The Cecil County Council recently approved the county’s fiscal 2015 operating and capital budgets. The $239.4 million operating budget maintains tax rates, funds initiatives to combat drug abuse, and increases funding for education.

As reported by the Cecil Whig:

Cecil County Health Officer Stephanie Garrity said Wednesday that she was very glad for the council’s approval of the health departments initiatives. County Executive Tari Moore had approved three requests, including $105,000 to expand community outreach efforts by hiring three more peer recovery advocates, $115,000 to expand drug treatment services at the Cecil County Detention Center and $125,000 to create a new early intervention “pilot” program aimed at first-time youth offenders (ages 14 to 18), involved in substance abuse, that have been recently arrested.

Cecil County Public Schools is allocated a total of $75.52 million, which is a 3.5-percent increase over their current operating budget and $2 million more than the maintenance of effort level required by law. The county board of education had requested a 6.1-percent increase over fiscal year 2014.

The Council also approved increases in landfill disposal fees.

Commercial haulers’ landfill tipping fees will go from $63 per ton currently to $69 on July 1. Commercial haulers could potentially pass such an increase along to their customers by raising their bills. Self-haulers bringing in refuse only under 200 pounds will also pay $12 instead of $11.