Wicomico executive: CIP with council, audit looks good, budget gaps remain
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Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano said the county submitted its capital improvement plan to the county council and that council members are meeting with department heads to prioritize projects that will inform the coming budget. "They're meeting with several different departments," she said, naming Recreation and Parks, Tourism, the airport and Public Works as examples.
Giordano said auditors from PKS visited in January and reported a strong financial position. She told the interview that the county's bond rating has improved and that the pension plan's funded ratio has increased from about 60% to nearly 80%. She said employee pay has risen "about 16%" and that additional increases are planned in the next budget cycle.
On the state budget, Giordano said the governor's proposed budget (not final) omitted some county requests. She said the county isparity grant was reduced by about $2,000,000 in the governor's proposal and that an allocation for Fruitland looks to be roughly $10.5 million rather than the $14 million the county had hoped to receive. She said county staff will pursue other avenues to restore or offset those amounts.
Giordano described recent local capital investments, saying the county applied cannabis tax revenues to projects including a $26,000,000 investment in Shorebird Stadium and improvements in Village in Jackson. She said the county is trying to show a clear plan with the CIP to help guide budget decisions.
The interview also covered governance and public engagement. Giordano said holding town halls is typically a legislative function and praised council members who hold district town halls. She discussed the council's recent decision to remove prayer from the formal agenda, saying the council took the step after receiving a letter that raised the risk of litigation and that a future council could choose to restore prayer outside the formal agenda.
On emergency preparedness, Giordano said the county has been preparing for a winter storm with public-works leadership and said a cold-weather shelter would be opened at James and Bennett High School if needed. She also described a proposed "liberal leave" approach for county employees if conditions warrant closures.
Giordano framed the county's approach as deliberate and collaborative with the council and department heads; the county is awaiting final state budget action and council decisions on the CIP.
Giordano said auditors from PKS visited in January and reported a strong financial position. She told the interview that the county's bond rating has improved and that the pension plan's funded ratio has increased from about 60% to nearly 80%. She said employee pay has risen "about 16%" and that additional increases are planned in the next budget cycle.
On the state budget, Giordano said the governor's proposed budget (not final) omitted some county requests. She said the county isparity grant was reduced by about $2,000,000 in the governor's proposal and that an allocation for Fruitland looks to be roughly $10.5 million rather than the $14 million the county had hoped to receive. She said county staff will pursue other avenues to restore or offset those amounts.
Giordano described recent local capital investments, saying the county applied cannabis tax revenues to projects including a $26,000,000 investment in Shorebird Stadium and improvements in Village in Jackson. She said the county is trying to show a clear plan with the CIP to help guide budget decisions.
The interview also covered governance and public engagement. Giordano said holding town halls is typically a legislative function and praised council members who hold district town halls. She discussed the council's recent decision to remove prayer from the formal agenda, saying the council took the step after receiving a letter that raised the risk of litigation and that a future council could choose to restore prayer outside the formal agenda.
On emergency preparedness, Giordano said the county has been preparing for a winter storm with public-works leadership and said a cold-weather shelter would be opened at James and Bennett High School if needed. She also described a proposed "liberal leave" approach for county employees if conditions warrant closures.
Giordano framed the county's approach as deliberate and collaborative with the council and department heads; the county is awaiting final state budget action and council decisions on the CIP.
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