It was a passionate budget meeting last night as Mardela residents asked Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver to restore funding for renovations at the local middle school and high school.
WBOC reports that Culver did fully fund the maintenance of effort supported by Superintendent Donna Hanlin to up teacher salaries and begin universal pre-K.
But that came at the cost of the money Mardela residents wanted for the renovations.
Culver told residents at the Council meeting that the county could not afford the millions of dollars it would take for the renovations at this time.
He said he did owe an apology to the residents for not being more transparent.
Culver suggested that money slated for another school’s roof repair could be diverted as a start toward the renovations.
He added he would work with the council to see about making that happen.
