Mar 11, 2025 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev.Don Reynolds, Pastor of Calvary Baptist, Church of Denton, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

[Public Comment]

[Special Recognition—Terry Lord for 45 Years of Services]

[00:02:30]

THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSIONERS. TO MY RIGHT IS LARRY PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT.

AND TO MY LEFT IS FRANK BARTZ, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT SO WE CAN HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY.

THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY STATE OR LOCAL LAW.

FIRST, FOR TESTIMONY ON THE REQUESTED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

SECOND, FOR THE ANNUAL MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

BUDGET SUMMARY SHEETS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE WEBSITE AND CAN BE FOUND AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, OR ACTUALLY BY THE DOOR OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.

FOR REFERENCE, THE OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST CAN BE FOUND ON THE YELLOW SHEETS, AND THE OPERATING REVENUE ESTIMATES CAN BE FOUND ON THE BLUE SHEETS.

THESE HEARINGS WERE ADVERTISED IN THE TIMES RECORD AND STAR DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPERS AS WELL AS ON OUR WEBSITE, AND THE MEETING IS BEING STREAMED LIVE, LIVE AND RECORDED.

ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE HEARINGS INCLUDED INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY BY MAIL OR VIA EMAIL.

SO WITH THAT, WE WILL ENTER INTO HEARING ONE, WHICH IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST.

SO, WE APPROACH THE HEARING. FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. OH. I'M SORRY. MY MIC'S OFF. I READ ALL THAT WITH MY MIC OFF.

SO, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE FIRST HEARING ON THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OKAY, SO THE COMMISSIONERS HEREBY CONVENE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.

[00:05:03]

SO JUST BEAR WITH ME. YEAH. THIS YEAR, WE REQUESTED FROM YOU GUYS.

LAST YEAR WE REQUESTED AN INCREASE, I BELIEVE, OF 10% FOR OUR BUDGET.

[• Legislative Bill #2025-001, Emergency Bill Cannabis—Licenses Locations—Restrictions]

I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SUM OF $20,000 FOR SPECIALTY TRAINING FOR SCHOOL BUS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S ON THE ROAD FOR RESCUE TRAINING. SINCE WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THEM RECENTLY, WE ALSO WE ASKED FOR THE LOW SAP TAX INCENTIVE FOR VOLUNTEERS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF SERVICE AND MADE THEIR 50 POINTS A LOW SHOT.

WE'VE ASKED FOR THE PROPERTY TAX REQUEST FOR THAT, WHICH WILL I THINK WILL HELP US WITH OUR RECRUITMENT AND OUR RETENTION.

IN THE COUNTY LOOKING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS TO KEEP THIS VOLUNTEER SYSTEM OVER HERE, INSTEAD OF SEEING IT GO DOWN THE ROAD TO BECOME A CAREER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR 40 SOME YEARS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, OVER 40 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER.

AND I CAME HERE THREE YEARS AGO FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, WHICH THEY HAVE A PROGRAM.

AND IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT IT DOES GET PEOPLE TO MOVE TO THE AREA IF THEY'RE GETTING A TAX INCENTIVE TO VOLUNTEER.

AS WE ALL KNOW, IN HARD TIMES OF THE DAY, MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE.

IT'S NOT THOSE PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY WORK AND THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT USED TO LET THEIR EMPLOYEES GO IF THE FIRE WHISTLE BLOW.

WELL, THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN I CAN SHOW YOU THE DATA.

YOU KNOW, IF I'M GIVEN TIME TO COLLECT IT, WHERE CERTAIN VOLUNTEER COMPANIES HAVE TO SCRATCH FOR THEIR AMBULANCE SERVICES OR EVEN THEIR FIRE SERVICE, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE FIREHOUSE, THE FIREHOUSE THAT I VOLUNTEERED AT HAD OVER 110 MEMBERS RIDING MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, WHICH THAT'S VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

WE COULD GET THE VEHICLES OUT AND STILL HAVE A RESERVE TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE STREET TO TRANSFER TO DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND HELP OTHER COMPANIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

I WAS GIVEN A TASK THIS YEAR BY CAROLINE COUNTY FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION AS THE VICE PRESIDENT, TO HEAD THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

I'VE LOOKED INTO TRYING TO GET A SAFER GRANT FOR A TENT.

YOU KNOW, GOING TO DIFFERENT FESTIVALS FOR EACH, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY DAY AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET VOLUNTEERS. AND WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR PEOPLE RIDING THE VEHICLE OR BEING EMTS OR FIREMEN.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT FROM THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING OUT OF THE MILITARY THAT NEED THAT TRANSFER TO GET THAT TRAINING, WHICH WE CAN OFFER IT TO THEM FOR FREE OF CHARGE.

