May 06, 2025 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:00:33]

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THIS MAY 6TH, 2025 BUDGET HEARING.

MY NAME IS TRAVIS BREEDING AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

TO MY RIGHT I HAVE LARRY PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT.

AND TO MY LEFT IS FRANK BARTZ, COMMISSIONER. WE ALSO HAVE JENNIFER RILEY, OUR PIO OFFICER STEWART BARROLL, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

AND STACEY STEWART, OUR GRANTS COORDINATOR, AND THE OFFICE OF FINANCE.

THERE ARE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY. EACH OF WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE OR LOCAL LAW.

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

AND SECOND IS FOR THE PROPOSED TAX RATES. THE THIRD IS FOR THE MUNICIPAL DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

BUDGET SUMMARY SHEETS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT ONLINE AT THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND ARE PRINTED IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

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

MR. BARROLL. IF YOU DON'T MIND READING THE ADVERTISEMENT.

YES, INDEED. THIS IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS ADVERTISED IN TWO PREVIOUS SATURDAY EDITIONS OF THE STAR DEMOCRAT.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. FISCAL YEAR 2026 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULED.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND WILL HOLD THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARINGS IN PERSON ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026. CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUDGET SUMMARY SHEETS OUTLINING THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND EXPECTED REVENUES ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING 410 4790660 OR VISITING THE COUNTY WEBSITE AT. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL ACCEPT WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE MAIL TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629 OR EMAIL TO INFO AT CAROLINE.

ORG. ALL HEARINGS WILL BE RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED HERE AT THE ADDRESS.

TUESDAY, MAY 6TH, 2020 5:06 P.M. CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING ROOM 110, 403 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND. PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

PUBLIC HEARING, PROPOSED TAX RATES. PUBLIC HEARING.

MUNICIPAL REAL PROPERTY TAX. DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ATTEND SHOULD NOTIFY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE AT LEAST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE HEARINGS BY CALLING (410) 479-0660 OR VIA THE MARYLAND RELAY SERVICE AT 711.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW HAVE A BUDGET OVERVIEW BY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE HAVE A QUICK POWERPOINT TO GO OVER OUR FY 2026 BUDGET AND REALLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE TO COME THIS YEAR. SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JEN.

SO JUST TO GO OVER SOME OF THE BASICS, AS COMMISSIONER BREEDING STATED, WE HAVE HANDOUTS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE ROOM.

THE BLUE SHEETS SHOW OUR ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR FY 26.

THE YELLOW HANDOUTS ARE ALL OF THE PROPOSED EXPENSES AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST.

AND THEN THE WHITE SHEET IS A SUMMARY OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

JUST GENERAL NOTES OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. WE RUN A FISCAL YEAR OF JULY 1ST TO JUNE 30TH.

AND AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS, BOTH OUR CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET MUST BALANCE TO ZERO.

SO WE REALLY SHOULD NOT SHOW ANY EXCESS OR UNDERAGE IN THIS PROCESS.

SO REALLY, WHAT MAKES UP THE COUNTY BUDGET AND REVENUE.

SO, THERE ARE REALLY TWO BIG DRIVERS OF COUNTY REVENUE.

AND THEN A THIRD WE KIND OF CLASSIFY AS OTHER THAT IS BROKEN DOWN A LITTLE MORE DEEPER ON THE BLUE HANDOUTS THAT YOU HAVE.

SO FIRST IN THE BIGGEST IS WHAT WE CALL PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THAT OUTLINES REAL AND PERSONAL, AS WELL AS INTEREST, PENALTY AND ANY OTHER SMALL FEES THAT GO ALONG WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION.

[00:05:01]

AND THEN THE THIRD IS OTHER. AND THIS IS REALLY A LUMP SUM OF PERMITS, FEES, CHARGES FOR SERVICES,

[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Thomas Fisher; Abrams Memorial Church of Denton, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

SO REALLY, WHAT'S TO HIGHLIGHT OUT OF OUR REVENUE FOR THIS YEAR? SO, I'VE TRIED TO BREAK IT, BREAK OUT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT WE FEEL WE WOULD LIKE TO REALLY HIT ON.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT MAKES UP THE BUDGET AND THE LARGER PIECES, YOU'LL SEE THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO THAT.

SO, FOR ANYBODY THAT FOLLOWS SOME OF THE RECENT PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT REPORTS STATEWIDE, THERE REALLY HAS BEEN A STEADY GROWTH IN PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS.

