The one and the only.

482
00:22:39,705 --> 00:22:41,045
The one and only. There

483
00:22:41,045 --> 00:22:42,045
You go.

484
00:22:42,045 --> 00:22:43,685
Mr. President and members

485
00:22:43,705 --> 00:22:46,245
of the Queen Anne's County Commission on behalf

486
00:22:46,265 --> 00:22:48,445
of the students, faculty and staff at Chesapeake College.

487
00:22:48,505 --> 00:22:50,165
By the way, my name's Cliff Coppersmith,

488
00:22:50,525 --> 00:22:52,045
I live at 1 45 McKinney Lane.

489
00:22:52,405 --> 00:22:54,245
I also happen to be the president of Chesapeake College.

490
00:22:55,045 --> 00:22:57,965
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your approval

491
00:22:57,965 --> 00:23:00,365
of our fiscal year 2027 budget.

492
00:23:01,205 --> 00:23:03,565
Your steadfast support is vital as we continue

493
00:23:03,565 --> 00:23:06,365
to provide high quality accessible education workforce

494
00:23:06,685 --> 00:23:08,725
training to the residents of Queen Annes County

495
00:23:08,725 --> 00:23:09,965
and for our other service counties.

496
00:23:11,025 --> 00:23:13,525
As I reflect on the past eight years of my administration,

497
00:23:13,705 --> 00:23:16,645
I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together.

498
00:23:17,425 --> 00:23:19,245
Our partnership has been the cornerstone

499
00:23:19,265 --> 00:23:21,285
of a transformative era for the college

500
00:23:21,825 --> 00:23:23,805
and through our collective work we have significantly

501
00:23:24,165 --> 00:23:25,325
expanded our reach and

502
00:23:25,425 --> 00:23:27,885
and our impact in workforce innovation.

503
00:23:27,895 --> 00:23:30,085
We've successfully launched enhanced critical programs

504
00:23:30,085 --> 00:23:32,045
and skilled trades and including marine

505
00:23:32,565 --> 00:23:33,965
advanced manufacturing, welding

506
00:23:34,045 --> 00:23:36,405
and metal fabrication construction trades

507
00:23:36,405 --> 00:23:38,445
and our long running health professions portfolio.

508
00:23:39,365 --> 00:23:42,445
Ensuring that our curriculum evolves alongside the

509
00:23:42,445 --> 00:23:43,565
needs of our local economy.

510
00:23:44,335 --> 00:23:46,645
We're modernizing our infrastructure with your support.

511
00:23:46,645 --> 00:23:49,245
We've modernized our facilities including the recent edition

512
00:23:49,245 --> 00:23:50,965
of a state-of-the-art skilled trades lab

513
00:23:51,305 --> 00:23:53,245
and a mobile mobile welding laboratory

514
00:23:53,595 --> 00:23:55,365
that brings training directly to the community,

515
00:23:55,365 --> 00:23:57,125
including its recent deployment to Cambridge

516
00:23:57,125 --> 00:23:58,405
and other locations in our region.

517
00:23:59,175 --> 00:24:00,965
We're also grateful for the regional support

518
00:24:01,765 --> 00:24:04,605
which you have led and successfully obtaining the funding

519
00:24:04,625 --> 00:24:06,205
for the Queen Annes Technology Center.

520
00:24:06,825 --> 00:24:08,965
We are working closely with our CTE directors

521
00:24:08,965 --> 00:24:11,245
and Queen Annes and our other service counties to support,

522
00:24:11,245 --> 00:24:13,725
augment and enhance the workforce program.

523
00:24:13,865 --> 00:24:16,045
We joint support as both K through 12 systems

524
00:24:16,105 --> 00:24:19,445
and as a college the Queen Anne tech building project will

525
00:24:19,445 --> 00:24:20,685
provide a generational resource

526
00:24:20,685 --> 00:24:23,125
for skilled trades instruction for the next 30 years.

527
00:24:23,865 --> 00:24:25,605
And we are executing the design phase

528
00:24:25,605 --> 00:24:28,765
of the pro project even as we speak with construction.

529
00:24:28,765 --> 00:24:31,405
To begin next year, we're expanding access

530
00:24:31,765 --> 00:24:34,045
with our collaboration and strength in dual enrollment

531
00:24:34,045 --> 00:24:36,885
and career articulation agreements, clearing pathways

532
00:24:36,885 --> 00:24:38,045
for Queen Anne County students

533
00:24:38,045 --> 00:24:40,525
to transition seamlessly from high school

534
00:24:40,705 --> 00:24:42,645
to higher education and meaningful careers

535
00:24:43,265 --> 00:24:44,525
and in regional leadership.

536
00:24:44,765 --> 00:24:46,405
Together we've reinforced Chesapeake's role

537
00:24:46,745 --> 00:24:49,085
as a regional hub for innovation, sustainability

538
00:24:49,145 --> 00:24:53,205
and economic growth contributing over $118 million in income

539
00:24:53,205 --> 00:24:54,605
to the local economy annually.

540
00:24:55,315 --> 00:24:58,045
This budget approval is more than a financial commitment,

541
00:24:58,045 --> 00:25:01,445
is a renewal of our shared vision to empower every student

542
00:25:01,505 --> 00:25:03,605
and enrich the vitality of the eastern shore.

543
00:25:03,935 --> 00:25:05,685
Thank you for your continued leadership

544
00:25:06,065 --> 00:25:08,725
and being such dedicated partners in this journey.

545
00:25:09,425 --> 00:25:11,845
As we near the end of the academic year, I invite you all

546
00:25:11,845 --> 00:25:13,685
to attend our May 20th commencement tomorrow

547
00:25:14,315 --> 00:25:16,725
with the trustees reception held in the Dorchester

548
00:25:16,725 --> 00:25:18,325
administration building boardroom,

549
00:25:18,995 --> 00:25:22,285
Tobo County councilwoman Keisha hath will be delivering this

550
00:25:22,285 --> 00:25:25,245
year's commencement address to the class of 2026.

551
00:25:25,865 --> 00:25:27,045
We begin the day with the board

552
00:25:27,045 --> 00:25:29,325
of trustees reception held in the Dorchester administration

553
00:25:29,565 --> 00:25:32,005
building boardroom at 12 with the ceremony beginning at

554
00:25:32,005 --> 00:25:33,405
2:00 PM We'd love to have you there

555
00:25:33,905 --> 00:25:36,285
and again, thank you for your support of Chesapeake College.

556
00:25:36,455 --> 00:25:40,085
Thank you. Thank you. Jennifer Schreiner office.

557
00:25:40,705 --> 00:25:41,705
How you doing?

558
00:25:42,355 --> 00:25:45,085
Good evening everyone. My name is Jennifer Schreckengost.

559
00:25:45,505 --> 00:25:47,165
I'm as resident of Queenstown

560
00:25:47,185 --> 00:25:50,285
but also am honored to serve as the assistant superintendent

561
00:25:50,305 --> 00:25:51,725
of Queen Annes County Public Schools.

562
00:25:52,165 --> 00:25:55,085
I wanna first thank you commissioners for many years

563
00:25:55,305 --> 00:25:58,245
of funding beyond maintenance of effort that has allowed us

564
00:25:58,245 --> 00:26:00,885
to carry on through some challenges that statute and

565
00:26:00,985 --> 00:26:02,965
and legislation have provided our district.

566
00:26:03,225 --> 00:26:05,165
We appreciate that but also wanna thank you

567
00:26:05,165 --> 00:26:07,805
for being our partners because truly we are partners

568
00:26:07,965 --> 00:26:09,125
together in ensuring a stable

569
00:26:09,145 --> 00:26:12,205
and bright future for our children and for our county.

570
00:26:13,015 --> 00:26:16,165
Under Dr. Keebler's leadership, we have been able

571
00:26:16,465 --> 00:26:18,365
to have opportunities to do some,

572
00:26:19,515 --> 00:26:21,485
some growth in our, in our district.

573
00:26:21,485 --> 00:26:23,045
Number one, we have been able

574
00:26:23,045 --> 00:26:24,645
to focus on school improvement.

575
00:26:25,305 --> 00:26:26,405
We also acknowledge

576
00:26:26,405 --> 00:26:28,405
that strong schools require strong leaders

577
00:26:28,585 --> 00:26:32,325
and we have been able to provide leadership development

578
00:26:32,505 --> 00:26:35,125
and professional learning for all staff to ensure

579
00:26:35,125 --> 00:26:36,725
that they have the skills needed to do the work.

580
00:26:37,525 --> 00:26:38,605
I think it's been very clear

581
00:26:38,715 --> 00:26:41,525
that we have prioritized fiscal accountability

582
00:26:41,625 --> 00:26:44,445
and clear communication regarding the way that we allocate

583
00:26:44,445 --> 00:26:47,445
and spend funds identifying accurately what it requires

584
00:26:47,445 --> 00:26:49,205
for us to maintain our current system

585
00:26:49,745 --> 00:26:51,965
and what it might take for us

586
00:26:51,985 --> 00:26:55,125
to enrich our current education system.

587
00:26:56,385 --> 00:26:58,845
So when you consider the responsibilities of a school system

588
00:26:58,845 --> 00:27:03,325
as a house, let's say my room is curriculum

589
00:27:03,325 --> 00:27:05,205
and instruction, but I'd actually like

590
00:27:05,205 --> 00:27:07,565
to consider it the teaching and learning arena

591
00:27:07,565 --> 00:27:09,485
because an awful lot more happens there

592
00:27:10,435 --> 00:27:12,245
than might take place in a small space.

593
00:27:13,305 --> 00:27:15,845
It may seem that our only responsibility is to educate,

594
00:27:15,845 --> 00:27:17,325
but it is far deeper than that.

595
00:27:17,585 --> 00:27:21,005
We understand that no child can learn

596
00:27:21,215 --> 00:27:22,965
until their basic needs are met.

597
00:27:23,225 --> 00:27:24,845
So that is part of our responsibility.

598
00:27:24,905 --> 00:27:27,685
We have to ensure that children arrive in our classrooms

599
00:27:27,685 --> 00:27:29,485
available and ready to learn.

600
00:27:29,665 --> 00:27:33,205
And we do that through funding of our own, through grants

601
00:27:33,385 --> 00:27:35,485
and through partnerships with community resources.

602
00:27:35,485 --> 00:27:37,805
We ensure children have food on the weekends.

603
00:27:37,905 --> 00:27:41,165
We ensure if they need clothing, coats, shoes, toiletries,

604
00:27:41,315 --> 00:27:43,685
that those are provided during holiday seasons.