WE'RE TRYING TO PUT AN INITIATIVE TO GO OUT AND GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, BE THE GATEKEEPER TO PUT PEOPLE INTO THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE BUT ALSO GET THEM TRAINED FOR JOBS.

AND WITH THAT, IN RETURN, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL STAY HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND IT'LL BRING MORE TAX REVENUE BACK TO THE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO BE A VOLUNTEER.

ANY ORGANIZATION THAT YOU HAVE AND IT'S NOT ABOUT RECRUITMENT, IT'S ABOUT RETENTION.

RETENTION. IF WE CAN RETAIN THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO RETAIN, THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE RECRUITMENT.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST NOT OUT THERE. AND WE ASKED FOR A 10% INCREASE EVERY YEAR, AND THE CAROLINE COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS, AND THEY PRETTY MUCH MET MOST OF OUR REQUESTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS LEWIS APP.

AND I KNOW WE ALL ASKED FOR A NUMBER ON THAT, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET SOMETHING STARTED FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY IN THIS ORGANIZATION LOCALLY. I KNOW WE SAY THE COMPANY WE I KNOW WE SAVED THE COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE VOLUNTEER HOUSES, THEIR FUNDRAISERS THAT WE DO.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS FUNDRAISING FOR THE FIREHOUSE. THERE'S MORE TO THE FIREHOUSE THAN JUST GOING AROUND. AND IT'S FUNDRAISING. IT'S COMMUNITY BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY AND LET THEM KNOW. WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES, WE GET A LOT OF HELP WITH OUR FUNDRAISERS FROM OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

YOU KNOW, I BEAT THE PAYMENTS, YOU KNOW, AND WE TAKE THAT MONEY, AND WE DIRECTLY PUT IT BACK INTO EQUIPMENT TRAINING AND WE EVEN, YOU KNOW, LET PEOPLE USE OUR FIREHOUSES FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS.

SO. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY ONE THING. I DO SEE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD LOOKED AT AND TAKEN CONSIDERATION THE PROPERTY TAX THING.

[00:10:01]

SO, THIS PROPERTY TAX THING, MOST LIKELY THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS.

AND THIS WOULD GIVE THEM GIVE US AN EXTRA TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO RECRUIT THEM.

YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS IN, THEY GET A PROPERTY TAX BREAK AND THEN 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY'RE GETTING THE LOW SITE PAYMENT.

I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD TOOL. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

AND ALSO, THE INCREASE IN THE OPERATING FUNDS.

YOU KNOW, OURS GOES UP ALL THE TIME. YOU GUYS KNOW YOU LIVE LIVES, AND YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING UP.

AND BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PROPERTY TAX THING.

I THINK IT'LL BE A BIG TOOL FOR US IN OUR TOOLBOX TO DO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS GOT A HARD JOB TO DO.

I WOULDN'T WANT IT IN A THOUSAND YEARS. AND I DEAL WITH BUDGETS AND DATA AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND YOU TRY TO GIVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TO EACH AND EVERY POSSIBLE ENTITY THAT YOU HAVE.

BUT THIS ONE ENTITY THAT WE HAVE WITH THE FIRE SERVICE, WE'RE THERE WHEN THE PEOPLE NEED US DAY AND NIGHT, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, BAD WEATHER. WE'RE THERE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYBODY ELSE, BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, WE GIVE OUR LIVES TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF YEARS, AND ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO REALLY TAKE A GOOD CONSIDERATION HERE AND PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

YEAH. WHAT IS THE TRAINING? YOU KNOW, 100 YEARS AGO, WHEN I JOINED THE FIRE COMPANY, THE TRAINING WAS YOU DID AN 80 HOUR BASIC FIRE TRAINING CLASS.

WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS THE TRAINING REQUIREMENT NOW? TO BECOME JUST A BASIC FIREFIGHTER. OKAY. WHEN I, WHEN I FIRST STARTED TRAINING, YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH 20 HOURS OF PRE BASIC BEFORE YOU COULD RIDE THE TRUCK. THAT WAS 1983. OKAY. NOW THEY TAKE OVER 100 HOURS FOR FIREFIGHTER ONE.

OKAY. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE FIRST AID CPR.

AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GET CHECKS, CHECKS IN THROUGH THE FIREHOUSE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE QUALIFIED.

EVEN AFTER THEY GRADUATE. THEY GET A CHECK OFF LIST.

OUR ROOKIES, WE CALL THEM. AFTER THAT, THERE'S FIREFIGHTER TWO THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

EVERYBODY HAVE FIRE TWO. AND THEN WITHIN A YEAR, WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST FROM THEM TO GET EMT.

NOW, I JUST WENT BACK AFTER 40 SOME YEARS, AND I REDID MY EMT BECAUSE I LET IT LAPSE AND I TOOK THE EMT AND I TOOK THE ACCELERATED EMT CLASS, WHICH WAS SIX WEEKS. IT WAS IT WAS SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX WEEKS.

