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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

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Pines budget request did no harm, some good

The unofficial report this week is that the Worcester County Commissioners canceled this year’s cordial wine-and-dine get-together with the Ocean Pines Board of Directors because they weren’t feeling so cordial after hearing the community’s surprising request for much more county financial support that what it normally receives every year.
The official report, meanwhile, is the commissioners are just a little busier now than they were this time last year and that everything is fine.
Regardless of what’s accurate and what isn’t, the question has been raised whether Ocean Pine representatives should have asked for a $700,000 increase in the county’s allocation to its community.
The short answer would be, “why not?”
If the commissioners really were miffed by the unexpected surge is the size of the community’s request, the fact remains that not asking in order to maintain a friendly relationship doesn’t put anything new in the bank.
Further, that amicable association on the county’s part may have been partially the product of Ocean Pines’ not hitting up the commissioners every year for more money. It’s easy to be nice to someone who doesn’t want much.
At least now, county government has been alerted to the community’s desire to be treated as every other Worcester County community.
Overall, there’s been no harm done and possibly some good. After all, when a community has more voters than any other jurisdiction in the county, elected officials tend to listen even when they don’t necessarily agree with what’s being said.
Maybe something will change this year and maybe not, but asking for more didn’t hurt Ocean Pines’ influence with the county commissioners. If anything, it might even help to let people know that maintaining the status quo is not a great basis for an enduring political relationship.