605
00:27:43,685 --> 00:27:45,245
We have partners who make sure they have gifts,

606
00:27:46,055 --> 00:27:48,805
their medical needs are cared for, vision, dental, all

607
00:27:48,805 --> 00:27:50,525
of those things happen in a community health center.

608
00:27:51,025 --> 00:27:53,565
And we provide wraparound services to families so

609
00:27:53,565 --> 00:27:55,085
that we can decrease stressors

610
00:27:55,185 --> 00:27:57,205
and increase support in the home

611
00:27:57,715 --> 00:27:59,125
once those basic needs are met.

612
00:27:59,125 --> 00:28:00,765
We move on to social emotional learning

613
00:28:01,585 --> 00:28:05,925
and we have a very explicit delivery method of ensuring

614
00:28:05,925 --> 00:28:08,725
that social emotional health is taught in our classrooms.

615
00:28:08,825 --> 00:28:11,045
In addition, it is integrated into every content.

616
00:28:12,345 --> 00:28:14,885
We also have specialized units that focus on

617
00:28:15,645 --> 00:28:18,045
important physical and mental health related concepts,

618
00:28:18,045 --> 00:28:19,365
including signs of suicide.

619
00:28:20,305 --> 00:28:22,605
We make sure every staff member is trained

620
00:28:22,665 --> 00:28:24,765
to identify those signs as well as how

621
00:28:24,765 --> 00:28:25,885
to respond and where to seek help.

622
00:28:26,225 --> 00:28:29,525
And we partner with 10 outside mental health agencies

623
00:28:29,525 --> 00:28:31,085
who come into our schools to provide support.

624
00:28:32,225 --> 00:28:34,285
Yet we are still devastated when we realize

625
00:28:34,405 --> 00:28:36,805
that we've missed something and our teachers

626
00:28:36,865 --> 00:28:39,285
who are expected to teach children

627
00:28:39,825 --> 00:28:42,245
to learn cannot do those things until

628
00:28:42,855 --> 00:28:44,845
those other areas have been met.

629
00:28:45,195 --> 00:28:47,085
Keep going. I have 10 more seconds please. Okay.

630
00:28:47,225 --> 00:28:49,405
It is only after students basic needs are

631
00:28:49,405 --> 00:28:50,485
met that we take your time.

632
00:28:50,585 --> 00:28:51,605
We can begin. Thank you.

633
00:28:52,195 --> 00:28:53,325
Effectively teaching

634
00:28:53,405 --> 00:28:56,325
and learning, we expect teachers to know every child

635
00:28:56,425 --> 00:28:58,845
and to know them so well that they know their strengths

636
00:28:58,845 --> 00:29:03,085
and needs to be able to differentiate instruction every day

637
00:29:03,315 --> 00:29:05,005
with exactly what is required.

638
00:29:05,745 --> 00:29:07,405
Our teachers carry the weight of the world

639
00:29:08,025 --> 00:29:10,565
and knowing the entire child is their responsibility

640
00:29:10,585 --> 00:29:13,885
and every teacher takes that responsibility so seriously.

641
00:29:15,105 --> 00:29:17,125
We also know that our students

642
00:29:17,185 --> 00:29:18,725
for the past few years have not shown the

643
00:29:18,725 --> 00:29:20,005
growth that we would expect.

644
00:29:20,985 --> 00:29:24,365
We do not intend to make excuses or to reduce our efforts.

645
00:29:24,825 --> 00:29:26,845
And please know, regardless of

646
00:29:26,845 --> 00:29:29,285
what you decide about additional funding

647
00:29:29,345 --> 00:29:31,005
for Queen Anne County Public Schools,

648
00:29:31,245 --> 00:29:33,885
I have the utmost confidence that every one of our teachers

649
00:29:33,885 --> 00:29:34,925
and staff will continue

650
00:29:34,925 --> 00:29:37,165
to show up every day giving all they have

651
00:29:37,195 --> 00:29:38,605
because they believe in the work

652
00:29:39,075 --> 00:29:41,205
because they are fully invested in in our

653
00:29:41,325 --> 00:29:42,485
children and our families.

654
00:29:42,705 --> 00:29:45,165
And we hope to protect this public education

655
00:29:45,315 --> 00:29:47,525
institution who we are.

656
00:29:47,705 --> 00:29:49,285
Why we're here isn't going to change.

657
00:29:49,865 --> 00:29:52,045
If you're able to give us additional funding, know

658
00:29:52,045 --> 00:29:54,005
that it will go directly to support schools.

659
00:29:54,145 --> 00:29:57,165
It will increase our human resources to lighten the load

660
00:29:57,165 --> 00:29:59,765
and allow teachers to share these responsibilities

661
00:30:00,525 --> 00:30:03,285
a bit more in an effort to best meet the needs.

662
00:30:03,385 --> 00:30:05,565
Excuse me, meet the needs of every child.

663
00:30:05,915 --> 00:30:07,165
Even when our challenges seem

664
00:30:07,165 --> 00:30:09,245
insurmountable, we will continue.

665
00:30:09,825 --> 00:30:12,205
And so I thank you for your financial support

666
00:30:12,225 --> 00:30:13,325
but also your partnership.

667
00:30:13,685 --> 00:30:14,885
I know we all want the same things.

668
00:30:15,525 --> 00:30:17,005
I thank you for your commitment to the children

669
00:30:17,025 --> 00:30:18,325
and the future of Queen Annes County

670
00:30:18,705 --> 00:30:19,805
and for a little extra time.

671
00:30:20,535 --> 00:30:25,525
Thank you. Thank you. Raymond Bat or up?

672
00:30:28,005 --> 00:30:29,325
Good evening commissioners.

673
00:30:29,325 --> 00:30:32,485
Raymond Aaron Centerville currently serve as the chair

674
00:30:32,545 --> 00:30:37,525
for the volunteer fire in EMS departments in our county.

675
00:30:37,925 --> 00:30:39,565
I wanna thank you for your continued support.

676
00:30:39,705 --> 00:30:40,965
You do it year after year

677
00:30:41,105 --> 00:30:44,645
as the board says it is a partnership with you and us.

678
00:30:46,375 --> 00:30:49,245
Being in this for many, many decades I've seen

679
00:30:50,135 --> 00:30:51,965
ridiculous amounts of increases,

680
00:30:52,365 --> 00:30:55,525
but I've never seen the increases of what costs for us

681
00:30:55,545 --> 00:30:57,125
to do business as we,

682
00:30:57,145 --> 00:30:58,685
as we've seen in the last couple years.

683
00:31:02,135 --> 00:31:05,715
The budget is probably a smidgen of

684
00:31:05,715 --> 00:31:09,515
what it would cost if this were a full career department.

685
00:31:09,575 --> 00:31:12,915
You folks have done studies, I know you have probably

686
00:31:13,655 --> 00:31:17,995
30 million or more to do a minimal coverage

687
00:31:17,995 --> 00:31:21,915
for Queen S County where I want to give our nine departments

688
00:31:21,975 --> 00:31:25,395
and EMS the absolutely best kudos I can give 'em

689
00:31:25,395 --> 00:31:26,875
because they provide one

690
00:31:26,875 --> 00:31:29,195
of the best services I think you can get in the

691
00:31:29,195 --> 00:31:31,795
state if not the nation.

692
00:31:32,405 --> 00:31:35,435
We're dedicated, we're trained, we continue to train.

693
00:31:35,935 --> 00:31:37,035
We want to thank you for the

694
00:31:37,035 --> 00:31:38,475
continued support in the budget.

695
00:31:38,535 --> 00:31:42,475
It helps us do our vo-tech program at Miry, which is out

696
00:31:42,495 --> 00:31:44,675
by the public works building

697
00:31:44,895 --> 00:31:48,795
and factor graduation I think is Thursday night at 5:00 PM

698
00:31:48,895 --> 00:31:51,915
or 7:00 PM If you get to go to see these folks

699
00:31:52,185 --> 00:31:55,475
that have learned during school to now become part

700
00:31:55,475 --> 00:31:57,595
of a workforce that hopefully if they want to get it

701
00:31:57,595 --> 00:32:02,475
as a job, but to continue with the partnership that we have,

702
00:32:02,815 --> 00:32:03,955
we know it's tough.

703
00:32:04,375 --> 00:32:05,475
We thank you for the increase.

704
00:32:06,045 --> 00:32:07,995
We're still gonna keep coming for more and more

705
00:32:07,995 --> 00:32:11,595
because you've heard the numbers of what apparatus costs.

706
00:32:12,215 --> 00:32:13,555
We can't do it with baked sales,

707
00:32:13,615 --> 00:32:15,155
we can't do it with cash bashes.

708
00:32:16,005 --> 00:32:17,755
We're going to have to come to you probably

709
00:32:17,755 --> 00:32:19,075
for a little bit more as time goes.

710
00:32:19,215 --> 00:32:21,235
But for now we're good. We thank you.

711
00:32:22,095 --> 00:32:23,275
And really that's all I wanted

712
00:32:23,275 --> 00:32:24,515
to say with the exception of one more thing.

713
00:32:25,195 --> 00:32:27,635
I would like you to know that we are very much in support

714
00:32:28,055 --> 00:32:31,155
of the extra staffing for the, the, the paramedic unit

715
00:32:31,155 --> 00:32:33,755
to go into Grayson area through DES needed.

716
00:32:33,945 --> 00:32:38,035
Certainly listened to yesterday in about a three hour

717
00:32:38,575 --> 00:32:40,805
period of time it was,

718
00:32:40,945 --> 00:32:42,885
it was almost like we were a pretty good

719
00:32:42,965 --> 00:32:44,045
sized metropolitan area.

720
00:32:44,545 --> 00:32:46,245
So, and that's when you need

721
00:32:46,245 --> 00:32:47,285
it, you know when it hits like that.

722
00:32:47,385 --> 00:32:49,845
So thank you for putting that back in. Keeping it in.

723
00:32:50,265 --> 00:32:53,845
We support D S's budget in that capacity. Thank you. Thank

724
00:32:53,845 --> 00:32:54,845
You.

725
00:32:56,245 --> 00:32:57,245
Carrie. Settle.

726
00:33:02,925 --> 00:33:05,985
Hi everyone. Carrie Sutherland Queenstown

727
00:33:06,045 --> 00:33:08,265
and also a board of education member

728
00:33:09,565 --> 00:33:11,185
for Queen S County public

729
00:33:11,185 --> 00:33:12,985
schools representing district three.