AND THEN EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY I HAD 10 TO 20 HOURS WORTH OF HOMEWORK TO DO.

IT WAS CALLED MY BRADY. SO, WHEN YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, IT'S OVER 365 HOURS FOR AN EMT FOR TRAINING.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT TRAINING TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER SLASH EMT SO YOU CAN RIDE THE TRUCK, THE RESCUE TRUCK AND RIDE THE AMBULANCE. YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING WELL OVER 500 HOURS, BUT JUST BASIC FIREFIGHTING.

JUST BASIC, BASIC FIREFIGHTING. I THINK IT'S 142 HOURS.

YEAH. BASIC FIRE. NOW, BECAUSE IT INCLUDES HAZMAT, NO HAZMAT, HAZMAT.

YOU HAVE TO DO TWO CLASSES OF HAZMAT. ONE IS HAZMAT AWARENESS AND HAZMAT OPERATIONS.

THAT'S ANOTHER 60 HOURS TOTAL ON TOP OF IT. SO, YOU'RE PUTTING IN 200 HOURS AT BEFORE YOU'RE FOR YOU.

YEAH. BEFORE YOU EVEN PUT FOOT ON A TRUCK. YEAH.

WELL, WHEN I WAS THERE, YOU HAD TO BUY YOUR OWN TURNOUT PANTS.

DID YOU? I STILL HAVE MINE. YEAH. AND YEAH. AND THE PRICE OF TURNOUT.

$500? YEAH. $4,500. AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT? TWO YEARS AGO, WE SPENT $220,000 ON NEW SCBAS.

BECAUSE THEY JUST TYPICALLY GET, THEY WEAR OUT THEIR EQUIPMENT.

IT'S A CONSUMABLE THAT WE HAVE TO DO. AND IF WE GO ON TO A HEAVY HAZMAT INCIDENT, WE MIGHT HAVE TO TRASH EVERYTHING THAT WE OWN.

I MEAN, SUCH AS, LIKE THE LITHIUM BATTERY ISSUE.

WE'VE LOOKED INTO THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS? WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU KNOW.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT ON JUST THE BASIC PPE THAT WE HAVE TO WEAR THAT WE'RE REQUIRED THROUGH THE NFPA.

AND AT THE TIME WHEN THE MISSOURI DID AWAY WITH THE FIRE ENGINES WHERE YOU COULD STAND ON THE BACK. THAT THAT MADE EVERY JUST ABOUT EVERY FIRE TRUCK IN THE, IN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, JUST IT JUST MADE IT MADE THEM OBSOLETE.

YEAH. AND SO, WHEN YOU'RE AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT FIRE COMPANY ARE YOU IN? AGAIN, I'M WITH QUEEN ANNE'S HILLSBOROUGH. WHAT DOES THE I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT THE TOWNS GIVE.

[00:15:05]

FOR EXAMPLE, DENTON THE LAST I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANT TO QUOTE THIS OR NOT.

I THOUGHT DENTON WAS GIVING, LIKE, 85,000 AND THEN NOT.

NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE RIGHT, I WAS. YEAH. SO, I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION SINCE I'M THE MAYOR OF QUEEN ANNE.

OKAY. EACH TOWN GETS 2500 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

OKAY. TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOW, WHEN WE PUT THE FIRE COMPANY CAME TO THE TWO TOWNS.

THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THEIR FIVE INCH HOSE. THE TWO TOWNS SPLIT THE COST OF 1000FT OF FIVE INCH HOSE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 15, 15, OR $18,000. THEY SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO TOWNS BECAUSE THERE'S NO HYDRANT SYSTEM.

THE 1000 FOOT OF HOSE GIVES THEM GOOD ENOUGH.

THEY CAN GO TO THE RIVER UP TO THE CHURCH IN HILLSBORO, FROM THE RIVER TO PRETTY MUCH FIRST STREET IN QUEEN ANNE.

AND YOUR, I KNOW FUNDRAISING IS DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, FOR EACH COMPANY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT IN DENTON, ABOUT THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET KICKED OUT OF THE FIRE COMPANY WAS IF YOU MISSED WORK IN THREE BINGOS.

IF YOU MISSED THAT, IF YOU MISSED THAT THIRD BINGO, YOU WERE OUT.

WELL, WE PROBABLY REGRET THAT NOW. YEAH, WE THINK SO.

WE CHANGED THAT UP. WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WORK THE FUNDRAISER, AND WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF GUYS THAT RIDE AND WE TRY TO MAKE IT FAIR ENOUGH, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE REALLY TELL THEM THAT WE NEED HELP, SUCH AS OUR ANNUAL DINNER WHERE WE COOK MEALS FOR UP TO 400 PEOPLE AND THEY COME AND BUY THEM. YOU KNOW, IT'S A WHOLE WEEK SYSTEM THAT WE TAKE CARE OF DOING.

