[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6059557,"mediaKeyId","3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d","parentId",3294274,"title","Kent County narrows DCT funding to preserve mobility-on-demand service on Route 4","audioSeconds",163,"startMs",327000,"endMs",490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d&start=327&end=490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d/thumbnail_327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059557/Kent-County/Maryland/Kent-County-narrows-DCT-funding-to-preserve-mobility-on-demand-service-on-Route-4","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059557-9bb42cbe02e6e52c2b5a26abd522e9ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145718&Signature=fZWKT0PqtSXosjFdBmM7Cr6X5KhEAMMUFFWGGxeY1pHuX4xJYQEytReylHsr7R1CHxGGiKztEpbniAxSR4VyUhKgT09rjQXbQD1ROAxVqq-RsgzTuBw7cCU6c62ZfIoFNyURpVkfixMsYu4yDhb7Lj0-yVF1i1MlkvSlP3fwmZ8zk30s1lLY2~9QSliPfnFV4ut5HTQJoM-FKUsury4QYuG3xgOi3-ZAHJN8bmn1PjhceVxkA1KQsDRZxB-XPhgKudFNj5LeC~7UAMyWeAauVd9ZRLgigpISWeVUJsDjfmdTEXP5dV8Ca93T0UaS1iyXgTW6n-EnLsWD1G18PfKqUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kent County, MD","date","2025-05-14T07:47:02Z","article","County staff presented three funding scenarios for Dorchester County Transit (DCT) service that affects Kent County’s Route 4: a full-request option at $157,000, a reduced option at $110,000, and a level-fund option (the current budget baseline at about $92,000). Commissioners instructed staff to adopt the reduced $110,000 option, which reduces fixed Route 4 runs from six to four per day while keeping the current level of mobility-on-demand (door-to-door) service that serves Chestertown and county residents.

Staff said the highest-cost option would fund six fixed runs and retain mobility-on-demand but would cost roughly $157,000; the reduced $110,000 option preserves mobility-on-demand and reduces fixed-route frequency to four daily runs. Under the level-fund baseline in the budget, Route 4 would run four times per day with limited mobility-on-demand focused on Chestertown and a lower number of runs overall.

Presenters told commissioners that mobility-on-demand is the most cost-effective way to serve the dispersed, rural population outside denser centers such as Chestertown. A commissioner speaking in the session said, “the mobility on demand is where we’re getting the bang for the buck,” and another commissioner indicated they would “bring the second option” into the budget.

Commissioners also discussed local contributions: the Rock Hall business association had previously received county support for local transit and county commissioners encouraged the town to contribute additional funds if it wanted expanded service within Rock Hall. Staff said the budget will be updated to reflect the selected option for presentation at the public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05.13.25 Budget Work Session 2","oneSentenceSummary","County staff presented three funding options for DCT transit service; commissioners directed staff to adopt the middle option that reduces fixed-route runs but preserves door-to-door mobility-on-demand service for Chestertown and surrounding areas.","taxTitle","Kent County, Maryland","taxId",69327,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059562,"Kent County budget work session sets 5% salary increase for employees; range movement proposed to raise starting pay",655,2556000,3211000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d&start=2556&end=3211","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d/thumbnail_2556000.jpg","/articles/6059562/Kent-County/Maryland/Kent-County-budget-work-session-sets-5-salary-increase-for-employees-range-movement-proposed-to-raise-starting-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059562-147949bbe8fbe15a8bc7d6c8a37af8a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145718&Signature=PKpueMSN6Wkbxud2gdsJlkDbx7fxFdX6OuFloBogmSqGPHoG7~xUkTqQi6nHroGUYMisCILvrGRR-vtGmKPIQ1KGJZkV83SxYjy8DVqdkIX8GV49HvBEXG~fD5CAfaNFFzMjw-6VZcrqdx~XFSTCAGgGZOEejAro~s8EEtmRVrvH8S7nYgwlvOIfz5s8tVwCqgb4HuBmnoFiJIFgTwX7kWUxN32xtzkdt5qk8AqvWJQrKfy0gwkYe~cj73B8D80Iw-N41qldYtiSY5R7KRZiA8tqTdKv3cTbb~Mnv0bHbPPqwjh~5-SmPFEKx1z-Ru37Tr4BLbjEXsoBRNZ~VvBc8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kent County Commissioners and staff agreed in a budget work session to include a 5 percent pay increase for county employees in the draft fiscal-year budget. Staff described a companion plan to move salary ranges so the minimum of each grade increases (a portion of the total increase would be applied to the range minimums), improving hiring starting rates while also applying the full increase to incumbents.