730
00:33:13,375 --> 00:33:15,145
Without hearing Dr.

731
00:33:15,715 --> 00:33:17,385
Reson, knowing what she was gonna talk about,

732
00:33:17,625 --> 00:33:20,305
I can actually skip the first few paragraphs.

733
00:33:21,755 --> 00:33:25,785
Thank you for your continued support and, and

734
00:33:26,325 --> 00:33:28,225
but at the same time I wanna be honest about

735
00:33:28,225 --> 00:33:30,665
where we are financially as a so school system.

736
00:33:31,165 --> 00:33:33,265
The proposed funding does allow us

737
00:33:33,265 --> 00:33:35,705
to maintain our current programs and operations

738
00:33:36,125 --> 00:33:38,345
and we are extremely grateful for that.

739
00:33:38,885 --> 00:33:40,905
But it just allows us to continue doing

740
00:33:40,905 --> 00:33:41,905
what we're already doing.

741
00:33:42,485 --> 00:33:44,985
We know the lack of funding. Sorry, I'm looking at you.

742
00:33:44,985 --> 00:33:47,425
Jack isn't just a county issue.

743
00:33:47,425 --> 00:33:49,265
School systems across Maryland are dealing

744
00:33:49,265 --> 00:33:51,505
with rising costs, increasing mandates

745
00:33:51,505 --> 00:33:52,705
and funding formulas

746
00:33:52,975 --> 00:33:55,945
that don't always match the realities districts are facing.

747
00:33:56,085 --> 00:33:59,025
The state absolutely has a role to play in this conversation

748
00:33:59,485 --> 00:34:01,545
and will continue advocating there as well.

749
00:34:02,125 --> 00:34:04,105
But tonight I wanna focus on a few areas

750
00:34:04,635 --> 00:34:06,865
where additional local investment could make a real

751
00:34:06,865 --> 00:34:09,745
difference for students and staff in Queen Anne County.

752
00:34:10,645 --> 00:34:12,065
One thing that stood out to me

753
00:34:12,465 --> 00:34:14,785
during the school's internal budget discussions was

754
00:34:14,805 --> 00:34:17,305
how consistent the feedback was across the

755
00:34:17,305 --> 00:34:18,385
entire school system.

756
00:34:18,925 --> 00:34:21,505
Administrators, teachers, instructional leaders,

757
00:34:21,535 --> 00:34:23,905
support staff, everyone all agreed

758
00:34:23,905 --> 00:34:26,025
that reading intervention support was one

759
00:34:26,025 --> 00:34:28,025
of the biggest needs we have right now.

760
00:34:28,135 --> 00:34:31,065
When the people working with students every single day are

761
00:34:31,125 --> 00:34:32,825
all identifying the same need,

762
00:34:32,945 --> 00:34:34,385
I think we should listen closely.

763
00:34:35,235 --> 00:34:37,905
Early literacy impacts everything else a student

764
00:34:37,935 --> 00:34:38,945
does academically.

765
00:34:38,945 --> 00:34:41,225
When students struggle to read in the early grades,

766
00:34:41,405 --> 00:34:43,825
it affects every subject area moving forward.

767
00:34:45,085 --> 00:34:48,105
And we're also continuing to see a growing need

768
00:34:48,125 --> 00:34:50,425
for behavioral specialists support

769
00:34:50,685 --> 00:34:52,585
SIS positions in our schools.

770
00:34:53,075 --> 00:34:55,785
These positions are about much more than discipline.

771
00:34:55,785 --> 00:34:58,145
They're about making sure students have the support they

772
00:34:58,145 --> 00:34:59,825
need while also allowing teachers

773
00:34:59,845 --> 00:35:01,345
to stay focused on teaching.

774
00:35:01,755 --> 00:35:03,425
Right now teachers are often trying

775
00:35:03,425 --> 00:35:06,345
to manage significant behavioral challenges while also

776
00:35:06,345 --> 00:35:08,865
keeping instruction moving for the rest of the class.

777
00:35:09,575 --> 00:35:12,465
When we had, when schools would have trained behavioral

778
00:35:12,535 --> 00:35:16,385
support staff and structured in school programs, students

779
00:35:16,565 --> 00:35:19,145
who need additional support have somewhere to go, someone

780
00:35:19,205 --> 00:35:21,665
to work with them and an opportunity to reset

781
00:35:21,765 --> 00:35:23,345
and return to class ready to learn

782
00:35:24,015 --> 00:35:25,745
more support staff means more

783
00:35:25,825 --> 00:35:27,225
instructional time for students.

784
00:35:28,165 --> 00:35:30,665
And after listening to last night's budget discussions,

785
00:35:30,785 --> 00:35:31,825
I also kept thinking about

786
00:35:31,825 --> 00:35:33,425
how much mental health support was

787
00:35:33,705 --> 00:35:35,185
emphasized and rightly so.

788
00:35:35,845 --> 00:35:38,085
One thing I believe is important to recognize is

789
00:35:38,085 --> 00:35:40,805
that additional academic support staff are a

790
00:35:40,805 --> 00:35:41,885
part of that solution.

791
00:35:42,275 --> 00:35:45,325
When we add reading specialists, math, interventionalists,

792
00:35:45,655 --> 00:35:47,245
behavioral specialists

793
00:35:47,345 --> 00:35:50,685
and support staff, we are not only improving academics,

794
00:35:50,685 --> 00:35:51,885
we are creating more time

795
00:35:51,945 --> 00:35:54,405
and space for meaningful student connection.

796
00:35:55,155 --> 00:35:58,365
More staff means teachers have more time to teach, more time

797
00:35:58,365 --> 00:36:01,405
to listen, more time to connect additional support.

798
00:36:01,405 --> 00:36:03,525
Staff can help relieve some of that pressure

799
00:36:03,585 --> 00:36:05,845
so teachers can spend Go ahead Karen.

800
00:36:06,035 --> 00:36:07,325
More quality time with students,

801
00:36:07,415 --> 00:36:10,405
build stronger relationships, recognize concerns earlier

802
00:36:10,865 --> 00:36:12,365
and better support students.

803
00:36:13,845 --> 00:36:16,205
Academic support and mental health support are

804
00:36:16,205 --> 00:36:17,405
not separate conversations.

805
00:36:17,755 --> 00:36:19,005
They work hand in hand

806
00:36:19,105 --> 00:36:21,205
and investing in one strengthens the other.

807
00:36:21,665 --> 00:36:23,805
You asked us last night to give you a plan

808
00:36:24,065 --> 00:36:25,365
and I believe we have one.

809
00:36:25,385 --> 00:36:29,045
The board approved Dr ER's proposed budget which didn't just

810
00:36:29,445 --> 00:36:31,485
maintain our current program and staffing levels,

811
00:36:31,665 --> 00:36:35,125
but it included restoring these much needed academic

812
00:36:35,265 --> 00:36:37,205
and behavioral support positions.

813
00:36:38,005 --> 00:36:40,605
I would simply ask that you consider whether there may be

814
00:36:40,605 --> 00:36:43,045
any additional flexibility within the county budget

815
00:36:43,145 --> 00:36:44,525
to support these positions

816
00:36:44,905 --> 00:36:47,925
and help us move beyond just maintaining our system

817
00:36:48,025 --> 00:36:49,325
and truly strengthen it.

818
00:36:49,825 --> 00:36:51,405
And thank you again for everything.

819
00:36:51,975 --> 00:36:56,045
Thank you. Thanks Tim Pleasant.

820
00:37:06,795 --> 00:37:10,085
This is my first time here. I am a psychotherapist.

821
00:37:10,305 --> 00:37:12,245
I'm new to the area. I've been here since August.

822
00:37:12,305 --> 00:37:14,165
My husband is actually active duty. Where

823
00:37:14,165 --> 00:37:15,165
Where you, where you live At?

824
00:37:15,445 --> 00:37:17,125
I live in Centerville. Okay. Yeah.

825
00:37:17,625 --> 00:37:18,645
So we're looking, me

826
00:37:18,645 --> 00:37:20,885
and my colleague we're looking to put on workshops this

827
00:37:20,885 --> 00:37:23,165
summer for the youth, for middle school and high schoolers.

828
00:37:23,345 --> 00:37:25,645
We were approved with Queen Ends County public schools

829
00:37:25,785 --> 00:37:27,125
to do Centerville Middle School.

830
00:37:27,125 --> 00:37:29,685
So that is squared away for July 7th and eighth.

831
00:37:30,025 --> 00:37:32,485
But we want to reach the community, the body

832
00:37:32,905 --> 00:37:35,645
of students in Queen Annes County all across the counties.

833
00:37:36,115 --> 00:37:37,285
Like the colleague just said,

834
00:37:37,285 --> 00:37:38,885
mental health is extremely important.

835
00:37:39,215 --> 00:37:42,285
Girls are not only cutting between their arms anymore,

836
00:37:42,285 --> 00:37:43,325
they're cutting between their legs.

837
00:37:44,075 --> 00:37:46,125
Boys are becoming more bulimic.

838
00:37:46,455 --> 00:37:49,365
There is more suicide in the minority community as well

839
00:37:49,365 --> 00:37:51,965
as the college Caucasian community.

840
00:37:52,605 --> 00:37:55,845
A lot of under deserved women, young girls are going

841
00:37:55,845 --> 00:37:57,165
to DC having abortions.

842
00:37:57,545 --> 00:37:59,085
So within our private practice we

843
00:37:59,085 --> 00:38:00,245
are licensed with the state of Maryland.

844
00:38:00,265 --> 00:38:02,485
We are in good standing. We are a private practice

845
00:38:02,585 --> 00:38:05,045
and we're looking to expand and offer these services.

846
00:38:05,145 --> 00:38:06,565
So we're looking for partnerships.

847
00:38:07,145 --> 00:38:10,085
We would like to expand more than Centerville Middle School,

848
00:38:10,765 --> 00:38:12,565
but right now we have that squared away

849
00:38:12,665 --> 00:38:14,365
for July 7th and eighth.

850
00:38:14,945 --> 00:38:17,805
We do have some sponsors but we're looking to expand.

851
00:38:17,805 --> 00:38:19,565
We're a private practice, we're starting up,

852
00:38:19,705 --> 00:38:20,845
we have a lot to offer.

853
00:38:21,025 --> 00:38:24,365
I'm training cycle analytical therapy, I'm licensed

854
00:38:24,705 --> 00:38:26,445
and we really wanna serve the area.