SO HERE AT CAROLINE COUNTY, WE ARE SEEING THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER COUNTY ACROSS THE STATE AND HAVE BEEN SHOWING REALLY STEADY GROWTH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, WITH THAT, YOU REALLY HAVE YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHICH WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IS PROPOSED AT $0.98 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE

[Public Comment]

SO THE PROPERTY TAX HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED OR ADJUSTED AND GOING ON TEN YEARS.

AND WITH THAT, WE OFFER A TAX DIFFERENTIAL TO THE LARGER TOWNS.

AND THE COMMISSIONERS ARE RECOMMENDING TO HOLD THE TAX DIFFERENTIAL AT THE SAME AS IT WAS THE PRIOR YEAR.

SO, HITTING ON THE SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, WE HAVE OUR INCOME TAX RATE.

SO, THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE REMAINING AT 3.2% FOR INCOME TAX RATE, WHICH WILL MAKE UP AND BE THE EIGHTH STRAIGHT YEAR THAT THE RATE HAS BEEN HELD THE SAME AT 3.2%. SO REALLY NO CHANGES AS FAR AS OUR LARGEST TWO REVENUE MAKEUPS.

WHEN WE LOOK DOWN TO, LIKE, LICENSES AND PERMITS, RELATIVELY, I'M GOING TO SAY 98, 99% OF THOSE PERMITS AND FEES HAVE BEEN HELD THE SAME. THIS YEAR, WE DO HAVE A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A NEW PRE SOLAR REVIEW FEE.

THAT'S SOMETHING NEW WITH A LOT OF THE SOLAR APPLICATIONS WE'VE BEEN SEEING. AND THEN KIND OF BACK DOWN TO CHARGES FOR SERVICES.

WE'RE REALLY AGAIN 99% OF THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES HAVE BEEN HELD FLAT.

THERE ARE ONE, 1 OR 2 THAT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED STRICTLY BASED OFF COST OF DOING OF HOLDING CERTAIN FUNCTIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE SERVICES AND TRYING TO MOVE TO A MORE BREAKEVEN POINT.

AND THEN ONE NOTE THAT I JUST WANT TO NOTE IS WE ARE SHOWING A SMALL REDUCTION IN INTEREST THAT WE'RE RECEIVING.

SO ANYBODY THAT FOLLOWS REALLY LIKE THE FEDERALS.

THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE. THEY'LL KNOW. EVEN ON YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS, INTEREST RATES ARE STARTING TO TICK BACK DOWN.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT VERSUS OUR LAST YEAR'S REVENUE.

SO THIS YEAR WAS REALLY A UNIQUE YEAR FOR US.

WHEN WE TYPICALLY START THE BUDGET, WE HAVE REQUESTS, AND WE DO THIS PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF REVENUE.

IN PAST YEARS, WE'RE NORMALLY ABOUT $1 MILLION OR SO OUT OF BALANCE, WHERE WE HAVE A MILLION MORE IN EXPENSE REQUEST IT VERSUS AVAILABLE REVENUE.

THIS YEAR, WE STARTED WITH BOTH OPERATING CAPITAL WITH JUST OVER $5 MILLION OUT OF DEFERENCE.

SO, THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A UNIQUE YEAR. AND IT'S HAD SOME CHALLENGES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH.

BUT AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE DO HAVE A PROPOSED MODEL.

AND IF YOU KIND OF GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JEN.

REALLY WHAT KIND OF PUT US IN THAT SHAPE HAS BEEN A COUPLE DIFFERENT CHANGES ON THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, I'LL JUST HIT THROUGH THESE REAL QUICK. SO NEW FOR THIS YEAR COUNTIES ARE NOW REQUIRED TO PAY 90% OF THE LOCAL, STATE OFFICE. SO THIS IS A STATE RUN OFFICE THAT WE HAVE GONE FROM ACTUALLY FUNDING 50% IN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FUND 90%.

SO AT NO FAULT OF ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM OTHER THAN STATE LEGISLATORS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $146,000 FOR THAT OFFICE.

KIND OF ON THAT SAME TUNE, THE STATE IS NOW PASSING DOWN 50% OF THE STATE SHARE OF TEACHER RETIREMENT OBLIGATION.

[President’s Closed Session Report Out]

[Derek Simmons, Superintendent, Caroline County Public Schools]

AND THAT EXPENSE LINE THIS YEAR AS WELL, WE HAVE NEXT YEAR OF OUR THEY CALL IT BLUEPRINT CONTRIBUTION.

SO OUR FUNDING THAT GOES TO OUR LOCAL BOARD OF ED THAT NUMBER BY FORMULA HIT US FOR ABOUT 1.8, JUST SHY OF $1.9 MILLION. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT REVENUE, YOU CAN REALLY SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LINES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT BECAUSE OF POLICY FROM THE STATE.