Staff modeling presented to commissioners showed that applying a 5 percent increase and moving ranges under a 50/50 approach would raise the minimum for several entry-level grades — in one example the minimum for a Grade 2 position would approach $40,000 — helping recruitment without harming internal equity for long-tenured employees. Personnel and finance staff emphasized the mechanics as separate but complementary: employees receive the 5 percent increase, and the range movement raises the pay scale baseline.

Commissioners discussed affordability and retention considerations, including an expected 14 percent increase in health-insurance costs for the county and uncertainty about next year’s mandated expenses (speakers cited a forthcoming mandate labeled “Kerwin” as a budget risk). Staff said modeling shows the 5 percent increase offsets most employees’ net pay impacts when higher insurance costs are included and that nobody would see a net pay decrease under the proposal.

Human resources and finance staff described the 50/50-style movement as a practical tool used in prior years (range movement was used previously alongside multi-percent employee increases) to preserve internal pay equity, to support hiring, and to keep grade structures competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.

Commissioners indicated agreement to include the 5 percent increase in the budget documents; staff will finalize the mechanics of range movement and present final figures before the public hearing.","Commissioners agreed during the work session to include a 5 percent salary increase for county employees in the draft budget and discussed moving pay ranges (a 50/50 model) to raise minimums and support hiring and retention amid rising health-care costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059567,"Kent County moves $13 million into capital fund, earmarks $10 million for middle school",113,3355000,3468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d&start=3355&end=3468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294274-e60aa8d90ec652460486c9fc67ffb97d/thumbnail_3355000.jpg","/articles/6059567/Kent-County/Maryland/Kent-County-moves-13-million-into-capital-fund-earmarks-10-million-for-middle-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059567-933c1cc0a9102583061101cb95e18668/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145718&Signature=kFEGlBiLk~SHnfVrs6ONMLxD1fgYNSdsGxy3k6w9kMtZaD-eBcgeeus5GXu00bSJ47k0VxfhdPI4aSmLZqH7LNCKEpFaX~6tksuy3rbSUag5hyr2LtvqxTTul97yqmx-Pjrv2WV-lwfSJ7RWtCYmQFWjCrmjzDANX2LI-k0~JrCM5sG6YWXufgGUBoEjJ3wTZwgD1pOjtOOcyEQkGKZyE1IOdr0Ub67QhFJKEGeaeuGQb~7nWJ~x8rpvda9taynKHrRNM3-nsenonDGTulxESHbks0xc9XXDlZsGxwSJQkVzJbgsvcElF1370hzBscxchfZou9aISHzLkxibsN9eTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kent County Commissioners and staff agreed during a budget work session to transfer $13,000,000 of nonrecurring surplus into the county’s capital projects fund and to earmark $10,000,000 of that amount for a proposed middle school, leaving the remaining funds to be identified for detention center/jail projects.

The move was presented as a budgetary reallocation to preserve nonrecurring surplus for capital needs while keeping the county’s operating fund balanced. County staff said the $13,048,000 figure reflects the nonrecurring surplus after current adjustments, and that the recurring operating budget is essentially balanced for the coming year.

County staff described the transfer as a bookkeeping step that places the money in the capital projects fund “with the intent that it be used for future capital projects.” Commissioners noted the transfer could require a future resolution to formally earmark the funds to specific projects. Staff also said keeping a separate capital fund helps avoid short-term borrowing and preserves the county’s cash-flow buffer.

Commissioners and staff discussed a range of capital priorities that could draw on the newly moved funds, including the middle school project, potential work at Wharton Elementary School, and renovation or replacement needs at the detention/jail facility. Speakers noted other large projects countywide that may compete for capital dollars, such as the Queen Anne’s Technical Building at Chesapeake College and unspecified roof or renovation work for county-owned buildings.

Staff emphasized that the county would retain a working cash balance after the transfer (staff reported roughly $5,359,000 would remain as an operational buffer) to cover seasonal cash-flow needs and avoid borrowing. Commissioners asked that the transfer be presented as a round number in the budget documents and signaled they would later consider precise earmarks and any required formal action.

The budget work session materials and later presentations to the commission will show the proposed transfer and earmarks ahead of the county’s public hearing and formal budget adoption schedule.","During a budget work session, Kent County Commissioners agreed to transfer $13,000,000 of nonrecurring surplus to the capital projects fund and earmark $10,000,000 for a planned middle school; the remainder was designated for detention/jail capital needs, with further formal steps to follow.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kent County narrows DCT funding to preserve mobility-on-demand service on Route 4

Kent County budget work session sets 5% salary increase for employees; range movement proposed to raise starting pay

Kent County moves $13 million into capital fund, earmarks $10 million for middle school