I MEAN, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL SPORTSMAN'S BINGO. WE HAVE BINGO EVERY WEEK, AND IT'S A GROCERY BINGO.

WE DON'T MAKE VERY IF WE BREAK EVEN, SOMETIMES WE'RE LUCKY, BUT IT GIVES THE OLDER PEOPLE A PLACE TO COME AND SOCIALIZE AND, YOU KNOW, GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND TRY TO GET THEM TO BE A PART OF THE FIREHOUSE.

AND EVERY MONTH WE DO SOME TYPE OF FUNDRAISING EVENT.

SAME WITH OUR OPEN HOUSE. WE OPEN OUR HOUSE FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, LIKE THE BICYCLES COME BY AND THEY DO THAT.

WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT'S JUST IT'S JUST WE'RE VERY INVOLVED WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

IF I WERE TO IF WE WERE TO SAY. YOU KNOW, THE TAX CREDIT THING, I UNDERSTAND.

WHAT WOULD THERE BE, I GUESS. I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE IF THERE WAS A TRADE OFF BETWEEN THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN EXPENSES AND A TRADE OFF BETWEEN THAT AND DOING SOMETHING ON A TAX CREDIT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER DO? I MEAN, IS THERE IS THERE AN ABILITY TO KIND OF.

WELL, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'D HAVE TO TAKE BACK. THAT'S NEGOTIABLE.

AND I THINK I'D HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK TO THE ASSOCIATION.

AND AS A COURT, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY COMPANIES AND I CAN'T JUST SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S JUST LIKE YOU GUYS. I MEAN, I'D HAVE TO SIT DOWN, AND WE GOT A MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT, AND I COULD ADDRESS THAT AND ASK THEM ABOUT THAT.

ARE WE WILLING TO TAKE LESS? I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO PRIORITIZE BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE COMING ON STRONG IN A TOUGH YEAR.

I MEAN, JUST TO BREAK IT DOWN, THIS IS A TOUGH YEAR FOR US.

SO THIS NUMBER THAT'S IN THE BUDGET WAS THAT THE IS THAT THE TOP NUMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THAT DAY WE WERE HERE.

OKAY. SO IT CAN BE WE CAN ADJUST THAT. OKAY. WORST CASE SCENARIO OKAY.

WORST CASE. OKAY. GOOD ENOUGH. AND WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE TAX BASE THAT QUEEN ANNE DOES OR TALBOT.

WE JUST DON'T WE DON'T. NOT EVEN CLOSE. I THINK ONE PENNY ON THE PROPERTY TAX HERE RAISES $333,000.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS IN TALBOT AND QUEEN ANNE, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY $3,300,000.

IT'S THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE, LIKE IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES COMPARED TO WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT THE OTHER COUNTIES.

THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. NO, IT'S A START TO TALK ABOUT.

AND BUT I THINK PRIORITIES WOULD HELP US MAKE A DECISION, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, I CAN'T SEE US DOING ALL THIS. NOT EVEN CLOSE. SO, I AND FOR ME, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU GUYS BEFORE, I AM NOT A I DON'T THINK I CAN BE A YES ON LOWERING THE LOW SAP AGE TO 55.

I THINK THAT'S JUST TOO BIG. I THINK IT'S TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD IT AT 65. THEN WE WENT TO 60 TO GO TO 55.

IF THE ACTUARIAL TABLES AND ALL OF THAT STUFF IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO 55, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

I THINK THE LOW SAP PROGRAM IS IN GOOD SHAPE.

I THINK IT'S FUNDED ADEQUATELY. I MEAN, DANNY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

WE TOOK THE RECOMMENDATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ABOUT TEARING THE NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU KNOW,

[00:20:01]

YEAH, WE'RE, I THINK ONE OF THE FEW COUNTIES, IF NOT THE ONLY COUNTY THAT DOES A WIDOW OR BENEFICIARY.

BENEFICIARY, YOU KNOW, FOR A SPOUSE. YEP. SO, BUT I THINK THAT I THINK THE LOW SAP PROGRAM, FRANKLY, IS GOOD WHERE IT IS. AND SO BUT IT'S A STARTING POINT TO TALK TO YOU.

PERSONALLY, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM.

I'D MUCH RATHER SEE THE PROPERTY TAX. AND I WILL TELL YOU GET STARTED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS IT IS HANDLED FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT.

KELLY DOES A GREAT JOB. SHE REALLY DOES. I MEAN, SHE IS ON TOP OF THAT.

[• Legislative Bill #2025-002, New Section 194—Permit Denials of Article XXI of Chapter 175—Zoning]

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE LOSING THE OLDER PEOPLE.

AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB IN, IN, YOU KNOW, OPERATING THAT PROGRAM.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE LOW SAP IS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

AND SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LISTENING TO US.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE GREEDY OR ANYTHING. WE DON'T ASK.

WE DON'T GET. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SIMPLE AS THAT.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DEFINITE TRYING TIMES.

AND WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE WHEN WE'VE BEEN IN TRYING TIMES WHEN WE TIGHTEN THE BELT AND WE AND WE MADE IT WORK.

SO, LIKE I SAID, THE TRAINING, IF WE CAN'T GET THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK EVERYBODY THE LOW SAP AGE I THINK THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE FOR THE FOR THE MAINTENANCE ON THE EQUIPMENT, FIRE TRUCKS OVER $1 MILLION NOW.

AND WE'VE DONE FAIRLY WELL WITH BY PUTTING NEW EQUIPMENT IN OUR COMPANY AND BEING RESPONSIBLE.

BUT WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS LOW SAP GET STARTED OFF, EVEN IF WE CAN'T GET THE FULL AMOUNT THAT WE'VE REQUESTED FOR THE PROPERTY TAX, THE PROPERTY TAX, THE PROPERTY TAX, IF WE CAN GET THAT AND JUST GET IT STARTED SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME MORE PEOPLE RECRUITED AND GO BACK AND TALK TO YOUR COMPANIES.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THEM TOMORROW NIGHT AT OUR MEETING. SEE IF THERE'S SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE. WE WILL. I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A FROM AN EXPENSE STANDPOINT, I UNDERSTAND. AND BUT NEVER, NEVER THINK THAT WE DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT YOU.

I WILL SAY ONE THING. THERE'S A BIG PUSH HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR OR TWO ABOUT THE CANCER, ABOUT THE CARCINOGENS IN OUR GEAR. SO A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE SWITCHING TO, ISSUING TWO SETS OF GEAR.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST $10,000 PER PERSON.

BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU IF YOUR GEAR IS DIRTY, BY THE TIME YOU SEND IT OUT, HAVE IT CLEANED.

GET BACK. THAT PERSON DOESN'T. IT TAKES A WEEK OR TEN DAYS.

RIGHT. SO A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO TRY TO PICK UP TWO, TWO SETS OF GEAR.

SO I KNOW THAT'S WHAT OUR TOP RUNNING PEOPLE ARE GETTING TWO SETS OF GEAR.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST. SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXPENSES THAT I RECALL FROM BUDGETS WAS WORKMAN'S COMP AS WELL.

YEAH. I MEAN, AND IT'S NEVER MADE SENSE TO ME THAT WORKMAN'S COMP COVERAGE USED TO BE I DON'T KNOW IF IT STILL IS, BUT WORKMAN'S COMP COVERAGE FOR A ACTIVE FIREFIGHTER WAS ALMOST THE SAME AS FOR AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL LIKE THAT OR NOT, BUT THERE COULD NEVER I COULD NEVER FIGURE THAT OUT.

OR WE CAN NEVER. IT'S STILL LIKE THAT. IT'S STILL LIKE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. NO, IT DOESN'T. I MEAN, SO, BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE WORKMAN'S COMP COVERAGE ON PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING OUT AND FIGHTING FIRES.

I MEAN, IT'S A BIG NUMBER. YEAH. SO, BUT THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. AND I HOPE YOU. THANK YOU. THE BEST. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE JONAH OWENS WITH THE LIBRARY.

JONAH. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

HOW ARE YOU ALL TODAY? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? NOT BAD.

GOOD. DON'T HAVE A LOT FOR YOU TODAY. WE TALKED NUMBERS AND STUFF LAST TIME.

I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. LAST TIME, I WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHERE WE WERE AT IN THE SCHEDULE. TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.

MY STAFF, THE LIBRARY IN GENERAL, MY FIRST YEAR IN THIS POSITION.

IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT WE'VE HAD A GREAT YEAR AT THE LIBRARY.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE COMMISSIONERS. WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR STAFF. YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF US, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY TURN. WE TURN TO THEM A LOT FOR FROM GUIDANCE AND SUGGESTIONS ALL THE TIME, SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE OF THAT SUPPORT.

ALSO, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME HARD DECISIONS COMING UP.

I'VE SEEN THE UPDATED COST PROJECTIONS FOR THE BLUEPRINT THAT WERE RELEASED LAST WEEK BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES.

I'VE NEVER TAKEN A LOOK AT THOSE BEFORE, AND IT KIND OF HIT ME HOW HARD THE COUNTY IS GOING TO SUFFER OVER THE NEXT NINE YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS.

SO JUST WANTED TO COMMUNICATE THAT I KNOW THERE'S HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE AND THERE'S NO BAD FEELINGS ON OUR END.

WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU CAN FOR US, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR PROGRAMS WHEN YOU CAN.

COMMISSIONER PORTER CAME OUT TO OUR MINI GOLF AND ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED.