SO, THE FIRST BEING REDUCTION IN TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT.

SO PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED ABOUT $684,000 IN TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT THAT THE STATE WOULD GIVE US TO MATCH OUR SHARE TO THE BOARD OF

[00:10:04]

AND IN THE BILL THAT ENACTED THE CUT OF THAT IN HALF, IT COMPLETELY REMOVES IT IN FY 27.

SO THAT IS A NUMBER THAT WE'LL SEE ONCE AGAIN BEING CUT IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGEST HITS THAT IS SHOWN IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FORMAT IS A REDUCTION IN LOCAL INCOME TAX.

SO, I MENTIONED THAT WE ARE KEEPING THE INCOME TAX RATE AT 3.2%.

BUT BECAUSE OF SOME INITIAL PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE INCOME TAX STRUCTURE AND EXPANDING CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS AT THE TIME, PROPOSING TO DO AWAY WITH ITEMIZED DEDUCTION AND ALLOWING EVERYBODY TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO FILE STANDARD.

CAROLINE COUNTY HAD A PROJECTED LOSS OF ABOUT $1.1 MILLION IN INCOME TAX VERSUS WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.

I WILL KIND OF CAVEAT THAT WITH THERE HAS BEEN A REVISION TO THAT PLAN AND THAT NUMBER HAS COME DOWN.

BUT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER THAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD TO PUBLICLY POST AS OF 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO, THAT WAS THE NUMBER WE WERE WORKING WITH. SO, WE WILL HAVE SOME TIME, AND WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO ADJUST THAT TO THE NUMBER. WE DO KNOW NOW, BUT AT THE CURRENT VERSION, THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE WERE GIVEN.

SO REALLY KIND OF HEARING ALL THE STRUGGLES WITH THE BUDGET AND THIS YEAR THAT'S KIND OF MADE IT A LITTLE UNIQUE, BUT LET'S KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO AND SOME OF THE GOOD THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS.

SO, IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE INTRODUCTION OF A 25 STEP PAY PLAN.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE COUNTY OR BEEN COUNTY EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE.

WENT AWAY FROM A STEP PAY PLAN. IT WAS REALLY JUST A RANGE.

AND IT MADE IT REALLY CONFUSING FOR EMPLOYEES AND HOW WE ATTRACTED EMPLOYEES AS WELL TO, TO COME WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

SO, WE BELIEVE THAT'S A POSITIVE STEP, AS WELL AS A 2.5% COLA TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

NEXT IN LINE, WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO SEVERAL YEARS AGO WENT TO MORE OF A STEP PLAN.

THEY ARE BEING FUNDED WITH A ONE STEP RAISE AS WELL AS THE SAME 2.5% COLA.

SO FAR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE EMPLOYEES.

FOR ANYBODY THAT LISTENED TO THE MEETING THIS MORNING. WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH HOPEFULLY CHANGING TO MORE OF A SELF-INSURED MODEL OF INSURANCE AND EXPANDING SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS FOR RETIREES AS WELL. SO AGAIN, SOME OF THE BIG TICKET HIGHLIGHTS THAT, GOOD THAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS BUDGET, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FULLY FUND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THEIR LOCAL SHARE, OR THAT BLUEPRINT CONTRIBUTION OF 1.8 MILLION, AS WELL AS FULLY FUND CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AND THEIR REQUIRED SHARE FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION THAT THEY PROVIDE IN THE COUNTY.

SO, KIND OF MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SHEET, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL WHITE PAGE THAT YOU HAVE A SUMMARY OF.

SO, WE HANDLE THE CAPITAL BUDGET PROCESS VERY SIMILAR TO THE OPERATING BUDGET.

[Tom Godfrey, Member from ABATE of Maryland, Mid Shore Chapter]

SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT CAPITAL IT REALLY ALIGNS WITH OPERATING.

AS I SAID, REVENUE AND EXPENSES MUST MUST MATCH.

AND IT'S FUNDED THROUGH A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SOURCE.

SO WE HAVE AN OPERATING ALLOCATION THAT COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS TRANSFERRED OVER TO CAPITAL TO COVER THE BULK OF THE EXPENSES.

WE HAVE A SMALL PORTION OF TRANSFER TAX THAT COMES IN THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR CAPITAL.

CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS AND ENTITIES RECEIVE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WILL TAKE IN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE ALSO SOME USE OF WHAT WE CALL SURPLUS FUNDS, WHICH IS MONEY THAT'S BEEN ACCUMULATING FROM SALE OF OLD EQUIPMENT.

