Photo by Staff file photo Commissioner Charles Jenkins Searchable Salary Databases Frederick County Public Schools employees Frederick County government employees

Thursday morning, Commissioner Charles Jenkins took the school system to task over a pair of accountant positions it is trying to fill at salaries over $20,000 more than what is paid to comparable county employees. With benefits included, the disparity between the county and school system's costs for each position rises to more than $28,000.

"I want to tell you that it infuriates me, that on the county side, we're being responsible with taxpayer dollars, and I do not see that level of accountability across the street," Jenkins said.

While the county government's salaries are competitive with those in Harford County and not far behind those in Montgomery and Howard counties, they cannot compete with the school system's salaries, he said.

It appears likely that the higher salaries are drawing at least one county accountant to the school system, Jenkins said, as other commissioners noted the county has, in the past, lost IT, planning and other accounting staff to the school system.

Wednesday, the school board proposed a $505.8 million budget for fiscal year 2010, $13.2 million more than its current fiscal year budget, while the county is projecting a $27 million to $30 million deficit in its fiscal 2010 budget. In the current fiscal year, about half the county's $476.9 million budget went to FCPS.

"While FCPS enrollment is down about 325 students, this year they're going to receive about $10.7 million more than they received from the state last year, while the county continues having to pare its budget to the bone," Jenkins said.

Commissioners President Jan Gardner said the commissioners should meet with school officials to discuss the salary disparities, saying that while the county cannot make the school system change its salary structure, it could refuse to approve additional funding.

This is something to keep in mind when people complain to the commissioners about school problems such as inadequate classroom supplies, Commissioner John L. Thompson Jr. said.

As part of their ongoing budget discussions, the commissioners Thursday directed the budget staff to find $10 million in potential cuts to the capital budget, freeing up general fund revenues, to help close the budget deficit.

The recommended fiscal 2010 capital budget county staff brought forward Thursday was $80.5 million, compared with a $171.1 million approved capital budget for the current fiscal year.

Gardner said it's possible the commissioners may take two versions of the budget to the public hearing in March, one more stripped down than the other.

By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, schools officials could not be reached for comment.