Baltimore County lawmakers expressed concern with several Board of Education purchases, including $100,000 in television monitors for a meeting room and a $65,000 study they said might not be necessary.
A school official attended the County Council?s work session Tuesday seeking a $4.9 million transfer between accounts to fund higher-than-expected costs that also included $200,000 in legal settlements and $20,000 for new computers for school board members. Lawmakers questioned some expenses, particularly a study of declining school enrollment in the county?s southeast corridor.
“I?m sure the councilman from the district could have saved the board $65,000 and told them himself,” said Council Chair Sam Moxley, D-District 1. “I just worry that you have the money, so it?s being spent.”
The school board is asking to transfer funds between accounts with surpluses and accounts with deficits. George Sarris, director of the school system?s Office of Budget and Reporting, said a mild winter saved money on heating oil, natural gas and electricity, but high gas prices created a deficit of school bus funds.
Some costs were unexpected, Sarris said, such as the settlement involving homeless students in other jurisdictions attending county schools.
Meg O?Hare, an at-large school board member, said the plan to buy TV monitors was because residents who frequently attend board meetings complain they can?t see presentations on overhead monitors.
“Money is tight,” O?Hare said. “But I think, generally, we are pretty fiscally responsible.”
The school board may have already committed funds to some of the purchases, said Fred Homan, the county?s budget and finance director, limiting the council?s ability to deny the transfers. Lawmakers asked Sarris to provide more information before the council votes Monday.
“There is too much unknown here for us to intelligently assess what you?re asking for,” Councilman Bryan McIntire, R-District 3, told Sarris.