SO THIS YEAR, OUR GENERAL FUND CAPITAL BUDGET IS LOOKING TO FINISH AROUND $5.6 MILLION.

THIS YEAR. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ROAD REPAIRS AND YEARLY MAINTENANCE.

THERE'S MONEY IN THERE FOR LARGE AND SMALL EQUIPMENT OR REPLACEMENT, MOSTLY OUT OF THE SURPLUS EQUIPMENT LINE THAT I TALKED ABOUT, AS WELL AS VARIOUS BUILDING UPKEEP AND REPAIRS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN PROBABLY OUR TWO BIGGEST ITEMS, IF YOU DON'T MIND CLICKING OVER AGAIN, ARE REALLY SOME OF OUR MORE INVESTED CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH IS INTO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

SO FOR ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWING CAROLINE COUNTY AS WELL AS FOR OTHER COUNTIES, HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE TO FUND AND GO THROUGH THE STATE FOR WHAT THEY'RE LABELING THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING. SO THIS YEAR, YOU'LL SEE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE HAS ASKED FOR DESIGN MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT. CAROLINE COUNTY ESTIMATED OVERALL PROJECT COST FOR THIS IS GOING TO COME IN RIGHT AROUND AT THIS TIME PROJECTED ABOUT $2.7 MILLION.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, WE ARE TRYING TO SET ASIDE THAT MONEY UP FRONT.

[00:15:05]

SO, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT AND REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY'S THERE TO MAKE OUR LOCAL SHARE AND THEN KIND OF ON THE SAME TUNE.

BUT BACK TO PRIMARY EDUCATION IS LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO, THEY ARE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF WHAT THEY CALL EARLY PLANNING AND DESIGN OF LOCKER ROOM MIDDLE.

SO, THIS IS OUTLINED OVER, LET'S SAY FOUR DIFFERENT YEARS.

YOU HAVE FY 26, 27, 28 AND 29. AND RIGHT NOW OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT IS ABOUT $165,000 UP FRONT FOR THE LOCAL SHARE OF AGAIN, PLAYING IN THE DESIGN. AND AS THOSE FURTHER YEARS COME OUT, WE'LL OUR SHARE WILL INCREASE TO COVER CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING.

SO REALLY THAT'S CAPITAL. AND THEN IN A NUTSHELL AS WELL AS THE OPERATING.

SO, I'M SURE AS WE GET INTO PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT, YOU CAN PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO THE BOARD AND BE READ INTO THE RECORD.

SO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. FOX. EITHER ONE OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DANNY? NOT AT THIS POINT. OKAY. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FY 26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. SO, WE HAVE A FEW SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET AND TRY TO KEEP THOSE COMMENTS AS CLOSE TO THREE MINUTES AS YOU CAN.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL CALL THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP, WHICH IS MICHAEL MANN FROM GREENSBORO.

ARE YOU GOOD? I'M GOOD. TRAVIS. OKAY. SECOND, WE HAD DR.

CLIFFORD COPPERSMITH FROM CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.

THANK YOU. DR. COPPERSMITH. HI. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL OF YOU GENTLEMEN, TONIGHT. I'M JUST HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF CHESAPEAKE.

WE KNOW IT'S A BIG ASK THIS YEAR WITH THE CAPITAL PROJECT, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT ALL THE COUNTIES HAVE COME TOGETHER IN SUPPORTING IT.

WE ALSO ARE SHARING OUR SHARE OF PAIN WITH THE STATE.

WE'RE WE'VE BEEN ADVISED IT'S POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE A SPECIAL SESSION IN OCTOBER IN WHICH WE COULD SEE A RESCISSION THAT WOULD AFFECT US IN THE FALL.

AND ALSO JUST RECENTLY WE'VE DISCOVERED OR BEEN A BASICALLY A MADE AWARE OF THAT IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET THAT SEVERAL OF OUR GRANT PROGRAMS COULD POSSIBLY BE CUT. THAT INCLUDES UPWARD BOUND, WHICH ACTUALLY WE HAVE A PROGRAM WITH CAROLINE COUNTY THAT WE ALSO RUN WITH KENT AND

[Charles Scott, Warden and Luke Dixon, Deputy Warden, Department of Corrections]

THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT PREPARES OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND THEN ALSO THE COMPANION PROGRAM AND TRIO, WHICH WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, IS ALSO ON THAT LIST.

SO THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO OUR STUDENTS THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING.

THAT'S NOT SET IN CONCRETE YET. IT'S A PROPOSAL FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS TO GO THROUGH CONGRESS.

