Budget Process

Arts school to get half of budget request ANNAPOLIS - Three of Washington County's four bond bills have survived the budget process so far, but not in their entirety. The House and the Senate each had $10 million to divide among various projects. On the House side, the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown got $150,000, down from the $300,000 that was requested. On the Senate side, two projects made the cut - $100,000 for repairing the Big Slackwater section of the C&O Canal National Historical Park and $150,000 for the renovation of Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- The Jefferson County Commission considered a proposed 2008-09 budget plan Monday that could require an injection of about $2 million in savings. A vote on the plan could come during the commission's regular Thursday meeting. The commissioners have been struggling to come up with a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year after realizing they were facing about a $2 million funding shortfall. Budget meetings have been tense at times and the commission missed a March 28 deadline for submitting a spending plan, although state officials say there is no penalty for going past the deadline.

The salary of the Washington County Board of Supervisors of Elections won't be doubled but its members could receive a small pay increase, the Washington County Commissioners decided Tuesday. The commissioners decided not to ask the Maryland General Assembly to increase the salary of Election Board members from $2,300 to $4,800. During the annual budget process, however, the commissioners will examine salaries of all county citizen boards and commissions. At that time, they could increase the salary for the Elections Board, said Alan J. Davis, human resources director.

What seems like a common-sense measure to keep state funds flowing to schools even if elected officials are feuding is drawing opposition from some Pennsylvania legislators. Drop it, we say. Students shouldn't be held hostage during a political battle. That's what happened for five and a half months last year, when Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-controlled state legislature locked horns over the budget. In all, more than $4 billion in state school subsidies were withheld, forcing districts to drain their reserves and borrow money to keep schools open.

The Washington County Board of Education has a new budget process, according to Schools Superintendent Herman G. Bartlett Jr. The School Board held a work session Tuesday night to discuss changes in the budget process. School officials say the changes will be a lasting improvement and will provide for public input at an earlier stage. "It's 180 degrees different than it used to be," Bartlett said. The shift is a result of the 1997 curriculum audit, which recommended several changes, said Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Theresa Flak.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - A prison psychologist who is concerned about Shepherdstown's budget process and police service defeated Mayor Vince Parmesano in Tuesday's town election. cont. from news page Jim Auxer received 101 votes to Parmesano's 89, according to returns posted Tuesday night. He'll take office July 1. Auxer's wife, Dawn Fye, was elected to the five-seat Town Council with 119 votes, according to returns. All incumbent members of the council except Pamela Berry were re-elected.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A former president of the Waynesboro Borough Council has announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Franklin County Commissioner. Douglas Tengler, a resident of Waynesboro, is the assistant director of accounting at Shippensburg (Pa.) University and chairman of Waynesboro's Zoning and Hearing Board. "I believe my background in governmental accounting and public service has made me well equipped to take on the role as your next County Commissioner," Tengler said.

Commissioners recommend raise for county employees By SCOTT BUTKI scottb@herald-mail.com Washington County's 644 employees would get an average of about $24 more a week starting July 1 under a proposed 3 percent pay raise recommended to the County Commissioners Tuesday by Human Resources Director Alan J. Davis. The 3 percent pay hike was promised to county union employees last summer. It is also the same increase given to county employees for the present fiscal year, Davis said.

The Washington County Commissioners Tuesday approved a $31,217 budget increase for the Washington County Health Department so it can replace heating and air-conditioning equipment and high-mileage vehicles. The Health Department is going to spend $142,868 for the heating and air-conditioning equipment and $106,697 for the vehicles, said Dr. Robert Parker, health officer. The extra money was needed to meet a department budget shortfall. The money will come from the fiscal 2000 capital improvement program budget.

HAGERSTOWN -- With the lowest per-pupil spending in the state, Washington County Public Schools students are outperforming many of their peers, and overall the school system is "in good shape," Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan said Thursday. Members of the local business community heard about the state of education in Washington County during the school system's annual State of Education address Thursday at Rockland Woods Elementary School. "Washington County Public Schools continued on its trajectory toward our vision of becoming a world-class school system," School Board President Wayne D. Ridenour said during Thursday's presentation attended by five school board members.