OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MAY 12, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
FESTIVAL
SPRINGFEST SUCCESS Annual four-day event ended on high note, now OC organizers plan for next year - Page 7
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County rejects school board’s budget Spending bump meant for wages, but commissioners cite lack of transparency By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (May 12, 2023) The Worcester County Board of Education will have to meet with teachers, bus drivers and other personnel to figure out what they must do without for the next year after the county commissioners voted 4 to 2 on Tuesday to
give the school system none of the additional money it had requested for the year ahead. Instead of granting the board’s request that the county up its funding by about $4.5 million, or approximately 4.78 percent to help cover salary increases for school employees and contractors, the commissioners gave it a flat budget. “We’re very disappointed,” said board President Todd Ferrante. “We have a $4.5 million shortfall in our budget … They did fund the county
employees (raises). They didn’t fund the teachers but they funded the county employees so I’m not sure for what reason. We have tried, we have worked with (Worcester County Chief Administrative Officer) Weston (Young) to try to give them as much information as requested.” “It’s devastating to some of our employees who are looking to make ends meet and we are all suffering higher costs in this environment.” Commissioners Joe Mitrecic and Diana Purnell voted in opposition.
Commissioner Ted Elder was absent while attending the funeral of his wife, Joyce. Per state law, counties and Baltimore City must fund their school systems with at least what was provided in the prior fiscal year, a practice known as maintenance of effort (MOE). The 1984 law was designed to prevent jurisdictions from looking at cutting school spending as a way to save money. Tuesday’s meeting — a special See CITING Page 3
Margaritaville can’t buy city right-of-way Council votes 4-3 against request to purchase strip
HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY
SPRINGFEST Crowds mill around Springfest grounds Saturday, adding to what event organizers says was one of the better editions of the annual celebration. Story on page 7.
Celeb Ce e rate r Motheer’s Day
May 14th 4-9pm m 3 Course Meal $40
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (May 12, 2023) Even with plans showing a reduction in height and square footage, a proposed downtown Margaritaville resort continues to waste away after another setback this week. At a work session Tuesday, Ocean City Council members narrowly denied a request from local attorney Hugh Cropper to set a public hearing to buy a portion of right-of-way the developers want for a 257-room, 12story hotel and conference center at the former Phillips Beach Plaza property between 13th and 14th streets. Cropper, who has represented the developers since introduction of the project nearly two years ago, said the request was one of “literally 100” steps still needed to advance the plans. “I am here today to request that you abandon and sell, at fair market See REQUEST Page 4