Meeting on Capital Improvements Plan
The Board of Supervisors and the Caroline County School Board held a joint worksession on November 23 to discuss the Public School Division’s five-year Capital Improvements Plan.
School Division Superintendent Dr. Greg Killough walked members of both boards through the five-year plan, which totals projects and equipment in the amount of $67,490,835.00.
The top priorities for the School Division as listed in the CIP document are improvements to Caroline High School, which total approximately $9.5 million. Transforming Bowling Green Primary School into a K-5 learning center is the second priority.
All three of these projects have been submitted for Qualified School Construction Bonds after both boards approved to jointly apply last week. Notification is expected in January whether Caroline County will receive the funds which are authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
“We have a real good chance to get the funding for combining the two Bowling Green elementary schools,” commented Dr. Killough. “The other projects we have to hope and pray because they are not as competitive.”
Members of both boards discussed various aspects of the capital plan and the key component of how to pay for the projects proposed. One idea that was floated was a bond referendum to allow the citizens to vote for the improvements.
“Then the citizens would know how much they have to pay for these improvements,” remarked Madison District Supervisor Wayne Acors.”
School Board Chairman Mack Wright said he could get behind a bond referendum as long as other non-education projects were not attached to it.
“I want to make that clear tonight that is the only way I could support that,” Wright said.
The Board of Supervisors will continue discussion on the entire County’s CIP at a worksession that precedes its December 7 regular meeting. The official proposal will be included in the County Administrator’s budget submittal in February.
Other matters before the Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting that followed:
- Recognized Arlene Mills, Administrative Assistant in the Planning Department, upon her retirement on December 1.
- Approved a data policy for the County’s new Geographic Information System.
- Agreed to consider in January appointments for a citizens committee to review the 2011 redistricting process for establishment of Election Districts.
- Approved a three-party agreement for the Carmel Church Station that involves the George Washington Regional Commission.
- Advanced to public hearing on January 11 an ordinance amendment to provide a reduction in personal property taxes for active volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel.