The Ocean Pines Association, Inc. Board of Directors thanks you for your continued support

The Worcester County Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds are in crisis and the County Commissioners want Ocean Pines water and wastewater rate payers to repay most of the millions of dollars resulting from County mismanagement. The position of the Ocean Pines Association, Inc., Board of Directors, has not changed as we believe this to be ridiculously unfair. Exactly what are the issues, what actions have the Board taken and how can you help to support our position?

1. The fiscal year 2026 Worcester County Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds budget contains a deficit in the amount of $2,188,000. This deficit is the result of increased operational costs, and the county did not adjust the payer rates to adequately fund the service. 95% of this deficit is the result of Riddle Farm, Mystic Harbor, The Landings, and the Assateague Point sanitary service areas. Ocean Pines had a deficit of only $116,699. A majority of the Commissioners (Except for Anthony Bertino, Jr. and Madison Bunting, Jr.) want all sanitary service areas to pay this deficit, regardless of deficit contribution. Ocean Pines represents 55.6% of the rate payers in the eleven sanitary service areas and Ocean Pines rate payers will pay $1,216,528. This plan violates the current County Code that requires each of the eleven sanitary service areas to be self-autonomous. Additionally, this would set precedent for plans to collect future shortfalls and debts. This will be unfair.
2. The fiscal year 2027 Worcester County Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds budget will contain a debt in the amount of $6,301.010. This debt is the result of a loan made by the Worcester County Commissioners to fund years for inappropriate transfers to Riddle Farms = $3,339,010, Mystic Harbor = $1,730,000, the Landings = $790,000, Edgewater Acres = $242,000 and Newark = $200,000 sanitary service areas. The Ocean Pines sanitary service area has funded its own expenses and received $0 dollars of this loan debt. However, the Commissioners will use the precedent set for the collection of the fiscal year 2026 Worcester County Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds budget deficit discussed in issue No. 1 above to repay this debt. Again, Ocean Pines represents 55.6% of the rate payers in the eleven sanitary service areas and Ocean Pines rate payers will pay an additional $3,503,362. Ocean Pines contributed zero to this debt. This will be outrageously unfair.
3. The Worcester County Commissioners, excluding Bertino and Bunting, want to financially combine all eleven sanitary service areas. This issue has received zero debate among the Commissioners in public. The County Commissioners want to flatten future operational expenses over all the county rate payers. The County will only be flattening the Ocean Pines rate payer pocketbooks and wallets. Since Ocean Pines rate payers are a County majority, Ocean Pines will pay more than its fair share forever.

One of the most important actions taken to date has been the dissemination of information. We have and will continue to act to encourage the Commissioners to approve a plan that treats Ocean Pines fairly:

-Invited Commissioners Bertino and Bunting to talk at a Board meeting

-Invited local news outlets to our community

-Provided press releases to our community

-Contacted other service area leaders

-Wrote a position letter to the Worcester County Commissioners

-Attended and/or viewed public Commissioner meetings

-Consulted with legal council

-Attended Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater Advisory Board meeting

-Crafting ads for local papers

-Designing community email campaign

We encourage all to stay informed. We would also ask your consideration to:

-Send an email to the Worcester County Commissioners (commissioners@co.worcester.md.us) supporting our position to hold each of the water and wastewater enterprise funds sanitary service areas independently responsible. You will soon see more information concerning the email campaign.

-Attend a Town Hall hosted by Commissioners Bertino and Bunting at the Worcester County Public Library-Ocean Pines Branch (11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD 21811) on Wednesday, April 23^rd at 6:00 PM.

-Attend the Worcester County Commissioner public hearing on the Worcester County FY 2026 Water and Wastewater Enterprise Fund Budget at the Worcester County Government Center (1 West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863) on Tuesday, May 6^th at 6:00 PM.

-Send your own letter to the Worcester County Commissioners (1 West Market Street, Room 1103, Snow Hill, MD 21863).

Thank you in advance for your continued support.