SNOW HILL – The public budget meetings scheduled throughout the north end of the county will take place in spite of concerns raised by some of the Worcester County Commissioners.
On Tuesday, several commissioners questioned the need for multiple budget meetings, some involving county staff, in the northern end of the county. The commissioners who scheduled them stressed their importance in communicating the county’s financial situation — which currently includes a $22 million budget shortfall — to the public.
“Each of us has a responsibility to the district we represent,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said.
He and Commissioner Jim Bunting were the first to set up a public budget meeting. Their event, slated for April 21, will take place at the Ocean Pines library. Commissioners Diana Purnell and Ted Elder will hold a similar meeting April 23 in Berlin. Purnell and Elder have asked Harold Higgins, the county’s chief administrative officer, to attend.
Purnell, one of four commissioners elected to a first term in November, said it was her first time going through the budget process and she wasn’t sure she would be able to answer all of the questions her constituents presented.
“I have an obligation to set up a situation where those questions can be answered for them,” she said.
Commissioner Bud Church said that because more than half of the commissioners had scheduled meetings, he and Joe Mitrecic had talked about hosting one as well. He asked if the other commissioners from that area wanted to combine their efforts.
“It would make better sense if we had one north-end meeting,” he said.
Bunting pointed out that the meetings had already been advertised. Bertino said that his district — Ocean Pines — merited its own meeting.
“They have concerns that might be singular to the Ocean Pines location,” he said.
Commissioner Merrill Lockfaw also questioned the need for multiple meetings.
“We’re duplicating things is what we’re doing,” he said.
Bunting said the meeting scheduled by he and Bertino was simply a chance for them to keep their voters informed.
Church replied that because county staff was involved, it was going to be perceived as a county function. Mitrecic agreed.
“Once you involve county staff, it does become a county function,” he said.
Bertino said it was the county’s residents who paid for the staff.
“The county staff works for the people who live and pay taxes in our districts,” he said.
Church asked whether the additional meetings meant the county’s annual budget hearing, scheduled this year for May 5, wasn’t worth attending.
“They’re not going to come to both,” Mitrecic said.
Bertino said he believed by providing citizens with information in advance of the May hearing they would have more incentive to come. Bunting said if any of the commissioners wanted to hold meetings it was their choice.
“It’s up to each commissioner what to do,” he said.
The meeting hosted by Bertino and Bunting will take place April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Pines library. On April 23, Purnell and Elder will host their meeting at 6 p.m. at the multi-purpose building on Flower Street in Berlin.
The county’s public hearing on the budget will take place May 5 at 7 p.m. at Snow Hill Middle School.