855
00:38:26,815 --> 00:38:28,645
Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank

856
00:38:28,645 --> 00:38:29,645
You.

857
00:38:29,645 --> 00:38:29,725
Thank you

858
00:38:32,585 --> 00:38:33,585
Amanda.

859
00:38:43,235 --> 00:38:46,645
Good evening commissioners. My name is Amanda Donofrio.

860
00:38:46,945 --> 00:38:49,125
I'm a Queen Ann County parent, resident

861
00:38:49,145 --> 00:38:52,445
and member of the Q-A-C-P-S

862
00:38:53,165 --> 00:38:54,685
Citizen Advisory Committee.

863
00:38:55,255 --> 00:38:58,205
First I wanna recognize that the county has continued

864
00:38:58,205 --> 00:39:01,125
to invest significantly in education funding

865
00:39:01,175 --> 00:39:03,445
above maintenance of effort, capital planning

866
00:39:03,825 --> 00:39:06,165
and long-term facility projects reflect

867
00:39:06,165 --> 00:39:08,245
that education remains a county priority

868
00:39:08,245 --> 00:39:09,645
and I appreciate that commitment.

869
00:39:10,225 --> 00:39:13,845
My concern tonight is not whether Queen Annes County is

870
00:39:13,845 --> 00:39:15,085
investing in education.

871
00:39:15,305 --> 00:39:18,085
My concern is whether our investments are fully aligned

872
00:39:18,085 --> 00:39:20,205
with the needs that most directly impact

873
00:39:20,565 --> 00:39:22,045
students, educators, and families.

874
00:39:24,305 --> 00:39:26,725
As the Queen Annes County continues to grow

875
00:39:26,725 --> 00:39:30,125
through housing development, tourism business expansion,

876
00:39:30,945 --> 00:39:33,845
our public infrastructure must keep pace

877
00:39:34,545 --> 00:39:36,805
and schools are among the most important

878
00:39:36,805 --> 00:39:38,285
infrastructure we have.

879
00:39:38,395 --> 00:39:41,165
They're not simply buildings, they're the foundation

880
00:39:41,185 --> 00:39:45,805
of workforce readiness, family stability, economic growth,

881
00:39:45,825 --> 00:39:47,685
and long-term community health.

882
00:39:49,885 --> 00:39:54,165
Maryland's blueprint has increased expectations in school

883
00:39:54,165 --> 00:39:57,405
systems, literacy, growth, math, performance intervention,

884
00:39:57,745 --> 00:39:58,965
mental health support

885
00:39:59,305 --> 00:40:00,845
and career readiness, as well

886
00:40:00,845 --> 00:40:03,005
as teacher retention and accountability.

887
00:40:03,655 --> 00:40:04,805
Those are worthy goals,

888
00:40:05,305 --> 00:40:07,485
but the goals require more than compliance.

889
00:40:08,195 --> 00:40:11,725
They require stable staffing, strong support systems

890
00:40:12,305 --> 00:40:14,715
and strategic investment.

891
00:40:15,735 --> 00:40:19,275
Public reviews involving QA CPS

892
00:40:20,795 --> 00:40:22,475
educators identified concerns around

893
00:40:23,785 --> 00:40:26,315
instructional resource constraints,

894
00:40:26,825 --> 00:40:28,395
reduced coaching support,

895
00:40:28,815 --> 00:40:32,595
and the need for stronger consistency in academic support.

896
00:40:33,085 --> 00:40:35,795
Those concerns matter because staffing

897
00:40:35,795 --> 00:40:39,075
and intervention directly affect student outcomes.

898
00:40:39,975 --> 00:40:43,715
We know support staff matter, reading specialists matter,

899
00:40:44,025 --> 00:40:47,435
math intervention matters, student support services matter

900
00:40:47,495 --> 00:40:49,075
and teacher retention matters

901
00:40:49,585 --> 00:40:52,795
because when support systems are stretched thin,

902
00:40:53,015 --> 00:40:54,195
the students feel it.

903
00:40:55,335 --> 00:40:57,595
But this is not only about academics,

904
00:40:57,625 --> 00:41:00,035
it's also about daily learning conditions.

905
00:41:01,315 --> 00:41:03,635
Families continue to raise concerns about recurring

906
00:41:03,755 --> 00:41:06,995
classroom heat and cooling issues, particularly at CES

907
00:41:07,005 --> 00:41:09,355
where classroom conditions during periods

908
00:41:09,355 --> 00:41:12,635
of high temperature have raised ongoing concerns about

909
00:41:12,635 --> 00:41:14,155
comfort learning

910
00:41:14,255 --> 00:41:15,595
and the overall environment

911
00:41:15,595 --> 00:41:17,475
for both our students and our educators.

912
00:41:18,825 --> 00:41:20,275
When children are trying to learn

913
00:41:20,815 --> 00:41:22,435
in an overheated classrooms

914
00:41:22,495 --> 00:41:25,355
and educators are trying to teach in those same conditions,

915
00:41:25,465 --> 00:41:26,795
it's not a faculty issue.

916
00:41:26,825 --> 00:41:28,475
It's a student centered issue.

917
00:41:28,975 --> 00:41:31,835
And it reminds us that infrastructure is not only about

918
00:41:31,835 --> 00:41:33,645
future product projects,

919
00:41:33,665 --> 00:41:36,405
it is also about whether the learning environments we

920
00:41:36,405 --> 00:41:39,285
already have are consistently safe,

921
00:41:39,435 --> 00:41:40,845
effective, and supportive.

922
00:41:41,345 --> 00:41:42,405
And at the same time,

923
00:41:42,505 --> 00:41:45,325
our community has also seen difficult conversations

924
00:41:45,545 --> 00:41:48,005
around facilities, staffing, uncertainty

925
00:41:48,265 --> 00:41:50,845
and reten reductions in force.

926
00:41:51,215 --> 00:41:54,445
These issues affect morale, they affect con

927
00:41:56,055 --> 00:41:58,445
continuity and they affect trust

928
00:41:58,545 --> 00:42:01,525
and they affect the district's ability to recruit

929
00:42:01,525 --> 00:42:04,525
and retain strong educators and support staff.

930
00:42:04,825 --> 00:42:07,565
We know that investment can make a difference,

931
00:42:09,615 --> 00:42:12,165
which is why the sustained support matters.

932
00:42:12,505 --> 00:42:15,645
And our current superintendent is working to strengthen that

933
00:42:16,105 --> 00:42:19,165
and they need a little bit more

934
00:42:19,265 --> 00:42:21,325
and I, I'm sorry to bring it to you

935
00:42:21,545 --> 00:42:23,525
but I will also bring it to the state.

936
00:42:23,585 --> 00:42:28,205
But I know your ears are listening more intently than theirs

937
00:42:28,205 --> 00:42:29,565
are at the moment.

938
00:42:30,295 --> 00:42:31,805
Thank you for your time. Thank

939
00:42:31,805 --> 00:42:32,325
You. Thank you.

940
00:42:32,665 --> 00:42:33,725
That's all that signed up.

941
00:42:33,725 --> 00:42:37,045
Would anyone else like to speak Mr. Faus?

942
00:42:41,675 --> 00:42:42,685
Good evening Commissioners.

943
00:42:42,955 --> 00:42:46,165
Bill faus, Sellersville Life re lifetime resident

944
00:42:46,165 --> 00:42:47,605
of SU Queens County County.

945
00:42:48,725 --> 00:42:51,725
I was the previous chairman of the FIRE

946
00:42:51,725 --> 00:42:53,285
and EMS commission for Queen Anne County.

947
00:42:55,665 --> 00:42:57,165
Now I'm first vice president

948
00:42:57,165 --> 00:42:59,005
of Maryland State Firefighters Association.

949
00:42:59,985 --> 00:43:02,285
And I have two reasons to be here.

950
00:43:02,285 --> 00:43:04,685
Number one, as far as the county fire

951
00:43:04,685 --> 00:43:06,765
and EMS goes, thank you very much

952
00:43:06,785 --> 00:43:09,685
for your continued support throughout all the years when I

953
00:43:09,685 --> 00:43:10,965
was chair and now with Raymond

954
00:43:11,065 --> 00:43:14,405
and all you, you really don't know how far that goes.

955
00:43:15,205 --> 00:43:16,405
I travel the state now.

956
00:43:16,545 --> 00:43:19,485
I'm not just in the county with nine departments.

957
00:43:19,725 --> 00:43:22,245
I have 365 that I tried to get to

958
00:43:24,705 --> 00:43:28,125
and it is reassuring

959
00:43:28,595 --> 00:43:30,925
that Queen Es county is one of the best as far

960
00:43:30,925 --> 00:43:32,205
as supporting their volunteers.

961
00:43:33,395 --> 00:43:34,825
There are some counties out there

962
00:43:34,935 --> 00:43:37,745
that get $60,000 per company

963
00:43:39,055 --> 00:43:41,075
and that's it from the government.

964
00:43:42,535 --> 00:43:46,115
And you try to buy a $1.1 million fire truck

965
00:43:46,935 --> 00:43:50,155
or you try to fix your station up, you can't do it.

966
00:43:50,705 --> 00:43:54,355
Whereas here we, we could use more money.

967
00:43:54,415 --> 00:43:57,435
We, like Raymond said, the bake sales and all account.

968
00:43:57,695 --> 00:44:00,715
But when you go from when I first started

969
00:44:00,775 --> 00:44:03,395
as the FEC chair 15 years ago,

970
00:44:04,075 --> 00:44:06,035
a firetruck cost $400,000.

971
00:44:07,105 --> 00:44:10,605
The same firetruck right now costs 1.1 million a ladder,

972
00:44:10,615 --> 00:44:15,445
truck tower, whatever you, you know, that's over $2 million

973
00:44:15,905 --> 00:44:17,525
and it takes two to three years to get it.

974
00:44:18,545 --> 00:44:20,435
So we had to pre-plan ahead of time.

975
00:44:21,415 --> 00:44:25,035
So again, I want to thank you for your support

976
00:44:25,035 --> 00:44:26,395
of all the fire companies in the county.

977
00:44:27,015 --> 00:44:28,915
And on a personal note, I wanna thank you

978
00:44:29,135 --> 00:44:30,995
for your continued support of me.

979
00:44:31,100 --> 00:44:34,325
Me as I go through the chairs and I hate to say it

980
00:44:34,325 --> 00:44:36,725
but I wish you could be for my installation,

981
00:44:36,945 --> 00:44:40,925
but as Commissioner Wilson pointed out, that's the primary.