[00:25:01]

THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ASKED ME TO COMMUNICATE THAT YOU'RE NOT. WELCOME BACK.

I'M JUST KIDDING. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT, AND HOPEFULLY YOU DO NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

WHIP UP ON THEM. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. I JUST WANTED TO COMMUNICATE MY APPRECIATION AND SAY THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT EVENING. YOU, TOO.

AND WE'LL WORK ON THE LEASE. WE'LL. I WON'T BRING THAT UP, BUT WE'LL STILL WORK ON THE LEASE OF THE.

YOU KNOW. YEAH. WITH THE LIBRARY. SO, AS I HEAR ANYTHING, I'LL LET YOU KNOW. YEP. THANK YOU. SIR.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS? OKAY. SO, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE CAPITAL AND BUDGET OPERATING? CAN WE MAKE A STATEMENT? YEAH, I'M KIND OF AMAZED.

AND, COMMISSIONER PORTER, I THINK HE TALKS ABOUT THIS.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT GET ON THE INTERNET AND BLAST ABOUT THIS SPENDING, THAT SPENDING,

[Legislative Session Update]

EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT. IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BUT YET NOBODY, YOU KNOW, SHOWS UP TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.

SO, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, AMAZED ABOUT THAT. IT JUST, YOU KNOW, VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SAY THE LEAST. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. I'LL WAIT TILL THE END.

YEAH, I DO WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS, BUT I'LL WAIT TILL THE END.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS? SO. MOVED. SECOND MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT UP WE HAVE.

HEARING NUMBER TWO WHICH IS OUR MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ENTER THE MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX? DIFFERENTIAL RATES. HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. SO, THIS HEARING IS NOW STARTED.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY NAMES SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY REGARDING THE MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENTIAL MEANS? THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION. WE ONLY HAVE ONE SIGN UP SHEET.

CORRECT? YES. YEAH. JUST ONE. OKAY. CERTAINLY.

I APOLOGIZE, SIR. YEAH. MR. PARISH WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

YEP. I DID. I MISS MY OPPORTUNITY. NO. YOU'RE FINE.

GO AHEAD. GEORGE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE WERE JUMPING ALONG I'M JOKING. I'LL READ IT.

I'M JOKING. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER PORTER, A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT.

SUMMERFEST AND EVENTS IN THE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

BUT IN TERMS OF JUST A GENERAL APPRECIATION ON BEHALF OF CCA, THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING OUR FY 2026 BUDGET ALLOCATION REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND I THINK YOU ALL PRETTY MUCH KNOW OVER THE DECADES SINCE 1977, WHAT WE DO.

BUT JUST TO FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE AND I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1977 AS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION COMMITTED TO THE CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE DIVERSE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF CAROLINE COUNTY THROUGH COMMUNITY ARTS DEVELOPMENT.

WITH THE FUNDING SUPPORT OF CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION AND ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS BY CREATING RESOURCES FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS, AND CREATING DIVERSE AND ACCESSIBLE ARTS PROGRAMING FOR ALL THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF CAROLINE COUNTY. WE ALSO PROVIDE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ARTS EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT, AND THROUGH THE FOUNDRY, OUR OFFICE, AND OUR GALLERY IN DENTON, WE OFFER CLASSES IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS PROGRAMING THAT ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ARTS AND CREATING ART.

WE'VE ALSO SUPPORTED COUNTY WIDE ARTS RELATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND COLLABORATED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR

[00:30:06]

I REMEMBER YOU GUYS WERE THERE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WITH PARTNERING WITH PARKS AND RECS OR ACTUALLY RECREATION AND PARKS.

YEAH, I GET IT BACKWARDS. I GET THEM BACKWARDS IN OTHER PLACES.

THEY SAY IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL IN MY YEAR HERE ALREADY.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMERFEST AGAIN.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE $6,500 REQUEST IS, IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR.

AND IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND OUR BOTTOM LINE.

THERE'S THINGS AND INCIDENTALS THAT HAPPEN IN OPERATING COSTS AND 2 OR 3 SHOVELING SNOW, SHOVELING INCIDENTS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE OUT A THOUSAND BUCKS. AND THOSE THINGS KIND OF AFFECT A SMALL ORGANIZATION.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU HAD, YOU'VE HAD ABOUT A YEAR, RIGHT? IT'LL BE A YEAR NEXT MONTH. YEAH. YES, SIR. SO, YOU'RE GETTING PRETTY WELL SETTLED IN.

[Consent Agenda]

AND THIS TIME OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW, I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR.

OKAY. WHERE WERE WE AT? DIFFERENTIAL MUNICIPAL TAX RATE.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING ON THE MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. SO, I GUESS IN CLOSING, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT? JUST A COUPLE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID VERY OFTEN HERE RECENTLY ABOUT HARD TIMES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY NOT SURE.

