County leaders feel shortchanged by stimulus

Almost $4 billion is headed to Maryland in federal stimulus money. Counties across the state fought for their share of the money, dedicated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, for roads, education, building infrastructure and creating jobs.

While some jurisdictions were successful in securing their share of the funding, Worcester County was not so lucky, its government has concluded.

"Stimulus money, everybody in the world wants to get it," said Worcester County Administrator Gerry Mason. "But I'll tell you who's not getting it -- us."

A list of Worcester County's "shovel-ready" projects submitted to the state earlier this year went largely unfunded by federal authorities in charge of choosing the plans worthy of ARRA funds.

Thus the replacement of the Mystic Harbor wastewater treatment plant, capping and closing the Berlin rubblefill, a Route 50 service road, a water tower and the Ocean Pines-GlenRiddle utility interconnection will all have to wait for better economic times.

"We really did get shortchanged in this," said Commissioner Judy Boggs. "And what we did get, we didn't have any say over."

Of the $3.9 billion slated for Maryland in loans and grants, county staffers say only $10.3 million will be spent in Worcester County. However, the majority of that money -- about $8.13 million -- will be spent directly by the state to resurface and maintain state roads; enhance teacher retirement benefits; give Community Service Block Grants; and make investments in the local workforce. County officials have little say in how this state money is spent.

Worcester County's coffers will only see $1.5 million, of which $1.4 million will go toward special education initiatives and Title 1 schools, according to the figures. The remaining $41,716 allotted for the county will fund laptops for the sheriff's department.

Grants to Pocomoke City for an enhanced nutrient removal system for the town's wastewater treatment plant and local public safety services and $97,000 slated for Ocean City in justice assistance funding make up the rest.

Figures compiled by Gov. Martin O'Malley's office, however, show more stimulus funds going to Worcester -- $16.4 million, including $3.9 million that is the county's share of federal funds bulking up Maryland's Medicare and Medicaid spending. The figures, available to the public via a StateStat Web site, www.statestat.maryland.gov, also tally stimulus spending on Worcester roads as reaching $7.2 million, compared to the county government's figure of $5 million.