A potential $14.4 million hit to the Wicomico County budget may be reduced to $6.7 million with a new amendment.
Legislation in Annapolis was set to increase the Maintenance of Effort spending requirement for education for the County from $36.4 million to $50.8 million.
That local officials said would have required the county to either dramatically increase taxes or sharply cut core services.
Andy Mackel, the county director of finance, told the Salisbury Daily Times that a recent amendment changes that requirement to 85 percent of fiscal year 2010 levels
But, he added, that it was still a lot of money.
The legislation has passed out of the House of Delegates and is now making its way through the Senate.
At the latest, Mackel said they should know exactly what will happen with the legislation by April 9, the end of the annual 90-day General Assembly session.