AND I THINK IN MY 15 YEARS THAT THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE HARDEST TIME THAT THAT I'VE SEEN FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY WE'RE GETTING HIT WITH SOME MORE BAD NEWS.

[County Administrator’s Report]

WE'RE THE THREE GUYS THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS ON THAT YOU SEE IN THE WALL IN WALMART AND THE GROCERY STORES, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR, DON'T BLAME ME. BLAME THE STATE.

I DON'T THINK WE. WE SHOULD DO THAT. OUR JOB IS TO TAKE THE BLOWS HERE AND FIGURE IT OUT.

I THINK OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN PLANNING FOR HARD TIMES. OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. DANNY.

YOU KNOW, KATHLEEN AND EVERYONE, WE I THINK WE'RE IN AS GOOD A SHAPE, HONESTLY, AS WE CAN BE AT THIS POINT.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHEN IT'S BEEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO SAY, LET'S JUST SPEND THAT MONEY, LET'S JUST DO THIS. AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, SOMEBODY WAS SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS.

OUR OBLIGATION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT OUR OTHER OBLIGATION IS TO MAKE SURE.

AND I THINK THAT THE NUMBERS WILL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

HIMSELF. OUR RETIREMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED.

IT IS FUNDED BEYOND WHAT MOST ARE. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OUR RETIREES.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND WORK FOR US, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER LOST SIGHT OF.

SO, RETIREMENT PENSION, RETIREMENT, HEALTH INSURANCE, I MEAN, I, ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT PEOPLE REALLY COME UP TO THANK YOU IS TO IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME UP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR THE.

FOR HOLDING THE LINE ON OUR HEALTH INSURANCE AND PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE.

SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE THAT SEEM TO BE MADE IN THE IN A VACUUM REALLY AREN'T BECAUSE THE LANDFILL WAS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

STILL IS. BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS A REVENUE GENERATOR

[00:35:02]

I DON'T THINK THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IN THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN RAISED SINCE FOR EIGHT YEARS OR NINE, NINE YEARS. THE PEOPLE WHO SAY MY TAXES GO UP EVERY YEAR, WE'RE THE HIGHEST TAX.

WE ARE NOT. AND YOUR TAXES GO UP BECAUSE OF YOUR ASSESSMENT.

WE DON'T CONTROL THE ASSESSMENT. BELIEVE IT. WE DON'T CONTROL ASSESSMENTS.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

SETTING UP HERE IS THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. AND WE'VE HELD THE LINE FOR NINE YEARS.

MY GUESS IS WE'LL HOLD THE LINE THIS YEAR, BUT SOONER OR LATER, YOU KNOW, IT'S I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REASONABLE TO THINK THAT PLANNING AND BUDGETING AND LOOKING AT COSTS IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH IF, IF THE STATE KEEPS SHOVING EXPENSES AND COSTS DOWN THE LINE TO US.

I MEAN, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, BUT AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BLAME. THEY DON'T WANT US TO BLAME ANYBODY ELSE.

THEY'RE, WE'RE THE GUYS WHO GO OUT HERE AND ASK PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR US.

WE'RE THE GUYS THAT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, TO DO THIS BUDGET.

SO I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND AND WOULD REALIZE THAT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE I WOULD PUT US IN I WOULD COMPARE US TO ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF, IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE'RE HANDLING OUR MONEY. THAT'S NOT BRAGGING. IT'S JUST A FACT OF, YOU KNOW, KNOWING.

KNOWING WHERE WE ARE. SO, AND A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, OUR DIRECTORS, WHO I THINK, COME ON THE LINE, COME ON THE JOB KNOWING THIS IS A TIGHT COUNTY. AND SO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY DOES. YOU KNOW, THIS THE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS WORK AND PUT THIS BOOK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, OVER THERE, NOT HERE WHERE WE GET THE NUMBERS TO LOOK AT, BUT IT'S ALL PUT TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AND IT IS PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH IT.

AND I CAN LOOK THROUGH THIS BOOK AND HAVE AN ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION THAT I'VE GOT.

SO TRIBUTE TO THEM. THANK YOU. BUT WE'LL MAKE IT.

WE'LL GET THROUGH. WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND WE WILL, BUT I DON'T MY CONCERN GOING FORWARD IS FOR WHOEVER'S SITTING HERE IN THE FUTURE IS I SEE A MORE OF A TAKING OR TAKING CONTROL OVER COUNTY. YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBILITIES BY THE STATE.

I THINK THIS PREEMPTION THING ON SOLAR IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

AND I THINK THAT MORE AND MORE AS WE GO FORWARD ALL THE TIME, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE STATE COME IN AND TRY TO BE AND TRY TO TAKE CONTROL OF COUNTIES.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD I WANT THE STATE TO CONTROL THE STATE.