BUT WE'RE WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY. SO WE CONTINUE TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THIS LEADS ME TO MY LAST STATEMENT THAT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE STABILITY AND THE FOUNDATIONAL FUNDING THAT WE GET FROM OUR COUNTIES.

THAT'S BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT WE'RE GETTING FROM ON THE OPERATIONAL FRONT AS WELL AS THE CAPITAL. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. WELL.

WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR FOR COMING OVER AND GIVING US AN UPDATE ON THAT THIS EVENING.

PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS. WE APPRECIATE THE EFFICIENT EDUCATION OPERATION THAT YOU'VE RUN OVER THERE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR STAFF.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THESE BUDGET PROCESSES AND YOU HAVE A GREAT STAFF.

WE REALLY ENJOY WORKING WITH THEM. COMMISSIONER, DR.

COPPERSMITH, WHEN WE WERE OVER FOR THE JOINT COUNTY MEETING, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE REDUCTION OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE TECH BUILDING. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THAT? WE DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT YET. WE JUST SUBMITTED OUR REVISED PROGRAM STATEMENT WITH SOME QUESTIONS THAT MEHAK HAD ASKED, AND THAT'S THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION.

SO THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN THE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THEM AND WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE SPACE THAT WE NEED THAT WE THINK WE NEED.

[00:20:02]

SO WE SHOULD STILL CONTINUE TO BUDGET WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ADVISE AT THIS POINT. AND AS SOON AS WE GET A FINAL ANSWER FROM THE STATE, THEN WE'LL CERTAINLY NOTIFY THE COUNTIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. COPPERSMITH, FOR ALL YOU DO AND WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO GET THESE FIGURES TOGETHER.

THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS ON THE PROPOSED GRANT PROGRAMS. WHAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL LOSS WOULD THAT BE TO YOU TO? THAT'S IN THE REALM OF SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN THOSE TWO GRANTS.

AND WE ALSO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT'S ALSO FEDERALLY FUNDED.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ESL. SO THOSE THREE THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG FEDERAL PROGRAMS WE HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CUTTING.

THERE'S NO TIME. NO, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD. IT'S JUST IN THE WORKS. IT'S IN THE WORKS. IT'S BEEN PROPOSED UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.

AND THAT JUST CAME ACROSS FRIDAY. GOTCHA. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SORRY TO HEAR THAT, GRANT. THE WAY THE GRANT FUNDING IS SEPARATE FROM OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET, BUT ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE COLLEGE, RIGHT? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ALWAYS GOOD SEEING YOU. YEAH. NEXT UP, WE HAVE BRAD SEARS, REIBLY.

COMMISSIONER. BRAD. YOU GOOD? OKAY. DOUG CROUSE OF WILLISTON.

GOOD. OKAY. AND LAST WE HAD KATHY MOORE OF CAROLINE HUMANE SOCIETY.

GOOD EVENING. KATHY. HELLO. HI. GOOD EVENING, KATHY MOORE.

CAROLINE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY. I WANT TO WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHATEVER FUNDS YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE US. WE WORK EXTREMELY HARD FUNDRAISING.

I WAS HOPING FOR AT LEAST AN INCREASE OF SOME SORT.

LOOKS LIKE I ACTUALLY GOT A DECREASE OF, LIKE, 23,000, WHICH IS GOING TO REALLY HURT A LOT.

I'M NOT SURE HOW WE ABSORB THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN DO MORE FUNDRAISING THAN WE ALREADY DO.

WE ONLY HAVE LIKE SEVEN VOLUNTEERS WHO DO ALL OF OUR FUNDRAISING.

YOU CAN ONLY YOU CAN ONLY STRETCH PEOPLE. YOU MEAN A DECREASE FROM WHAT YOU GOT LAST YEAR? YEAH. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S WRITTEN ON, I'M LOOKING AT THE BUDGET PAPER HERE.

AND WE HAD 408 LAST YEAR AND WAS THREE. LET ME FIND IT ON MY THING AGAIN.

YEAH, IT WAS A SURPRISE. I WASN'T REALIZING THAT THAT HAD BEEN WHAT HAPPENED.

[Bruce Bereano and Steve Wise, Caroline County Lobbyist]

HUMANE SOCIETY. 408,150. CURRENT YEAR ACCORDING TO THIS.

AND WE ASKED FOR 475,150. AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN 385,476.

I'LL COME OUT AND SAY THAT'S HONESTLY A MISTAKE.

SO LET ME I SAID, THAT'S A MISTAKE. THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT.

SO LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. I'M LOOKING AT THAT.

