By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 15, 2018) The projected basic annual assessment for fiscal 2019 in Ocean Pines remains at $951, a $30 increase, following three days of deliberation by the community association’s board of directors.

Board members met Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week and produced more than $326,000 in cuts from the budget recommended by General Manager John Bailey.

While the Bailey budget also included a $30 increase, the directors opted to use the additional savings to pay down a projected $2 million operational shortfall accumulated during the last two years, rather than decrease assessments.

During a budget hearing for membership on Saturday, Bailey said $71 of the $951 assessment would help pay down the deficit.

The total operating budget for fiscal 2019 is now $11.4 million. The latest draft includes a 2 percent pay increase for employees, although full-time equivalent positions were reduced by 13.75.

Additionally, the majority of proposed capital projects were deferred and the $19 per-member contribution to bulkhead repairs was suspended for one year.

Board of director changes to the proposed budget included a $100,000 decrease in medical benefits and a $30,000 reduction in pay increases, originally set at 3 percent.

Budget meetings started in early January and have included seven public meetings with the budget and finance committee and five with the board of directors.

“There’s one more step after today, thank God,” Bailey said on Saturday. “It’s been a good process and it’s healthy.

“The board is going to consider the budget amendments and any votes for that, and adopt the final budget and set the assessment on Sunday, Feb. 25 at their regular … board meeting,” he added.

To view the latest draft of the recommended fiscal 2019 budget, visit www.oceanpines.org/forms-docs-cat/budget-for-fy-2018-2019.