WE'LL HANDLE THE COUNTY. SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THOSE TO THOSE WHO COME OUT.

WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.

MIGHT NOT ALWAYS LIKE TO ANSWER, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.

SO, I THINK I MAY HAVE ONE MORE YEAR LEFT TO DO THIS, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THEN.

BUT IT'S BEEN A IT'S BEEN A THIS HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS JUST A $280 MILLION WRITE DOWN OF REVENUE FROM THE STATE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REACTION TO THAT IS GOING TO BE. I HAVE A FEELING I KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO. WE'LL FIND OUT THE NUMBERS AND WE'LL TRY TO.

WE'LL MAKE THEM WORK. SO, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PORTER. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

YEAH. TO ADD TO COMMISSIONER PORTER, I COMMEND THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE ME ON BEING CONSERVATIVE

[00:40:01]

ALONG WITH DANNY AND THE STAFF AND ALL THE DIRECTORS OF I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF EVERYTHING THEY COME IN, IT WAS PRETTY WELL JUST FLAT LINED. IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN DO.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT. AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET GOES, I MEAN, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH, TOUGH DECISIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE, AS ALWAYS TO ANSWER ANYBODY'S QUESTIONS.

I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT DID COME OUT.

NOT TO CALL ANYBODY OUT EARLIER, BUT IT JUST IT BOTHERS ME WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY TALK CERTAIN THINGS, BUT YET THEY DON'T DELIVER THE, TO COME IN TO SPEAK WHAT THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT.

SO THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR GUYS HARD WORK AND WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.

WE GOT A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE, BUT I THINK WE CAN PULL THROUGH IT.

SO, THANK YOU ALL. ONE THING I WANT TO ADD COMMISSIONER PORTER AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING THERE.

COMMISSIONER PORTER THERE. MAKO REPP AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING IS.

HE'S A MAKEUP REP, BUT HE'S THE ALTERNATE. THESE GUYS, THEY HEAR ALL OF THE SCUTTLE ABOUT WHAT LAWS ARE COMING THROUGH AND WHAT'S GETTING PASSED

[Public Comment]

SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU LARRY AND TRAVIS FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU. I THINK, LARRY WHEN YOU GOT ON THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I THINK THEY DIDN'T, SOMETIMES DIDN'T REALIZE CAROLINE COUNTY WAS AS HAD SO MUCH VOCAL OPINION.

SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STICKING UP FOR CAROLINE COUNTY ON THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO I FORGOT TO ADD THAT. SO, THANK YOU.

THANKS. THANK YOU. WELL, I GUESS JUST STATE THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.

WE'RE PROJECTING 77,600,000 IN REVENUE, AND WE'VE GOT 79,600,000 IN REQUESTS.

SO, WE'RE, WE GOT TO FIND $2 MILLION IN CUTS SOMEWHERE, BASICALLY.

THIS IS IN A TIME WHERE OUR BOARD OF ED MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS GOING UP 1.8 MILLION, WHERE DISPARITY GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE OR GOING DOWN ABOUT 200,000.

[Closed Session: To meet before a contract is awarded or bids are opened, discuss a matter directly related to negotiation strategy of the contents of bid or proposal, if public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process. Authority: 2014 Md General Provisions Article 3-305 (b) (14)]

THE STATE TRANSFER OF EXPENSES OVER FROM THE STATE TO THE COUNTY.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED INCOME TAX REFIGURE, YOU KNOW, REBRACKETING IS GOING TO COST US 1.1 MILLION IN REVENUE. SO, MAACO PUT OUT A PRETTY DETAILED ARTICLE ABOUT THE FISCAL SITUATION THAT DORCHESTER COUNTY FINDS ITSELF IN. ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT DORCHESTER COUNTY ARE FACING CAN PRETTY CLOSELY RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE FACING.

CREDIT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THIS BOARD AND WHAT THIS BOARD HAS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO CONTROL SPENDING.

WE'RE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN DORCHESTER IS CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT WE STILL HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL EVALUATE EVERYONE'S TESTIMONY, ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE PRESENTED AND WE'LL, WE'LL DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST.

SO, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD US HARP ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST, WHAT, TWO MONTHS NOW? THREE MONTHS, EVER SINCE THE LEGISLATURE WENT INTO SESSION.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND YOUR OPINIONS ON THESE ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO BE RELYING ON EACH OF YOU HEAVILY, I THINK, FOR YOUR INPUT ON AREAS WHERE WE CAN WHERE WE CAN TIGHTEN THE BELT.

SO. WITH THAT, THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE FY 2026 BUDGET REQUEST. THE COUNTY WILL BE HOLDING A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 6TH.

[00:45:02]

THE EXACT INFORMATION ON THAT HEARING WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, WITH ALL SUPPORTING BUDGET DOCUMENTS, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.