June 7, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 9 . . County OKs $168M In Spending FROM PAGE 8 n’t given the 2-percent raise we would not have had to steal the $1.7 million [from the stabilization fund],” he said. “It would have equaled out and we would have truly balanced the budget. This was not balancing the budget.” The stabilization funds are being used as technically intended, Bunting admitted. But he argued that the money is on course to be depleted in the next few years, which would leave Worcester in the lurch if a disaster or other costly event demanded resources that were no longer there. “The budget stabilization fund I understand is for exactly that. But it’s for if you have a Hurricane Sandy come through here and all of your bridges get wiped out and the county has to re-build bridges, that’s what it’s there for,” he said. “It’s not to get certain politicians through an election.” Church asserted that he couldn’t disagree more with what shape Worcester is in. “The sky is not falling. We’re in an excellent financial state, probably the best county in the state,” Church said. “There is no fear from six of the county commissioners. And I really don’t understand Mr. Bunting’s concern but he’s entitled to his concern, I guess.” According to Church, the county is on track with funds at least through 2016 to 2017 and even hopes to see a surplus returned to the stabilization fund next year. Particulars of the budget aside, Bunting added that he felt Church was “disrespectful” by not allowing for discussion on the item and instead jumping to a vote and a quick adjournment. “I think President Church showed a lack of knowledge of how to run a meeting. He did not give me the ample opportunity to have discussion, which you’re supposed to ask for,” Bunting said. “He never even asked for discussion … I think it was very disrespectful. I knew how the vote was going to go. I knew I was going to be the only one against the budget, but I did want to have my say.” Church defended the lack of discussion after the meeting. Prior to the meeting, he said that all of the commissioners besides Bunting had told him that after months of debate they had nothing more to say about the budget beyond casting their vote. As for not responding to Bunting when he tried to fit in some discussion, Church claimed that he simply did not hear him and that any brushoff was “not intentional.” “I felt it was the consensus of the commissioners that they didn’t have anything to say,” said Church. “So there was a motion to adjourn. I did not … and I swear to God, I did not hear Mr. Bunting asking to speak.” HAPPY HOUR MON.-THURS. 3-6 P.M. DUCK PARTIES START 4-9 P.M. FRIDAY, JUNE 7 TEAR THE ROOF OFF SATURDAY, JUNE 8 JOHNNY BLING SUNDAY, JUNE 9 TRANZFUSION OPEN DAILY 11 A.M. 311 TALBOT STREET • 410-289-9125 WWW.MRDUCKS.COM