Wicomico school officials want more county funding

SALISBURY -- Wicomico County public schools are expected to ask for a 2 percent increase in county funding for education for the next fiscal year.
School officials said the increase is in line with the 2 percent revenue restriction imposed by the county's revenue cap, though they say this will not keep up with inflation and projected expenses.
As of Tuesday, the school district's proposed unrestricted expense budget for 2012-13 totaled about $157 million.
Administrators predict the cost of operating existing programs would cost about $161 million -- a difference from the projected budget that means millions in cuts.
With final funding figures coming in as late as May, district Comptroller Bruce Ford was quick to point out how much could change in the coming months.
"The budget is like Jell-O right now," he said. "You can try to nail it to the wall, but it's not going to stick."
Among the district's projected expenses for next year are often overlooked costs of doing business. Those costs for fiscal year 2013 include a 25 percent rate increase in the cost of workers' compensation insurance for a cost of $126,000 and a pollution liability insurance policy increase for the Mardela Middle and High School wastewater treatment plant for a cost of $11,000. Another cost for the district's "emergency environmental cleaning and supplies" totals $97,500.
With Education Jobs Fund grants that paid for Special Education assistants and Title IIA teachers running out this year, the district is also looking at picking up some $578,770 in salary costs for those positions -- the full time equivalent of 17.5 employees.
Currently hourly positions paid for by grants, the board is also looking at picking up the $79,400 tab for an assistant and teacher in the Connections program for persistently violent and disruptive youth.
Other salary expenses include 50 percent of the salary for the president of the county teachers' union for some $35,000 and $28,000 for 50 percent of the salary for a new school resource officer.
Because of contractors' needs for 10 replacement buses, a maintenance rate increase and an hourly rate increase of $.10/hour, the board is also looking at a nearly $170,000 increase to cover those costs.
Coupled with millions in health insurance expenses for employees and retirees, payments to the Delmar, Del., district for taking Wicomico County students, an estimated $15,000 in cellphone stipends and expansions to standardized testing, the school board is looking at more than $5 million for the cost of doing business alone next year.