Culver: Don't believe the spin; I've supported education in Wicomico County
In spite of Gains Hawkins’s spin, published in The Daily Times on March 29, the record shows as county executive, I support education and understand its value to the business community.
An example of this is the Wor-Wic Economic Impact Scholarship I introduced two years ago. That was an effort to educate students graduating from Wicomico County high schools in a field that would fill the jobs that are available. Having an educated workforce also encourages new businesses to locate here.
The infrastructure of the county schools had been left to deteriorate to the point that some schools needed to be replaced.
Since I took office in 2014, I have finished funding Bennett Middle School and the construction of West Salisbury Elementary. Beaver Run Elementary is in the planning stage to be rebuilt.
A portion of county school construction and major renovations is paid by the county through bond indebtedness. This year’s bond debts for county schools will cost $11.6 million in annual payment.
When this amount is added to the Wicomico County Board of Education operating funding, our total annual funding for schools is $55.2 million — or $3,708 per pupil.
From all sources per-pupil spending in Wicomico totals $14,543, which ranks us 13th among the 24 counties.
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The Wicomico County Board of Education has bought several properties, moved its offices to a leased office building on Northgate Drive and moved the Choices School — and all of this came with costs.
This was done without the beforehand knowledge of the executive or County Council.
In addition to the funding for the school board, another part of the education budget is funding to Wor-Wic Community College of more than $5 million, and the library has received about $1.5 million.
The total dollars spent on education are roughly equivalent to our total property tax revenue and exceed our total income for revenue.
Wicomico ranks 21st of 24 jurisdictions in wealth.
Wicomico County has countless needs in many areas, but the funding has to be done in a balanced way. My hope is this puts my position on education into a realistic perspective.
Bob Culver is Wicomico County Executive.
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