The Calvert County Commissioners and the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE) conducted a joint meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17 at a Prince Frederick restaurant. The session gave the commissioners a chance to meet for the first time with Calvert County Public Schools’ (CCPS) Interim Superintendent Nancy Highsmith since the BOE selected her earlier this summer to replace Dr. Jack Smith.
Highsmith recently announced and received BOE approval to reorganize CCPS administration. The position of deputy superintendent has been eliminated and instead of having an “executive team” as Smith did, Highsmith appointed two assistant superintendents. They are Diane Workman—assistant superintendent of operations—and Anthony Navarro—assistant superintendent of administration.
“There could be some other changes, stay tuned,” said Highsmith.
The interim superintendent’s reorganization initiative drew praise from some of the commissioners, including Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R], who commended Highsmith for “taking the bull by the horns.”
Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] indicated the changes at the top were appropriate at this time. “None of us can do business as usual,” said Shaw.
The biggest topic of discussion was the fiscal year (FY) 2014 general fund budget for county government—the current budget–and projections for the next three fiscal years.
Department of Finance and Budget Director Tim Hayden reported that the county has a $2.6 million budget deficit mainly due to a 3.4 percent decline in real property tax revenues. Hayden stated the county’s real property assessments are projected with a 5 percent decline for Calvert’s Third [northern] Election District, which would impact the FY 2015 budget. County government officials are hoping subsequent reassessments in the three districts will offset the declines.
“We’re hoping for flat or better,” said Hayden.
The county’s income tax growth is projected between 3 and 5 percent. As for the highly anticipated windfall for the county from the proposed expansion of Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Lusby, Hayden, indicated the full impact of the expansion, county budget-wise, won’t occur until FY 2018.
Due to a decline in enrollment, CCPS would see a drop of $690,123 in county funding if the commissioners were to allocate its port
