County budget plans reveal funding decreases for public safety and capital projects

The Worcester County Budget Workshop held on April 8, 2025, focused on significant adjustments to the fiscal year 2026 budget, highlighting both decreases and increases in various funding areas. A notable discussion point was the reduction of local impact grant funds from the casino, which decreased by $1,061,905. This reduction is primarily attributed to funding only the bond payment for the public safety storage building and the jail project.

The workshop revealed that the budget for the Orphans Court is expected to decrease by $2,001, specifically in the benefits category, with no variances exceeding $5,000 in expenditures. In contrast, the general government budget is projected to increase by $1.8 million, or 41%, despite an anticipated 13% decrease in revenue from state parks.

Several software maintenance requests were discussed, including a $53,783 increase for new software across various departments, such as administration and tourism. Additionally, there was a proposed increase of $8,500 for building site expenses based on actual costs from the previous fiscal year.

Concerns were raised regarding operational funding, particularly a decrease due to workforce limitations. The local match for capital projects is set to increase by $36,347 due to a state funding decrease, shifting the local share from 10% to 15%. Furthermore, the budget for benefits and insurance is expected to rise by $216,450, reflecting a 10% increase in property and liability insurance costs.

The meeting also touched on potential changes at the state level regarding charges for accessing land records, which could impact development costs. The proposed fee of 20 cents per page for viewing records has raised concerns about increased expenses for developers, although government entities may be exempt from these charges.

Overall, the workshop underscored the complexities of the budget process, with various departments facing both funding challenges and adjustments as the county prepares for the upcoming fiscal year. The next steps will involve further discussions in the May budget work session to address public safety capital requests and other financial considerations.