CORRECT. YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A SLIGHT INCREASE OR A SLIGHT INCREASE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M LOOKING AT THIS GOING, OH NO, MY ASSUMPTION IS WE DO THE MATCH OUT OF CONTINGENCY.

SO I THINK THERE'S THE DIFFERENCE THERE. SO, THE DIFFERENCE MAY BE DOWN IN THE CONTINGENCY NUMBER THAT WE TYPICALLY DO THE DIFFERENCE OF. NO, I HAVE THIS HERE. I'LL CONFIRM THAT AND I'LL EMAIL YOU EXACTLY.

BUT MY GUESS IS IT'S ACTUALLY SITTING IN CONTINGENCY FOR THAT.

THE MATCH SIDE. YES. THAT WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS.

I'M THINKING OH YEAH WE AGREED [INAUDIBLE]. RIGHT.

AND THE PAY, THE ONLY THING THERE WAS THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

EXACTLY. BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE A PORTION OF THEIR BUDGET THAT WE FUND OUT OF CONTINGENCY FOR THE MATCH.

SO, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO MANUALLY BACK THAT OUT.

MONEY ALSO GOES TO SHOW IT. SO, ON THIS STUFF AND IT'S CONFUSING.

YEAH, I WILL SAY MY GUESS IS WE MANUALLY DID NOT MOVE THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OUT AT THE SHELTER.

AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO EITHER WE CAN BRING HER IN TO MEET YOU, OR IF YOU GUYS COULD TAKE TIME TO COME OUT AND WE COULD SHOW YOU OUR POD WHERE WE KEEP ALL THE ADOPTABLE CATS AND YOU KNOW, JUST SHOW OFF, SHOW OFF OUR ABILITY BECAUSE THEY TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT.

AND WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF IT. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU GUYS COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT.

OKAY. I KNOW LARRY'S BEEN OUT THERE MANY TIMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE BEEN OUT THERE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEAR.

YEAH. YEAH. SO ANYWAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KATHY.

AND WE'LL GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AS WELL.

SO YEAH. AND MAKE SURE I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH DANNY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THIS SQUARED AWAY.

[00:25:01]

IF YOU HAVE ANY SIGN UP. YES. SO, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? HAVE A COUPLE FOR THIS. SABRINA, YOU CAN GO AHEAD.

COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME. AND I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE COMMENTS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE BUDGET, THOUGH, PLEASE. AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THREE MINUTES, IF YOU WOULD.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME IS SABRINA TURNER. I GUESS I'M CALLING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN AND HIS HOPE MINISTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO NOTHING IN THE PROPOSED.

YES. THAT'S CORRECT. BUT AND, I MEAN, I REALLY LOVE ANIMALS.

I USED TO VOLUNTEER FOR WILDLIFE SOCIETY BEFORE I GOT INTO THE HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE NEED FAR OUTWEIGHS THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES. SO CUTTING THESE RESOURCES, CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WHO WHEN? AS YOU VERY WELL KNOW, THERE'S NO HOUSING FOR EVEN WELL EMPLOYED PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT THE PERSON'S FAULT. I MYSELF AM UNABLE TO FIND HOUSING BECAUSE OF MY CREDIT SCORE DUE TO MY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL BILLS.

SO I JUST WOULD REALLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER CUTTING THEIR FUNDING.

THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP. YEAH, CERTAINLY. HELLO, I'M GEORGE KARAS WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CAROLINE COUNTY. COMMISSIONERS AND YOUR STAFF FOR RESPECTFULLY CONSIDERING THE BUDGET REVENUE REQUEST OF $6,500 FOR THE UPCOMING FY 26. I WAS HERE A FEW WEEKS BACK, AND I JUST WANT TO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW, TOO, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT TO US IT REALLY HELPS OUR BOTTOM LINE.

SO, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT JUST SHORT UNDER THREE MINUTES.

BUT I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMING AND SPECIAL EVENTS, PARTICULARLY LIKE WITH SUMMERFEST, WE'VE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH CAROLINE DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, PARKS AND REC, WHICH WE HELPED FUND THE SUMMERFEST.

THEY'RE IN THE PACKET THAT THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

WE HAVE AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE. WE'VE HELPED FUND THE FACES FIBER ARTS CENTER.

WE SENT MANY GRANTS ALL OVER THE COUNTY WIDE.

FEDERALSBURG, RIDGELEY. DENTON, ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPS US THE EXTRA REVENUE.

SO, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT, BUT IT REALLY MEANS A LOT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED.

THAT'S $6,500. REALLY DOES HELP US. BUT I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. GEORGE. THANKS, GEORGE.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON? THE PROPOSED BUDGET. OKAY. BOB? YEAH.

