WHY DOESN’T WICOMICO COUNTY FUND MORE OF ITS SCHOOL SYSTEM”S BUDGET?

[unless otherwise stated this information is for the current school year and dollar amounts are “per student”]

Data compiled by the State of Maryland from the budgets of the 24 local school systems are interesting. The portion of the total budget of the systems that is “self-funded” by money appropriated for schools by the local jurisdictions (23 counties and Baltimore City) averages about 47% ($6,600) throughout the State. Wicomico County self funds only 28.6% ($3,447) of the budget for its school system, which depends on funding by the State and Federal governments for the rest – primarily the State, which funded 66.2% ($8,300).

In self-funding Wicomico ranks in the lowest quartile; only Allegheny, Caroline and Somerset Counties and Baltimore City provide lesser funding (in both the share and amount per pupil). The state funded share in Wicomico, which is the 5th highest in the State is sufficient to put Wicomico near the middle (15th) in total funds per pupil ($12,394 – about $1,400 below the statewide average of $13,785).

It appears that Wicomico County’s “cap” on its property tax revenue has limited the amount of self funding. Since FY 2002 school funding by the County has increased by 15%, whereas the statewide increase during that period has been 41%. Other nearby counties, except Somerset, have increased self funding for their schools as much or more than Wicomico: Caroline – 16%, Dorchester 24%, Worcester 65%. The contrast between Wicomico County and Worcester County is astounding: in FY 2002 each self-funded its school system at about $44 Million – in FY 2009 those amounts are: Wicomico – $50.2 Million; Worcester $72.6 Million.

This year’s budget seems to prove that point. With additional revenue basically “zero” the County Executive proposed a reduction in school funding, and also sought a waiver from the State’s “maintenance of effort” rule for obtaining a significant part of the State’s funding. After the State Board of Education denied Mr. Pollitt’s request, he has proposed obtaining the additional $2 Million in funds needed to satisfy the State by having the school system “refund” to the County amounts it has in reserve accounts and unexpended funds in the current budget, which would become part of the appropriation for the schools in the FY 2010 budget, thus restoring the reserve accounts. At present, this circular movement of money is being reviewed by the State to determine if it passes muster under that rule.

Each of the three Counties that asked for a waiver by the State, which was denied in every case, has some form of tax “cap”. Even if Wicomico County obtains full finding from the State this year, the future prospects look grim.