982
00:44:41,945 --> 00:44:43,965
So it's June 23rd, so,

983
00:44:44,425 --> 00:44:47,125
but I do get nominated on the 22nd.

984
00:44:47,305 --> 00:44:48,485
So if somebody wants to come down

985
00:44:48,485 --> 00:44:51,205
during the day, I'm more than welcome. Hey Bill,

986
00:44:51,305 --> 00:44:54,525
On the 23rd where you're, you're being officially inducted

987
00:44:54,525 --> 00:44:55,805
In Yes, As the

988
00:44:55,805 --> 00:44:56,805
President.

989
00:44:56,805 --> 00:44:57,685
As president of the Maryland State Farm.

990
00:44:57,755 --> 00:45:00,485
Where's that taking place? Ocean City at the convention.

991
00:45:00,675 --> 00:45:01,965
Send me some information on it.

992
00:45:02,315 --> 00:45:05,445
Okay, I appreciate that. And the 22nd

993
00:45:05,445 --> 00:45:06,485
Would be at Ocean City

994
00:45:06,485 --> 00:45:08,405
Also 22nd at Ocean City in the morning.

995
00:45:08,945 --> 00:45:13,005
And that's where, what time? I'd say 10 o'clock.

996
00:45:14,305 --> 00:45:17,005
But that's where they get you to get some up to,

997
00:45:17,145 --> 00:45:19,205
to nominate you and then call out all the seconds.

998
00:45:19,205 --> 00:45:21,765
Then you march around the thing

999
00:45:21,765 --> 00:45:22,885
with a ban and all that stuff.

1000
00:45:22,985 --> 00:45:27,325
But the election or the installation is Tuesday night.

1001
00:45:28,185 --> 00:45:30,845
We had a helicopter. Again, thank you gentlemen

1002
00:45:30,845 --> 00:45:32,365
for all your support and ladies

1003
00:45:32,365 --> 00:45:33,765
and gentlemen, I just wanna speak to you.

1004
00:45:35,575 --> 00:45:37,405
These guys do everything in the world they can

1005
00:45:37,945 --> 00:45:42,245
to support the fire departments and and the board education.

1006
00:45:42,425 --> 00:45:46,645
My mother was president of the board when I graduated, so

1007
00:45:47,305 --> 00:45:48,525
that's been a long time ago.

1008
00:45:49,225 --> 00:45:50,725
Almost as long as I've known Mr. Wilson.

1009
00:45:50,945 --> 00:45:53,685
But I just wanna thank everybody. Thank you. Thank you Bill.

1010
00:45:54,235 --> 00:45:57,085
Best of luck to you. Would anybody else like

1011
00:45:57,085 --> 00:46:00,165
to speak? Okay,

1012
00:46:00,545 --> 00:46:02,645
Why not Mr. Wilson?

1013
00:46:06,915 --> 00:46:09,925
Tonight we're talking about the county budget.

1014
00:46:10,585 --> 00:46:14,525
The county budget is the plan that the county has for the

1015
00:46:15,355 --> 00:46:18,245
next year, the future upcoming year.

1016
00:46:19,105 --> 00:46:23,365
But the county would be benefited by a consideration

1017
00:46:23,945 --> 00:46:28,005
of the time out beyond that particular framework.

1018
00:46:30,595 --> 00:46:32,405
This is not meant as a criticism

1019
00:46:32,505 --> 00:46:35,645
of the government proceedings as we've got 'em at this time,

1020
00:46:36,265 --> 00:46:39,325
but, but it would be constructive

1021
00:46:39,325 --> 00:46:40,365
and good for the county

1022
00:46:40,945 --> 00:46:43,725
to start looking at the the longer future.

1023
00:46:44,945 --> 00:46:46,725
I'm gonna give two examples of this.

1024
00:46:46,865 --> 00:46:51,765
One of them is, excuse me, with the

1025
00:46:52,515 --> 00:46:54,565
slow down of development on Kent Island.

1026
00:46:54,705 --> 00:46:56,965
As a result of the sewer development,

1027
00:46:57,325 --> 00:46:59,205
pressure is gonna move up into the county

1028
00:47:00,105 --> 00:47:03,085
and it's gonna particularly concentrate in the

1029
00:47:03,175 --> 00:47:04,685
towns Centerville.

1030
00:47:04,755 --> 00:47:09,365
This, our county seat here has been in financial disarray

1031
00:47:09,385 --> 00:47:11,525
and confusion for half a dozen years.

1032
00:47:12,195 --> 00:47:15,925
It's really time that the county invested some both money

1033
00:47:16,185 --> 00:47:19,485
and intellectual energy in getting

1034
00:47:20,425 --> 00:47:22,645
the situation of this town straightened out.

1035
00:47:22,995 --> 00:47:25,525
Because as that pressure comes up here,

1036
00:47:26,345 --> 00:47:28,445
it could involve the town in making some

1037
00:47:28,445 --> 00:47:29,685
really bad decisions.

1038
00:47:29,885 --> 00:47:33,485
I think what we do not want to have happen here is

1039
00:47:33,505 --> 00:47:36,965
for Centerville to turn into a sort of minor version of

1040
00:47:37,625 --> 00:47:39,365
of Middletown, Delaware,

1041
00:47:39,375 --> 00:47:43,365
which 25, 35 years ago the population

1042
00:47:43,365 --> 00:47:45,565
of Middletown was 3000.

1043
00:47:45,635 --> 00:47:47,165
It's now 28,000.

1044
00:47:47,715 --> 00:47:50,805
It's filled with crime, it's ugly, it's a,

1045
00:47:51,195 --> 00:47:53,805
it's just ruined the kind of feeling of the town.

1046
00:47:54,545 --> 00:47:58,645
And in paying for county infrastructure

1047
00:47:58,705 --> 00:48:01,525
or excuse me, in paying for the town infrastructure,

1048
00:48:02,485 --> 00:48:06,485
I think the county, it would benefit the entire benefit,

1049
00:48:06,945 --> 00:48:09,885
the entire wellbeing of the county to help with Centerville.

1050
00:48:10,505 --> 00:48:11,885
So that's one subject,

1051
00:48:12,465 --> 00:48:16,725
but a second one I think we ought to be looking at is the

1052
00:48:17,325 --> 00:48:20,845
upcoming impact of AI in this community.

1053
00:48:21,865 --> 00:48:23,125
AI is a big deal

1054
00:48:23,465 --> 00:48:26,685
and it's gonna be a bigger deal even than people now

1055
00:48:26,895 --> 00:48:31,405
anticipate the, the impact it'll have

1056
00:48:31,425 --> 00:48:33,325
and it's gonna strike the county in a

1057
00:48:33,325 --> 00:48:34,445
variety of different ways.

1058
00:48:36,085 --> 00:48:40,205
Particularly it will hit things, those points of the county

1059
00:48:41,475 --> 00:48:45,725
operation having to do with communication like libraries,

1060
00:48:46,115 --> 00:48:50,325
schools, the dispatch system.

1061
00:48:50,665 --> 00:48:53,565
All of these things are gonna be changed in the next 10

1062
00:48:53,565 --> 00:48:54,925
years because of ai.

1063
00:48:55,845 --> 00:48:59,285
I point out with schools for instance, I think right now

1064
00:48:59,805 --> 00:49:04,725
building a school which is currently

1065
00:49:04,795 --> 00:49:09,045
modeled on 28 room classrooms, 28 person classrooms,

1066
00:49:09,795 --> 00:49:13,445
it's very likely to be changing in the next 10 years

1067
00:49:13,625 --> 00:49:16,405
to a much different modular framework.

1068
00:49:16,785 --> 00:49:20,125
So that I would keep, I would keep the flexibility

1069
00:49:20,265 --> 00:49:24,525
of those plans well in mind before I settled on a, on a plan

1070
00:49:24,525 --> 00:49:26,285
because AI's gonna change it,

1071
00:49:26,675 --> 00:49:28,245
it's gonna change a lot of things.

1072
00:49:28,355 --> 00:49:30,605
It's gonna change the way libraries work

1073
00:49:31,385 --> 00:49:35,565
and all those kind of outlooks that are in our future.

1074
00:49:36,185 --> 00:49:38,165
The county should be looking ahead

1075
00:49:38,225 --> 00:49:40,965
and not not get itself committed into a 40

1076
00:49:41,595 --> 00:49:45,565
year long development that it's only gonna be practical

1077
00:49:45,585 --> 00:49:47,005
for seven years or something.

1078
00:49:47,645 --> 00:49:50,285
'cause these things are gonna be very rapidly changing.

1079
00:49:51,205 --> 00:49:54,685
I don't look at the displacement of labor in the system

1080
00:49:54,825 --> 00:49:56,045
as damaging.

1081
00:49:56,155 --> 00:49:58,285
It's not gonna be a displacement.

1082
00:49:58,915 --> 00:50:01,645
Last night there was a long discussion about

1083
00:50:02,975 --> 00:50:04,325
child development

1084
00:50:04,505 --> 00:50:07,085
and the problems of counseling and mental health.

1085
00:50:07,885 --> 00:50:11,005
I think AI's gonna provide a tremendous, I didn't want

1086
00:50:11,005 --> 00:50:15,245
to get in that discussion, ran out of dimension last night.

1087
00:50:16,065 --> 00:50:20,765
But AI is gonna provide an enormous capacity

1088
00:50:21,265 --> 00:50:25,565
to displace certain activities in school and education

1089
00:50:26,065 --> 00:50:27,645
and allow humans to

1090
00:50:28,185 --> 00:50:30,805
create a much better environment for mental health.

1091
00:50:31,305 --> 00:50:33,525
And in itself it may create mental health

1092
00:50:33,785 --> 00:50:36,525
and in itself it's gonna be an enormous agent

1093
00:50:36,985 --> 00:50:38,085
for training people.

1094
00:50:38,755 --> 00:50:41,725
It's also gonna be able to monitor activities in ways

1095
00:50:41,725 --> 00:50:45,845
that we never would have the labor and capacity to do now.

1096
00:50:46,265 --> 00:50:48,565
But that's gonna be different so that

1097
00:50:49,945 --> 00:50:53,525
the future we're talking about is not depressing.

1098
00:50:53,595 --> 00:50:57,125
It's not, things are getting worse correctly handled.

1099
00:50:57,125 --> 00:50:58,845
They're gonna get better because of this

1100
00:50:58,865 --> 00:51:01,005
and this county should quickly come

1101
00:51:01,005 --> 00:51:03,685
to understand how it can use it. Thanks.