ROBERT CHAPPELL RIDGLEY. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED YOU'RE STILL POURING THAT MUCH MONEY INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT MONEY IS COMPLETELY WASTED. IT HAS BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

I'VE SAID THIS MANY, MANY TIMES. IF YOU LOOK INTO IT AND REALLY THINK IT THROUGH, YOU'LL COME UP WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION.

IT IS COMPLETELY A WASTE OF MONEY, ESPECIALLY THE TOURISM PART.

YEAH. IT'S A GOOD THING WE'VE GOT MRS. MOORE LOOKING OVER THE HUMANE SOCIETY FINANCES BECAUSE YOU CAN TRUST HER AND BELIEVE WHAT SHE. I MEAN, SHE'S ON TOP OF IT. BELIEVE ME.

THE THING THAT STANDS OUT IS THESE THINGS LIKE POSITIVE STRIDERS, BIG BROTHERS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY RELIGIOUS TYPE ORGANIZATIONS.

I DON'T THINK THESE I MEAN, THEY'RE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE FUNDED WITH PUBLIC TAX MONEY.

IF I WANT TO DONATE TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, I'LL DO IT MYSELF, AS WILL MOST PEOPLE.

BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS I MEAN, THESE ARE NOT HUGE AMOUNTS, BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

THEIR TAXES ARE BEING USED TO FUND WHAT, IN SOME CASES ARE HOBBY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ARTS COUNCIL.

IT'S A HOBBYIST CLUB. I'D RATHER SEE THE MONEY GO INTO THE LIBRARY, WHICH AT LEAST IS A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION.

AND. THE OTHER THE ONLY OTHER THING IS THE VETERANS SUPPORT ALLIANCE.

[00:30:08]

THE VA DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB. I'VE BEEN A VA PATIENT FOR.

WELL, 25 OR 30 YEARS. THERE'S NOTHING YOU NEED THAT VA ISN'T GOING TO DO FOR YOU.

AND IF YOU. IT SEEMED TO BE IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM, THESE PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU.

THE VETERANS MILITARY SUPPORT ALLIANCE. WELL, THE VA WILL HELP YOU TOO.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE BUREAUCRACY AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF.

BELIEVE ME, THAT WAS JUST A REQUEST. WE DIDN'T FUND IT.

YEAH, I SEE THAT, AND I'M GLAD. AND WE DIDN'T FUND THE BIG BROTHERS EITHER.

OH, OKAY. GOOD. YEAH. IT'S NO DOUBT THEY DO SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT IT'S.

I LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, AND I WAS THINKING THE WHOLE TIME, WELL THE VA DOES THAT.

YEAH. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE COMMUNICATING OR YOU CAN'T USE A COMPUTER TO GET THROUGH TO THE VA GEE, THEY'LL, THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED NOT TO FUND THAT.

YEAH. YEAH. SO I WISH THEM LUCK AND I'M SURE THEY DO SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEM.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, BOB. WE APPRECIATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BOB. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT ON THAT. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DON'T HAVE A TOURISM DIRECTOR.

SO, IT DID GO DOWN TO 311. AND BUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN WE HAVE, WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS AT TIMES, BUT WHEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OR THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO GIVE MONEY TO THE COUNTY, LIKE WE DID, GOVERNOR HOGAN DID. IT'S GOT TO COME THROUGH IT.

MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL, THEN IT FLOWS INTO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO THE FINANCE OFFICE.

SO THAT'S WHY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SOMEWHAT OF A PERMANENT.

AND BELIEVE ME, WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE WAY THE MONEY GETS FUNNELED THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT MATCH MONEY THAT WE GOT.

IT'S JUST MONEY THAT COME FROM GOVERNOR HOGAN AND WE SPEND IT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN THE COUNTY. SO, A LOT OF THAT MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE STATE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

SO, THE BUDGET ITEM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REDUCED.

YEAH, IT'S REDUCED A PASS THROUGH GRANT. I'M LOOKING AT.

NO, IT'S COUNTY FUNDS, BUT THE OFFICE NEEDS TO BE THERE TO ACCEPT AND ADMINISTER THE FEDERAL OR THE STATE AND SOMETIMES FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME THROUGH.

SO, IT'S PART OF THEIR STATE? YEAH. YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YEAH. BUT IT HAS BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS REDUCED.

SO, WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS INTO REDUCING THE BUDGET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YEAH. WELL, THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT IT WAS 250,000.

