Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver announced today that by working with the Board of Education he was able to reduce the County’s Capital Improvement bond offering for Fiscal Year 2016 by approximately $2,500,000.
Working diligently with the Board of Education, the Executive and the Board of Education were able to eliminate a total of $375,000 worth of projects and defer $2.2 million worth of projects for future fiscal years.
“I find it to be important to be great stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars,” County Executive Culver stated. “These changes allow us to get the most bang for our buck today and in future fiscal years.”
$800,000 of these deferred funds related to the West Salisbury School systemic renovations or replacement project. The County Executive stated that this would not delay the progress of this project.
“I want the public to know that although funds have been deferred from the West Salisbury School project, this will not delay the project in any way,” Executive Culver clarified. “The money that was deferred will be made up once the project has been finalized. This $1.2 million that is left will provide for the necessary architectural and engineering work.”
Executive Culver also announced that the Salisbury to Mardela Springs “Rails to Trails” project was removed from the Priority Letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation. This letter lists projects which Wicomico County seeks monetary assistance from the State of Maryland.
“I heard the community loud and clear, and there was overwhelming concern with this project,” Executive Culver explained.
Both of these changes were approved by the Wicomico County Council at the legislative session held on August 18, 2015.
A full list of the deferred and eliminated Board of Education projects can be found on the next page.
- West Salisbury School Systemic Renovations - Reduced proposed amount from $2,000,000 to $1,200,000. The deferred $800,000 will be made up in future years when the project is finalized.
- Delmar Systemic Renovations & Replacements – Deferred full amount of the project to Fiscal Year 2017 ($806,000)
- Pinehurst Therapy Tank Conversion - Deferred full amount of the project to Fiscal Year 2017 ($275,000)
- Portable Classroom Projects – Project eliminated ($375,000)
- Mardela Middle/High School Systemic Renovation HVAC – Deferred full amount of the project to Fiscal Year 2017 ($143,000)
- Wicomico Middle Systemic Renovation Roofs – Deferred full amount of the project until Fiscal Year 2017 ($176,000)
Total amount eliminated: $375,000
Total amount deferred: $2,200,000
Kicking the can down the road. Everyone complained about needed maintenance not being done on the Bennett buildings, leading to them needing to be replaced within 50 years.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet we're applauding Culver doing the exact same thing.
Delaying a project a year is not a bad thing, especially to the tune of $2 mil..
ReplyDeleteNothing is delayed. If you watched the meeting, this borrowing is being deferred because the BOE wouldn't be able to get the work done this year. This move makes sure that if the county borrows the money, it won't be sitting around, unused.
ReplyDeleteOf course they put off Mardela AGAIN!! Mardela NEVER gets anything. The County does not even recognize this awesome school. Mardela gets the hand-me-downs. Looking back at the Daily Slime you will see where John Fredrickson said with the redistricting, families shouldn't have to choose which of the 3 county high schools their kids would attend on special permission....Dumb@$$, there are 4 Wicomico County High Schools.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, Northwestern Elementary school obtained a grant for air conditioning and when the County would not match the funds the Sharptown Volunteer Fire Department matched the funds so that the kids didn't have to suffocate in school. Joe Ollinger was witness to this and asked why the County wasn't participating, he was told to investigate the matter if he was running for County Executive position.
If it was not for the Sharptown Volunteer Fire Department the kids at Mardela would not be able to afford many of their activities. They are so generous as to donate the building for the crab feast and senior social and many other things. I am NOT a member of the fire department so don't even go there.
Mr. Culver better step up or he might lose his seat by the west side not voting for him again.
Check your facts the track will still be in the new year. The only thing withdrawn was systemic renovations that could be done in another year.,
ReplyDeleteWhy weren't some of the "nice perks" the
ReplyDeletesome of the County Schools get eliminated, like all
the meals eaten out or brought in??????
Cause dum dum, the "nice perks" are what you not think of him!!! The some of county schools got laminated cause you and other cant com-oon-icate proper like.
ReplyDelete