1102
00:51:04,215 --> 00:51:06,205
Thank you. Anybody else?

1103
00:51:08,395 --> 00:51:10,645
Alright, we're gonna go ahead and close this

1104
00:51:10,745 --> 00:51:13,525
and we'll do some commissioner comments.

1105
00:51:13,945 --> 00:51:16,125
Who wants, how about you Chris, you start first.

1106
00:51:17,085 --> 00:51:18,725
Yeah, backwards. I got a com.

1107
00:51:18,785 --> 00:51:23,565
We had a, at the hearing yesterday, an individual

1108
00:51:23,625 --> 00:51:27,405
who came and spoke very well about

1109
00:51:28,365 --> 00:51:29,445
a tax cut that he believed

1110
00:51:29,445 --> 00:51:30,845
that they were doing in Talbot County.

1111
00:51:32,065 --> 00:51:33,645
And I didn't have the numbers in front of me,

1112
00:51:33,705 --> 00:51:36,005
but it didn't strike me as accurate

1113
00:51:36,005 --> 00:51:37,205
because it was a pretty significant

1114
00:51:37,345 --> 00:51:38,885
cut to the property taxes.

1115
00:51:38,985 --> 00:51:40,165
And he was suggesting that we should do

1116
00:51:40,165 --> 00:51:42,485
that here in Queen Anne County, which we would love

1117
00:51:42,485 --> 00:51:45,205
to do if you could figure out a way to make everything else

1118
00:51:45,915 --> 00:51:47,285
work at that co.

1119
00:51:47,305 --> 00:51:48,725
But the number he gave us wrong,

1120
00:51:49,145 --> 00:51:52,205
so I think he said they were at 67 cents

1121
00:51:53,305 --> 00:51:54,445
for the property tax rate.

1122
00:51:55,245 --> 00:51:58,365
They're above 80, which is what we have in our chart.

1123
00:51:58,725 --> 00:51:59,925
I think what he was doing

1124
00:52:00,925 --> 00:52:03,245
innocently enough is he was looking at a 2023 rate

1125
00:52:03,705 --> 00:52:07,405
and unfortunately things have gotten a lot more expensive

1126
00:52:08,015 --> 00:52:11,885
since then from everything from the, the cost to heat

1127
00:52:11,885 --> 00:52:15,245
and cool school buildings and county buildings to the cost

1128
00:52:15,245 --> 00:52:17,725
to fix and build Thingss Corwin.

1129
00:52:18,385 --> 00:52:21,485
So that was an inaccurate number that was shared last night.

1130
00:52:22,245 --> 00:52:24,005
So anybody who watched that and was curious as

1131
00:52:24,005 --> 00:52:25,845
to why we're not following Talbot,

1132
00:52:26,385 --> 00:52:29,405
we are still lower than Talbot County in property tax rates.

1133
00:52:29,525 --> 00:52:30,805
I just wanted to point that out

1134
00:52:30,805 --> 00:52:32,125
to make sure we got the right information out there.

1135
00:52:32,255 --> 00:52:33,365
Thank you Phil.

1136
00:52:35,595 --> 00:52:38,685
Yeah, so last night this is the,

1137
00:52:39,065 --> 00:52:41,245
the wonderful thing about having these

1138
00:52:41,265 --> 00:52:43,605
and the opportunity to have 'em three separate nights in a

1139
00:52:43,605 --> 00:52:45,885
row across the county to make sure everybody has an

1140
00:52:45,885 --> 00:52:46,965
opportunity to attend.

1141
00:52:47,865 --> 00:52:50,965
But it was certainly an interesting

1142
00:52:51,885 --> 00:52:55,285
conversation topic that formed last night

1143
00:52:55,435 --> 00:52:56,445
regarding mental health

1144
00:52:56,545 --> 00:52:58,125
and the effect that it has on our children.

1145
00:52:58,705 --> 00:53:01,485
And, and Carrie Sutherland's comments about

1146
00:53:01,865 --> 00:53:05,885
how it's important that our kids are healthy mentally

1147
00:53:06,065 --> 00:53:08,205
and physically so that they can learn.

1148
00:53:08,945 --> 00:53:13,245
So it didn't fall on deaf ears thought about it a lot

1149
00:53:13,245 --> 00:53:14,485
over the last 24 hours.

1150
00:53:14,905 --> 00:53:18,965
So I just want to just mention that, that,

1151
00:53:19,195 --> 00:53:20,885
that we appreciate everybody's efforts

1152
00:53:20,945 --> 00:53:22,045
to bring that to our attention.

1153
00:53:24,735 --> 00:53:26,085
Thank you Patrick,

1154
00:53:28,165 --> 00:53:31,565
Jennifer and, and Carrie you had mentioned BHA

1155
00:53:31,625 --> 00:53:35,325
or behavioral health folks and counselors.

1156
00:53:38,685 --> 00:53:42,905
How many are you talking about? How many are you short?

1157
00:53:45,085 --> 00:53:47,545
How many counselors are you short in our schools?

1158
00:53:48,115 --> 00:53:50,945
Definitely a question for Probably, sorry Dr.

1159
00:53:51,665 --> 00:53:55,745
I'm sorry for someone else that I,

1160
00:53:55,905 --> 00:53:56,985
I wouldn't say we are short,

1161
00:53:57,365 --> 00:53:59,545
but we could certainly benefit from more.

1162
00:54:01,035 --> 00:54:02,165
What, what, what does that mean?

1163
00:54:03,475 --> 00:54:06,365
That means that if they had a math specialist

1164
00:54:06,365 --> 00:54:07,845
and a reading specialist for every single

1165
00:54:07,845 --> 00:54:08,925
school, they don't anymore.

1166
00:54:09,475 --> 00:54:10,765
They probably have a math

1167
00:54:10,765 --> 00:54:12,765
and reading specialist that has the responsibility

1168
00:54:12,765 --> 00:54:14,165
of two schools instead of one.

1169
00:54:14,585 --> 00:54:16,045
So they're having to do twice the work.

1170
00:54:16,425 --> 00:54:18,885
So when you have situations like that sometimes

1171
00:54:19,935 --> 00:54:21,565
needs fall between the cracks.

1172
00:54:21,985 --> 00:54:25,245
You know, we have, our math numbers have

1173
00:54:26,395 --> 00:54:29,605
have been the lowest they've been in a long time and

1174
00:54:29,625 --> 00:54:34,245
and obviously that is a direct event caused

1175
00:54:34,345 --> 00:54:37,885
by the fact that we've had to reduce the number of special

1176
00:54:39,605 --> 00:54:42,325
teachers that can work with the kids in smaller groups on a

1177
00:54:42,325 --> 00:54:43,885
one-on-one basis for math and reading.

1178
00:54:43,935 --> 00:54:46,165
Let's face it, you can't learn if you can't read.

1179
00:54:47,765 --> 00:54:49,225
So I was talking about basically that's,

1180
00:54:49,345 --> 00:54:50,945
I was talking about behavioral health, but that's okay.

1181
00:54:51,745 --> 00:54:52,985
I appreciate that. Anyhow,

1182
00:54:58,445 --> 00:55:03,175
I'm gonna mention what Jack Wilson has said

1183
00:55:03,195 --> 00:55:05,455
for three years that I've been sitting, sitting here.

1184
00:55:06,075 --> 00:55:09,935
The first off, we're gonna listen and we're gonna talk.

1185
00:55:11,355 --> 00:55:15,375
The biggest the most listened to folks

1186
00:55:15,995 --> 00:55:17,495
in Annapolis is the teacher's union.

1187
00:55:18,815 --> 00:55:22,915
And we've asked for the three years that I've been here,

1188
00:55:23,815 --> 00:55:26,315
if the teachers, you, if the teachers would go

1189
00:55:26,335 --> 00:55:28,035
to Annapolis, right?

1190
00:55:29,015 --> 00:55:31,995
And ask for the funding that

1191
00:55:33,055 --> 00:55:34,835
the state promised to the counties.

1192
00:55:36,085 --> 00:55:38,235
Folks are very powerful in Annapolis

1193
00:55:38,495 --> 00:55:40,675
and we're gonna, we're asking you to do it again

1194
00:55:41,175 --> 00:55:43,755
to support us so we can support you.

1195
00:55:44,855 --> 00:55:47,115
And we don't seem to,

1196
00:55:47,855 --> 00:55:50,035
and I know it's not you, you may not be in the union,

1197
00:55:51,095 --> 00:55:53,115
but we like the union, we love the teachers.

1198
00:55:53,165 --> 00:55:55,835
We're just asking for help so we can help each other.

1199
00:55:58,435 --> 00:56:00,835
I just like to say I really like the people in Centerville.

1200
00:56:01,755 --> 00:56:03,115
I think they got good management.

1201
00:56:07,525 --> 00:56:10,255
Well done. Thank you Jack,

1202
00:56:10,595 --> 00:56:11,735
You wanna go first tonight?

1203
00:56:11,735 --> 00:56:13,935
So you get to talk or do you want We have dialogue out all I

1204
00:56:14,055 --> 00:56:15,975
I, I have a lot to unpack and I'm always the bad guy

1205
00:56:16,095 --> 00:56:18,015
'cause I always gotta look at education

1206
00:56:18,015 --> 00:56:20,135
because quite frankly the

1207
00:56:20,975 --> 00:56:22,375
'cause I sat on curl when it's been a

1208
00:56:22,375 --> 00:56:23,525
passion since I sat on it.

1209
00:56:23,585 --> 00:56:24,645
So I've studied it.

1210
00:56:24,915 --> 00:56:27,045
I've looked at inside and out and,

1211
00:56:27,065 --> 00:56:28,925
and I, what I want to do is, is kind

1212
00:56:28,925 --> 00:56:31,805
of back into a few things so that the general public

1213
00:56:31,805 --> 00:56:33,365
that don't understand some of the things

1214
00:56:33,365 --> 00:56:35,685
that are in it can understand it and it's real simple.

1215
00:56:36,735 --> 00:56:38,205
First I want to talk to the state

1216
00:56:38,205 --> 00:56:39,565
budget going into next year.

1217
00:56:39,575 --> 00:56:42,445
Right now the projected budget with revenues and

1218
00:56:42,445 --> 00:56:45,965
and expenses going next year has got about a $2.2 billion

1219
00:56:46,795 --> 00:56:49,005
deficit before they drop the gavel.

