The proposed Center for Allied Health and Athletics at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, a program to train nurses and other health care workers, will get a little over $1 million in funding support from Kent County in 2014–under strong objections from Kent County Commissioner William Short.
“I think it’s a great program,” Short said at the Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday. “But quite frankly I don’t see where Kent County can afford it.”
The vote was 2-1 in support of the project, with Commissioners William Pickrum and Ron Fitihian voting up. The project is now green lighted because three of the five mid-shore counties have now voted to fully fund the project. With funding now secured from the five counties, the state will kick in $27 million of the $36 million project.
Dorchester and Caroline voted against the project because of fiscal burdens, but they now must each fund $1.5 million for the Center because there is a three county majority. A simple majority requires all counties to fund a share of the project under a 1969 agreement.
Short said he could not support the project because it will add to the county’s $3.6 million annual debt service, “…up to an additional $100,000 in debt service each year.” He also said it was not fair to burden the counties who’ve stated they couldn’t afford to fund the project.
“We will be burdening two other counties that have specifically said they can’t afford the burden,” Short said at Tuesday’s Commissioners meeting.
“We’re going to have to borrow that money from somewhere–from a [local bank], or from bond sales,” Short told the Spy on Thursday. He said it was irresponsible to add more debt when the county will be faced with a $2.6 million deficit and a $3.6 million dollar payout for annual debt service in fiscal 2014.
“We are already going into our fund balances to cover the teacher pension shift and the maintenance of effort requirement [mandated by the state],” Short said. “At some point we have to stop adding to our debt.”
Short said as a result of Tuesday’s vote, he will “absolutely not support any new tax increases.” He said he was generally against taxes but understood there were times when taxes were a last resort “to solve a serious problem.”
Short also said that training was well within reach of Shore residents who want to enter the health care professions.
“Nurses can be trained…in Salisbury, and of course on the other side of the Bay Bridge,” Short said.
The Center is estimated to cost $36 million and the state will pay the lion’s share of $27 million—leaving the five counties of the mid-shore to cover 25 percent, a total of $8.5 million.
Kent will owe the smallest share of just over $1 million with $960,000 due in fiscal 2014 towards the project.
Dorchester and Caroline will each have to raise $1.5 million to pay their share. Talbot’s funding requirement is $1.7 million and Queen Anne’s will pay the largest share of $2.24 million.
In support of the new center, Pickrum said that the Shore’s aging population was a critical factor in funding the project. He also said the center would provide economic benefits to the mid-shore.
“I understand that all five counties have fiscal challenges—some more severe than others,” Pickrum said. “The Allied Health Program at Chesapeake College…is in fact an economic engine for our region.”
“This is training people to do a job that is becoming more and more important to our society, especially here in Kent County and in our region, because we are getting older in [Kent] faster than any other jurisdiction in the state,” Pickrum said. “So we are going to need more and more medical assistance.”
He said the hard decision to fund the Allied Health Center will pay off down the road.
“Bite the bullet now and our children and grandchildren can reap those benefits for many years to come,” Pickrum said. “It is a tough decision to make, not only for us, but for the other counties too.”
Fithian voted in favor of the project for the same reasons as Pickrum and said financial support of the college has historical significance going back to the late 60s.
“I do think it’s an economic development project for the whole region,” Fithian said. “The five counties made a decision in 1969 that we were going to support Chesapeake College.”
He also said his decision is what was best for Kent County and he dismissed the idea of burdening the Dorchester and Caroline with his favorable vote on the project.
“As far as the other counties, I fail to see where they’ve run to our defense in the past when we had a problem. I’m going to do what I think is best for the people of Kent County, and at this time, I think that is to support the project at Chesapeake College.”
Correction to this story: It was reported in error that Kent was the last of the three counties to approve funding for the Allied Heath Center. Talbot was actually the third county to approve funding–with the vote coming seven days after Kent.
The Spy regrets the error.
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Margie Elsberg says
Thanks for an excellent story. I’m absolutely in favor of the allied health & athletics program and think your article is clear and fair, regardless of how the reader feels. Good information and excellent interviews with all three Kent County commissioners.
joe diamond says
I gotta ask,
There is a good body of research that shows there will be jobs or a long term need for these nursing school graduates?
I remember getting free tuition if I agreed to teach in Maryland after graduation. For several reasons there were no teaching positions in need of new teachers. Thousands of teaching graduates over many years had to pick up second choice professions or leave the state with their free diploma.
There is a one to one relationship between each nursing student and a slot at a hospital somewhere in the state….right?
Joe
Steve Payne says
It looks like hospitals are #2 but the industry is booming overall.
https://medcitynews.com/2012/01/22600-healthcare-jobs-added-in-december-9800-in-hospitals/
Steve Payne says
I think this is great news. The health sector is growing and those jobs are always in demand. I have a friend that just graduated from there.
I’d like to see a partnership between the medical equipment companies and the college to train people to work on that equipment. That could evolve into manufacturing and service jobs.
rds1955 says
Although I think the concept of this endeavor is worthy during better economic periods, this is not one of those periods…
to be blunt, this is one of those “If it sounds to good to be true, then is usually is”….
1st-“Kent will owe the smallest share of just over $1 million with $960,000 due in fiscal 2014 towards the project.”… &
2nd-“This is training people to do a job because we are getting older in [Kent] faster than any other jurisdiction in the state,” Pickrum said. “So we are going to need more and more medical assistance.” (Paraphrased)
Sounds like a real bargain, ehh?
I have another suggestion…lets take that money that we can’t afford, partner with the local Hospital and High School, (keep the money here in Kent County) and start a program to train Health care workers right here…I think that would turn out to be a better bargain both short and long term…
Jack Offett says
RDS – That is exactly what is being done – partnering with education facility and the hospitals. It simply is not feasible to do it on your small scale. The argument is no different than the reasoning behind moving pediatrics and maternity out of this hospital – not cost effective.
As for Mr. Short – – he is short-sighted. The Democrats should be applauded for forward thinking about jobs. Maybe they should take the same approach with the planning office. After 25 years of no growth leadership, let’s clean house and get planners who want to plan for a stronger future, instead of more of the same that fuels Kent’s scary economic downward spiral.