February 21st, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Adjustments were made to this fiscal year’s annual County budget due to unexpected expenditures amounting to nearly two million dollars.  Over $400,000 from the county's general fund will go toward funding four body cam analysts, and three positions that were originally American Rescue Plan funded positions.  County Administrator Jason Bennett said they reached out to the state and tried to work out additional federal ARP funding…

“The funding that is expired here is federal ARP funding that we used as a stop gap.  We’re just out of that funding now.  So, we applied for a grant through the state which they said they would give us the money.  They did not.”

Commissioner Bill Atkinson pointed out that half of what the positions do serves state affairs, yet the funding is still being pulled from the County’s budget…

“Those positions also review the state police body cams, DNR body cams, Frostburg State University body cams, City of Frostburg, City of Cumberland body cams along with the Sheriff’s.  So, half of those jobs are being done to satisfy state body cam work that we get no reimbursement form the state.  So, again, thanks to the state, that comes out of our budget.”