1220
00:56:49,825 --> 00:56:51,325
Mainly from Carwin

1221
00:56:51,845 --> 00:56:53,685
because the state's piggy bank, for those

1222
00:56:53,685 --> 00:56:55,325
that don't know the trust fund is empty.

1223
00:56:55,795 --> 00:56:58,605
Next year is the first year that the state will have

1224
00:56:58,605 --> 00:57:01,445
to go into the general fund to fund education

1225
00:57:01,545 --> 00:57:02,805
for the first time in four years.

1226
00:57:02,805 --> 00:57:06,405
Because when they did the gambling revenue

1227
00:57:06,505 --> 00:57:08,765
and we put it in a lockbox, they've been taking outta

1228
00:57:08,765 --> 00:57:11,205
that lockbox to fund their portion of wyn.

1229
00:57:11,275 --> 00:57:14,485
Meanwhile, the counties have had to come up with other means

1230
00:57:14,585 --> 00:57:16,565
of funding the difference for curwin.

1231
00:57:17,185 --> 00:57:19,445
So next year that piggy bank's empty

1232
00:57:19,705 --> 00:57:22,365
and there's not enough couch cushions, you can turn over

1233
00:57:22,365 --> 00:57:23,525
and find nickels under there.

1234
00:57:23,525 --> 00:57:25,285
That's gonna make up that 2.2 billion.

1235
00:57:25,625 --> 00:57:27,525
The other big impact is the,

1236
00:57:27,525 --> 00:57:29,405
and I said it last night, is a Medicaid expansion

1237
00:57:29,945 --> 00:57:33,445
for the state is another huge hit that they're facing.

1238
00:57:33,785 --> 00:57:37,325
So they have that let's, let's call it, that's their deficit

1239
00:57:37,465 --> 00:57:39,845
before they try to figure out some magic to fix that.

1240
00:57:40,995 --> 00:57:42,965
Part of the way they've been fixing it in the last couple

1241
00:57:42,965 --> 00:57:45,845
years, and you've probably heard it, is they have pushed

1242
00:57:46,445 --> 00:57:48,045
expenses down to the county.

1243
00:57:49,465 --> 00:57:50,645
One of the biggest ones. And I

1244
00:57:50,645 --> 00:57:51,885
and I, I was talking to somebody last night

1245
00:57:51,885 --> 00:57:53,965
and it didn't dawn on me that I meant

1246
00:57:53,965 --> 00:57:56,245
to say something about it probably six months ago when it

1247
00:57:56,245 --> 00:57:59,565
really came to my head of what happened, how many here

1248
00:58:00,145 --> 00:58:02,805
are just upset at what their assessments

1249
00:58:02,805 --> 00:58:05,125
for their houses were when they've come in in the last

1250
00:58:05,145 --> 00:58:06,285
two or three years, right?

1251
00:58:08,185 --> 00:58:11,645
It was the easiest budget gap closure

1252
00:58:12,275 --> 00:58:14,165
that the state could do without anybody

1253
00:58:14,165 --> 00:58:15,325
realizing they were doing it.

1254
00:58:15,945 --> 00:58:18,285
If I take your state assessment up on your property taxes,

1255
00:58:18,285 --> 00:58:20,965
30%, you don't see it till after it's paid.

1256
00:58:21,545 --> 00:58:23,165
But that closed a lot of that budget gap

1257
00:58:23,165 --> 00:58:24,965
that they were trying to get down.

1258
00:58:25,155 --> 00:58:27,765
Meanwhile, down at the county level, we're all absorbing

1259
00:58:27,765 --> 00:58:29,165
that through property taxes

1260
00:58:29,225 --> 00:58:32,285
and wondering how did my house go up $200,000 in one year?

1261
00:58:32,435 --> 00:58:33,925
It's ridiculous. Can't happen. Right?

1262
00:58:36,085 --> 00:58:37,765
I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again next year.

1263
00:58:37,765 --> 00:58:39,165
Quite frankly. Here we are looking at

1264
00:58:39,165 --> 00:58:40,205
another big budget deficit.

1265
00:58:40,555 --> 00:58:44,285
They also put all of the cost

1266
00:58:44,665 --> 00:58:47,485
to assess said houses down to the counties to pay for.

1267
00:58:47,485 --> 00:58:50,285
Guess how much say we have in SDA? Zero.

1268
00:58:51,065 --> 00:58:53,845
We pay for a service that we have zero control over

1269
00:58:53,845 --> 00:58:54,845
and zero say in.

1270
00:58:55,475 --> 00:58:56,885
Does that make sense to anybody?

1271
00:58:57,035 --> 00:58:58,725
Doesn't to anybody up here for sure.

1272
00:59:00,425 --> 00:59:01,685
And obviously and

1273
00:59:01,685 --> 00:59:03,405
and the board of Ed, most people know

1274
00:59:03,405 --> 00:59:06,605
that the teacher pensions started back in 2012,

1275
00:59:06,685 --> 00:59:10,525
I think was the first money that got put down

1276
00:59:10,785 --> 00:59:12,885
to the counties and then recently

1277
00:59:13,315 --> 00:59:14,525
more and more has been put down.

1278
00:59:14,745 --> 00:59:16,165
And one of the things about that

1279
00:59:16,165 --> 00:59:18,285
that they don't talk about when they say what that is

1280
00:59:18,285 --> 00:59:21,165
and how it's getting more expensive is we've increased all

1281
00:59:21,165 --> 00:59:22,205
the teacher's salaries, right?

1282
00:59:22,545 --> 00:59:23,685
To get 'em up to a level of

1283
00:59:23,685 --> 00:59:25,445
$60,000 for a first year teacher.

1284
00:59:26,065 --> 00:59:28,125
And in their wisdom in Annapolis, they didn't realize,

1285
00:59:28,305 --> 00:59:30,405
oh there may be more money we have to put into pensions

1286
00:59:30,405 --> 00:59:32,165
because now we raised all those salaries up

1287
00:59:32,165 --> 00:59:33,325
that never even dawned on 'em.

1288
00:59:33,325 --> 00:59:34,565
So there was really no way to fix that.

1289
00:59:34,985 --> 00:59:36,405
So that too got pushed down

1290
00:59:36,405 --> 00:59:38,405
to the counties in the last two budget cycles.

1291
00:59:38,865 --> 00:59:40,605
So we've absorbed, I think north

1292
00:59:40,625 --> 00:59:43,125
of two just here in Queen Anne's two point some million

1293
00:59:43,125 --> 00:59:44,845
dollars in additional operational

1294
00:59:44,845 --> 00:59:46,445
that wasn't on the books two years ago.

1295
00:59:47,225 --> 00:59:49,645
The reality is next year we're probably gonna absorb more.

1296
00:59:49,865 --> 00:59:51,965
My guess is if I was gonna go to Vegas

1297
00:59:52,025 --> 00:59:54,085
and bet I would say the health departments are gonna become

1298
00:59:54,125 --> 00:59:57,725
a fully funded county department here in the next year,

1299
00:59:58,335 --> 01:00:01,125
which kind of dovetails into the whole mental health.

1300
01:00:01,125 --> 01:00:02,485
Where's a lot of our mental health done

1301
01:00:02,505 --> 01:00:03,605
out of the health department.

1302
01:00:03,605 --> 01:00:05,405
So it's gonna become a county issue.

1303
01:00:05,605 --> 01:00:07,445
I think we saw last night, it's already an issue.

1304
01:00:07,475 --> 01:00:08,725
Alright, so let's fast forward,

1305
01:00:08,725 --> 01:00:09,765
let's get into the current one.

1306
01:00:10,225 --> 01:00:12,325
One statistic we hear about, I just heard about it, one

1307
01:00:12,325 --> 01:00:14,765
of the recent forms was Queen ENS County's at 23rd

1308
01:00:15,665 --> 01:00:19,445
or 23rd in per pupil spending in the state of Maryland.

1309
01:00:19,865 --> 01:00:23,525
All right, that number's a bit skewed on the surface.

1310
01:00:23,735 --> 01:00:27,605
First off, we are the eighth ranked county in the state

1311
01:00:27,865 --> 01:00:29,245
for local funding share.

1312
01:00:30,055 --> 01:00:32,995
We are the 19th ranked county in the state

1313
01:00:33,255 --> 01:00:34,715
for state share backed to us.

1314
01:00:35,535 --> 01:00:37,395
So that's how you get to 23 real quick.

1315
01:00:38,815 --> 01:00:41,795
And at the end of the day, what that does,

1316
01:00:42,145 --> 01:00:44,275
when you look at the number is I think I believe we're

1317
01:00:44,275 --> 01:00:47,195
16,000 per student, roughly.

1318
01:00:47,345 --> 01:00:49,435
Give or take that $12 million,

1319
01:00:49,655 --> 01:00:51,035
that's always up on the chart there.

1320
01:00:51,095 --> 01:00:54,635
Put that back in divided by 7,155 students.

1321
01:00:54,635 --> 01:00:57,195
That's a lot more money. So we would rise up out of that.

1322
01:00:57,215 --> 01:00:58,235
So that's how important

1323
01:00:58,235 --> 01:01:00,795
that state share is when you're just looking at numbers

1324
01:01:00,855 --> 01:01:03,675
and trying to use them as a justification of, oh,

1325
01:01:03,675 --> 01:01:04,875
queen Annes County, you're horrible

1326
01:01:04,945 --> 01:01:06,875
because you're not putting enough in per pupil.

1327
01:01:06,995 --> 01:01:08,155
I don't believe that. I don't believe.

1328
01:01:08,275 --> 01:01:10,235
'cause we have great teachers. We have great results.

1329
01:01:10,495 --> 01:01:13,355
So kudos to everybody that's involved in it.

1330
01:01:13,735 --> 01:01:15,435
And the other thing I wanna say that kind

1331
01:01:15,435 --> 01:01:16,675
of dovetails into the mental health,

1332
01:01:16,675 --> 01:01:17,795
which was also something

1333
01:01:17,795 --> 01:01:19,555
that happened last year, kind of under the radar.

1334
01:01:20,325 --> 01:01:22,195
Those in the, in the, in the board world

1335
01:01:22,195 --> 01:01:23,755
and in the schools remember it,

1336
01:01:23,755 --> 01:01:27,035
and it was called, it was when the state pulled back the

1337
01:01:27,195 --> 01:01:28,475
collaborative time for teachers, right?

1338
01:01:29,725 --> 01:01:34,355
Which was by designing Kerwin to give teachers extra time

1339
01:01:34,775 --> 01:01:38,515
for planning to deal with students outside of, you know,

1340
01:01:38,735 --> 01:01:40,475
the, the 25 kids in the classroom.

