By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Feb. 27, 2020) The Worcester County Board of Education on Tuesday, Feb. 18, approved an operating budget that allows for salary increases as well as an increase for retirement expenses.

Vince Tolbert

The proposed operating fiscal year 2021 budget, presented by Chief Financial Officer Vince Tolbert, includes a 2.73 percent spending increase.

The board expects $98.4 million (82 percent) of its budget will come from the Worcester County Commissioners, while $20.1 million (16 percent)  – an increase of $324,919 from last year – would come from the state, and the remaining .67 percent, or $792,463, stemming from other revenue, such as fundraising and donations, making the total proposed budget $119.4 million.

The proposed budget also offered a total raise in salaries of $2.4 million, which is 2 percent Cost of Living Adjusted (COLA) for certificated employees and 2.5 percent COLA for support staff.

There are no rate increases expected for health insurance, though $59,816 was budgeted for retirement expenses, given a recent number of early retirement requests.

“We’re not expecting any increase in health insurance rates next year, which is great,” Tolbert said. “This will be the second year in a row there has been no health insurance increase.”

There will be $150,000 used for technology upgrades, which is part one of a multi-year progress, as well as $200,000 for employee tuition reimbursements.

Funds will also be used to help hire more staff, especially for the new Showell Elementary School, which is anticipating an additional 130 children once it is opened.

Expenditures are also expected to increase for bus contractors, with a 2 percent rise in hourly, mileage and PVA rates, all of which adds up to $117,098.

Another $200,000 will go toward student transportation, specifically for families in transition, after school programs and enrollments for Worcester Technical High School.

One-time capital projects also saw an increase, with $900,000 in funds being set aside for schematic and design development fees for Stephen Decatur Middle School ($283,000), replacement HVAC units ($200,000), Central Office building improvements ($150,000) and $267,000 for various school expenses that would occur throughout the year.

The Worcester County Commissioners will review the proposed budget during their bimonthly meeting on March 31. A public county budget hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 5. After any necessary revisions, the board of education will approve the operating budget on June 16.