Phillip Vecera
Special to the News-Journal
(3/24) Kelly Esslinger, a user support specialist for Frederick County Public Schools and local resident, approached the podium to voice her funding priorities in front of Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater at Winchester Hall on Wednesday. Esslinger dressed in shiny red poms on her head and a red shirt that read: Public School Support Staff – Union Leader.
"We love and care for our students. But it certainly feels like we aren't loved or cared for as employees and that makes the work a lot harder," Esslinger said. "One of the charges of public schools is preparing our students for the future…"
An abundance of similar red shirts filled the room in support of funding Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Dyson’s 2024-25 school year budget. Fitzwater heard pleas from numerous employees and citizens of the County in the final budget meeting that aired live on the county government television network.
Fiztwater, who has served as county executive since December 2022, was joined by Budget Director Kelly Weaver, Special Projects Manager Janice Spiegel, and Government Affairs Director Victoria Venable for the public hearing that lasted approximately two hours.
According to the executive, the budget reflects the priorities of the county. She emphasized the importance of hearing from community members and partner agencies but made sure to remind listeners of the Preliminary Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Fitzwater said the plan has to balance every year across the six years in the county’s long range plan. The CIP includes, but not limited to, construction projects, library projects, fire stations, fire apparatus replacement, and pavement management.
Based on information from the budget appeals, $62 million was requested for the County Public Schools along with $22 million requested for the county and all other agencies.
Charlie Berry, an instrumental music teacher for the County Public Schools, shared his personal experience with Fitzwater. Berry is one of 14 teachers that instruct a combined 3,100 students. The music teacher said he has seen an increase of students by 26 percent in the past five years.
"Staffing in instrumental music has not increased in that time. In fact, there has been no increase in staffing to instrumental music since 2003," Berry said. "Since 2005, five elementary schools have been added and the overall student population has grown from 39,000 to 47,000 students."
James Kelly, director of the County Public Libraries, thanked Fitzwater for her longtime support for her ongoing efforts to meet the diverse and evolving needs of the community and help the county better meet its stated priorities. Kelly said last year the facilities had over 2.2 million visitors and the staff issued a record number of library cards. The director requested two budget appeals: an adjustment to the materials funding formula and a single operational position to better support the public service staff.
Based on their current pay, the County Sheriff's Office is seeing a reduction in applicants, according to Deputy Sheriff Chuck Johnson who currently works for the agency.
"Our pay is no longer superior to other surrounding agencies," Johnson said. "The agency in itself is still a premier agency, however we are not standing out any longer based on our pay."
Johnson said the sheriff's office currently has 23 people who are eligible to retire and that number increases by 12 by the year 2025. He said the agency's idea to retain some of that experience was to increase the percentage of healthcare given after retirement based on the number of years an officer remains with the department.
Other priorities proposed to the county executive Wednesday night included senior citizen care, housing costs, and adding a surgery coordinator position at the animal control facility to assist with pet services, according to the live stream on the county government website.
Communications Director Vivian Laxton said most of what the county spends is legally required while the public process focuses on approximately 23 percent of the budget that is considered discretionary spending. Based on the fiscal year 2024 adopted budget use of funds, statistics show public safety accounted for 21 percent, education accounted for 50 percent, and 17 percent of funds went to other county departments.
Based on a video obtained by county government officials, the budget year is from July 1 through June 30. Each December a public hearing takes place at Winchester Hall followed by another meeting in March to receive additional input for the budget. Fitzwater said it is a work in progress but the county will have a balanced budget by April 15.
Government officials said the public has access to the Balancing Act, an online tool to organize requests included in County’s budget. The County’s Fiscal Year for 2025 begins July 1, according to Laxton.