1341
01:01:40,535 --> 01:01:43,115
It was to create more one-on-one situations.

1342
01:01:43,735 --> 01:01:44,835
The state pulled that back.

1343
01:01:44,835 --> 01:01:46,955
That requirement I believe helped me, Dr.

1344
01:01:47,495 --> 01:01:49,995
It was probably 28, 29 now,

1345
01:01:49,995 --> 01:01:51,795
I guess is when they're phasing that back in.

1346
01:01:52,375 --> 01:01:54,035
But we have been paying into it the whole

1347
01:01:54,035 --> 01:01:55,155
time at the county level.

1348
01:01:55,175 --> 01:01:56,835
But the state pulled back their funding for it

1349
01:01:56,835 --> 01:01:58,155
so they didn't have to pay for it, right?

1350
01:01:58,415 --> 01:02:00,035
So it was really only a savings for them.

1351
01:02:00,535 --> 01:02:01,955
But unfortunately those teachers

1352
01:02:01,955 --> 01:02:03,035
aren't getting hired right now.

1353
01:02:03,295 --> 01:02:05,595
So we're not seeing that portion of the blueprint, which

1354
01:02:06,175 --> 01:02:07,715
by all accounts, when they explained it,

1355
01:02:07,715 --> 01:02:10,475
that was gonna be a critical function for the blueprint

1356
01:02:10,475 --> 01:02:12,795
to work to where the teachers were gonna have more time

1357
01:02:13,215 --> 01:02:15,475
to be one-on-one, which gets to your math

1358
01:02:15,475 --> 01:02:16,475
and reading specialists.

1359
01:02:16,565 --> 01:02:18,635
Those teachers were gonna have more face-to-face

1360
01:02:18,635 --> 01:02:22,365
with individuals, which was gonna help raise all boats.

1361
01:02:22,365 --> 01:02:24,125
Right? Again, something else

1362
01:02:24,155 --> 01:02:26,085
that was pulled back at the end of the day.

1363
01:02:26,545 --> 01:02:30,485
And lastly, we're, we're gonna be 5 million

1364
01:02:30,485 --> 01:02:31,805
behind next year, again,

1365
01:02:33,025 --> 01:02:35,965
before we even craft a budget from, for the board

1366
01:02:35,965 --> 01:02:37,085
of ed, from the state.

1367
01:02:38,105 --> 01:02:40,565
And to, to Patrick's point, he took my thunder.

1368
01:02:40,845 --> 01:02:42,885
'cause it is always my mantra, but we do we need,

1369
01:02:42,885 --> 01:02:44,125
we need to, no, it's fine.

1370
01:02:44,125 --> 01:02:46,125
We need the Maryland State Education Association.

1371
01:02:46,125 --> 01:02:47,205
We need teachers at large.

1372
01:02:48,215 --> 01:02:49,765
Don't go over there with apples, go over

1373
01:02:49,765 --> 01:02:52,085
with pitchforks and, and tell these,

1374
01:02:52,535 --> 01:02:53,535
Let's retract that.

1375
01:02:54,505 --> 01:02:56,525
You know what I mean? And,

1376
01:02:56,545 --> 01:02:58,285
and the getting the legislators

1377
01:02:58,285 --> 01:02:59,445
face, this is an election year.

1378
01:02:59,465 --> 01:03:01,685
Not a lot was gonna happen, but next year we've gotta fix it

1379
01:03:02,305 --> 01:03:04,085
and hopefully there's a commitment to fix it.

1380
01:03:04,105 --> 01:03:05,925
If, if the money's there, we can get the results,

1381
01:03:06,345 --> 01:03:09,485
but we can't keep coming back and telling the counties over

1382
01:03:09,485 --> 01:03:12,285
and over again, you guys gotta foot this alone

1383
01:03:12,285 --> 01:03:16,805
because we're all in it together, state counties and,

1384
01:03:16,945 --> 01:03:19,405
and talking to everybody else at, at our level, council

1385
01:03:19,505 --> 01:03:20,885
and commissioners across the state,

1386
01:03:21,155 --> 01:03:22,685
they're struggling with the same problems.

1387
01:03:22,735 --> 01:03:24,445
We're, we're actually in a lot better shape than most

1388
01:03:24,605 --> 01:03:25,605
counties are, to be honest with you.

1389
01:03:25,745 --> 01:03:29,685
So that's all I got for it.

1390
01:03:30,185 --> 01:03:33,805
If I could just add to that, on the per pupil spending

1391
01:03:34,635 --> 01:03:37,405
that the state gives to the county commissioners

1392
01:03:38,665 --> 01:03:42,725
for you is about $7,600 per pupil.

1393
01:03:45,965 --> 01:03:49,415
What the state gives to Caroline County is twice that.

1394
01:03:50,435 --> 01:03:52,615
So they get about 15,000 per pupil.

1395
01:03:54,085 --> 01:03:57,905
So to get to the commissioner's point of 15 or 16

1396
01:03:57,905 --> 01:04:02,625
or 17,000 per student, all of us are paying

1397
01:04:02,655 --> 01:04:07,345
that extra 10 grand, nine grand per per child, where,

1398
01:04:07,645 --> 01:04:09,265
you know, five miles from here,

1399
01:04:09,895 --> 01:04:13,825
they're getting twice the amount of support from the state.

1400
01:04:14,245 --> 01:04:18,225
So we, we gotta keep that in mind that the,

1401
01:04:18,325 --> 01:04:21,545
the commissioners are spending more per pupil than just

1402
01:04:21,555 --> 01:04:24,985
about any other county on the, on the Eastern shore.

1403
01:04:27,685 --> 01:04:29,265
Jim, can I talk about the middle school real quick?

1404
01:04:29,425 --> 01:04:32,305
'cause I ran those numbers. So Centerville Middle School,

1405
01:04:32,485 --> 01:04:33,785
so this is great news for us.

1406
01:04:34,065 --> 01:04:36,305
Something happened this, this year, queen End County,

1407
01:04:36,305 --> 01:04:38,305
and you may have already heard this Queen End County got

1408
01:04:38,305 --> 01:04:39,505
lumped in with several other counties.

1409
01:04:39,575 --> 01:04:43,185
Kent County did an incredible job of lobbying the state IAC,

1410
01:04:43,185 --> 01:04:47,905
which is the, the capital, the

1411
01:04:47,905 --> 01:04:49,185
where the capital money comes from

1412
01:04:49,185 --> 01:04:51,025
for all the Board of Ed projects.

1413
01:04:51,535 --> 01:04:53,065
They lobbied 'em because they thought

1414
01:04:53,065 --> 01:04:56,065
that the funding formula for capital projects was

1415
01:04:56,065 --> 01:04:57,105
unfair to several counties.

1416
01:04:57,245 --> 01:05:00,905
We got lumped in. So we went from a 50 50 share to a 75 25.

1417
01:05:01,165 --> 01:05:02,225
So on this one project,

1418
01:05:02,285 --> 01:05:03,665
and I'm just using Centerville Middle,

1419
01:05:04,135 --> 01:05:07,305
it's projected at $75 million construction cost, right?

1420
01:05:07,845 --> 01:05:12,385
The state takes on the 75% of that, which leaves us

1421
01:05:12,385 --> 01:05:16,705
with a balance of 18,750,000 roughly, to build that school.

1422
01:05:17,795 --> 01:05:20,485
This commission went to Annapolis this year

1423
01:05:20,485 --> 01:05:24,485
with a local bill that said we want to use our impact fees

1424
01:05:24,485 --> 01:05:26,365
that have been sitting in the accounts since the last time

1425
01:05:26,365 --> 01:05:27,885
we built a school in Queen Annes County,

1426
01:05:27,885 --> 01:05:32,285
which I believe was Su Lakeville middle back in oh 4, 0 5.

1427
01:05:32,345 --> 01:05:34,805
So 20 years that money's been building up.

1428
01:05:35,185 --> 01:05:39,365
The good news is, I believe we have $16 million in

1429
01:05:39,365 --> 01:05:41,685
that account that we are now gonna be allowed to do

1430
01:05:42,105 --> 01:05:44,325
and build Centerville because we went to Annapolis

1431
01:05:44,345 --> 01:05:46,845
and said, we wanna be able to use this money

1432
01:05:46,865 --> 01:05:49,485
for not just a replacement, but,

1433
01:05:49,505 --> 01:05:51,245
or I'm sorry, not a brand new building

1434
01:05:51,245 --> 01:05:52,845
and a new on a new piece of land,

1435
01:05:52,865 --> 01:05:55,325
but a replacement building on an existing property.

1436
01:05:55,325 --> 01:05:56,685
Because before you couldn't do that.

1437
01:05:57,145 --> 01:05:59,725
So out of the county coffers right now,

1438
01:05:59,785 --> 01:06:01,005
if everything works out right,

1439
01:06:01,135 --> 01:06:03,285
we're gonna build a $80 million middle school

1440
01:06:03,305 --> 01:06:05,365
for $2,250,000.

1441
01:06:06,065 --> 01:06:08,045
So kudos to all, all of us.

1442
01:06:08,445 --> 01:06:11,845
'cause that was, was a windfall for not only, I mean

1443
01:06:11,845 --> 01:06:13,125
that's huge for the school system,

1444
01:06:13,125 --> 01:06:14,805
but also the taxpayers at Queen Anne County.

1445
01:06:14,825 --> 01:06:17,205
So that's $35 million we're not gonna have

1446
01:06:17,205 --> 01:06:18,445
to bond to build a school.

1447
01:06:18,705 --> 01:06:19,705
So

1448
01:06:20,865 --> 01:06:21,865
You were right.

1449
01:06:21,865 --> 01:06:23,165
I was gonna say all that. So, oh, you

1450
01:06:23,165 --> 01:06:24,165
Were.

1451
01:06:24,665 --> 01:06:25,965
So now that's taken care of.

1452
01:06:26,085 --> 01:06:28,125
I just wanna say thank you for everybody for coming out and,

1453
01:06:28,225 --> 01:06:30,485
and with your questions and comments

1454
01:06:30,705 --> 01:06:33,725
and appreciate it greatly.

1455
01:06:33,865 --> 01:06:34,885
So on that note,

1456
01:06:35,645 --> 01:06:37,245
I make a motion to adjourn. Second. Second.

1457
01:06:37,425 --> 01:06:39,445
All those in favor a aye. Thank you.

1458
01:06:40,095 --> 01:06:40,765
Thank You everybody.