Funding

Energy savings from a milder winter than expected, vacant positions, and vacancies being filled by people with lower salaries contributed to second-quarter savings that increased Washington County Public Schools' fund balance by $1.6 million, Chief Financial Officer Chris South said. The fund balance, which is built up through annual surpluses and savings throughout the year, was $12.5 million as of March 19, when the school board approved second-quarter budget adjustments, according to an online video of the March 19 Board of Education meeting.

Property values in Martinsburg have dropped for four consecutive years and the city's general fund could lose revenue next year if the losses continue, city Finance Director Mark Spickler said. Values this year dropped by about 6 percent, which was a smaller decline than last year's decrease, Spickler said. “I guess you're going in the right direction, but it's still not positive,” Spickler said Friday. Altogether, the city has seen property values drop about 35 percent in the last four years, according to budget documents.

Efforts to get state money for the revitalization of downtown Hagerstown are continuing with two prominent city residents meeting with top officials from the governor's and lieutenant governor's office Wednesday to appraise them of developments. D. Bruce Poole, a local attorney and a former member of the House of Delegates who has been involved with downtown revitalization plans, said he and Bill Proctor, a local attorney, met with Maia Estes, the chief of staff at the lieutenant governor's office, and Matthew Verghese, the deputy chief of staff for the lieutenant governor.

United Way of Washington County is requesting proposals for Round 2 Community Impact Funds for the 2013 Program year. Funding is available for programs designed to meet education, income, and health needs within Washington County. Any 501(C)3, health and human service agency is eligible to apply for funds to assist programs to be provided from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, according to a news release from United Way. The most pressing health and human service needs in the Washington County community were identified through a comprehensive needs assessment and planning process that began in June 2009, the release says.

If the four guys from Hagerstown Honda have as much fun on the sales floor in the upcoming year as they did lip-synching and swaying to The Temptation's “My Girl,” 2013 should turn out to be a fine year. Joined by several other spirited acts by Hagerstown-area professionals Friday night, the group took the stage at Hager Hall Conference and Event Center, performing a choreographed dance to the 1964 R&B classic before a crowd of about 300 people at the fifth annual Showcase of the Stars.

Washington County legislators who have introduced bond bills during the current session of the Maryland General Assembly remain optimistic that they will be fully funded. These bills - one seeking $300,000 to demolish the former Municipal Electric Light Plant in Hagerstown, another seeking $85,000 for the Antietam Fire Company for renovation of its firehouse and a bill requesting $175,000 for improvements to Lock 44, Lockhouse 44 and the Maryland Railroad Lift Bridge in Williamsport - were heard at committee hearings Saturday.

A Washington County delegation bill asking for bond authorization worth $60 million to fund the county's Capital Improvement Plan passed the third reading in the House on Thursday. House delegates voted 137-0 for the bill without any discussion. A cross-filed version of the bill filed by Sen. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, will be heard by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee March 5. The bond money could be used to construct and renovate public schools, buildings for public safety, health and social services and libraries and fund other capital projects.

Jeffrey C. Ringer, the administrator and former chief of The Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, Md. Inc., has been charged with misusing more than $10,000 in company funds over four years to pay for bar and restaurant bills, and a family member's tuition, according to the application for statement of charges filed by Maryland State Police. Ringer, 53, of 11221 Hollywood Road, Hagerstown, was issued a summons Wednesday on charges of theft of more than $500 and theft scheme of more than $500, Washington County District Court records said.

Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, has introduced two bond bills in the House seeking $300,000 to demolish the former Municipal Electric Light Plant in the city's east end and another $85,000 to renovate and repair the Antietam Fire Company's fire house on Hagerstown's Potomac Avenue. “For years, it's been an eyesore and an environmental hazard and it's one of the pieces of trying to transform Hagerstown ... so we can start by knocking that down ... and start transforming that area near the stadium,” Donoghue said about the MELP plant.

Rotary Club of Hagerstown Sunrise Foundation Inc. distributed its Capital Improvement Funding grants to local nonprofits on Feb. 15.  Foundation Chairman David Abeles said sharing with the local community is one of the club's highlights of the year.  “The Hagerstown Sunrise Rotary Grant Awards program is the culmination of our club members' hard work during our annual auction,” Abeles said.  “It is a wonderful day for our members...