AND THEN IT WENT TO 391 400,000. AND NOW WE'RE HEADED BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

YEAH. IT'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

STAFF THERE DOES A GOOD JOB OF HANDLING THE STATE DOLLARS AND REPORTING.

THEY DO A LOT OF GRANT REPORTING. WE HAVE A COUPLE PROJECTS.

DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK PROJECT THAT WE'RE FINALLY GETTING SOMETHING GOING OUT HERE ON THE FARM THAT WE'VE OWNED FOR, WHAT, 20 YEARS? 20 YEARS WITHOUT ANYTHING? WELL, THAT ONE TOO.

WE'RE WORKING THAT ONE. THAT ONE'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.

WE'RE WE'RE STUCK IN FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO THAT WAS TURNED OUT TO BE A HECK OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

YOU CAN'T SELL IT 20 YEARS AFTER IT'S BUILT. SO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THIS COUNTY LAND BACK INTO THE TAX BASE THAT'S BEEN THERE, NOT IN THE TAX BASE. SO WE ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO DO THAT.

SO, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THERE TO HANDLE THAT ASPECT SO WELL.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS. SO MOVED. SECOND.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

OUR NEXT HEARING IS ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES?

[00:35:01]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. SAME RULES APPLY. PLEASE TRY TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND DIRECT THOSE COMMENTS TOWARDS THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES. I DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP IN THE BOOK.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES? OKAY. I KNOW ALL OF US SITTING HERE WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LARGE INCREASES IN ASSESSMENTS THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN FEELING.

BUT AS DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, FOX WENT OVER EARLIER THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF STATE FUNDING MANDATES SHIFTED BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S FISCAL SITUATION.

THEY HAVE FELT IT PRUDENT TO PASS THOSE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ON TO THE COUNTY.

I THINK WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN ABSORB THOSE COST TRANSFERS WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE ANY PROPERTY TAX RATES.

WE ALL HAVE ALL BEEN AFFECTED BY THE INCREASE IN ASSESSMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL THAT PAIN AND WE UNDERSTAND BUT I THINK IN THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT THE STATE FINDS ITSELF WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AT ITS CURRENT POSITION.

SO WITH THAT, I DIDN'T SEE ANY PUBLIC TESTIMONIES.

I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT. OUR THIRD AND FINAL HEARING TONIGHT IS FOR THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX RATES? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT.

SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO THIS THIRD AND FINAL HEARING.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND DIRECTED TOWARDS THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES? MR. SEARS? GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN. I GUESS THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE HAS TO DO WITH THE, I'LL SAY, THE EXTENDED OUTLOOK OF THE TAX DIFFERENTIALS. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE FACED, GIVEN WHAT'S BEING PASSED DOWN TO YOU FROM OR TO US FROM ANNAPOLIS.

HOWEVER, JUST IN TERMS OF LOOKING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FROM MY TOWN'S PERSPECTIVE, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR OVERALL SENSE OF WHERE THIS MIGHT BE HEADED IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE. YEAH.

OKAY. ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE IT? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

IT WAS COMING, BRAD. YEAH, I FIGURED, YOU KNOW WHAT? DORCHESTER COUNTY HAS PROPOSED. YES, YOU'VE HEARD THAT RIGHT.

I'M SURE EVERY MUNICIPALITY ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAS HEARD THAT PROPOSAL.

WELL, I THINK. YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY, YOU KNOW, DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL, WHAT IT BASICALLY SAYS IS THAT IF YOU LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY THAT PROVIDES ACTUALLY POLICE PROTECTION THERE IS A REDUCTION IN THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE, PROPERTY TAX RATE, COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE AS WE'RE SITTING HERE TONIGHT AND WE JUST PASSED IS $0.98.

WHAT IS RIDGELY'S? OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. THERE IS 40.

IT'S 46. YEAH. BUT I MEAN WHAT'S THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE BECAUSE THERE'S A REDUCTION IN THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE IN,

[00:40:03]

RIGHT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN PLAY WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE 15 YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS BEEN A REAL SUBJECT THAT I HAVE BATTLED WITH OVER THE YEARS.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS, IS THAT THE COUNTY, IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE TOWN BUDGETS.

IT MEANS THAT IT IS. IT IS LESS MONEY THAT THE COUNTY COLLECTS IN IN THEIR COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO THERE HAS BEEN ALL KINDS OF CALCULATIONS AND FORMULAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WILL SAY TONIGHT THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT A PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL.

AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT, BUT IT'LL BE THE LAST YEAR.

I CAN DO IT IF THIS YEAR, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE DID NOT COLLECT ABOUT 600,000, $600,000 IN PROPERTY TAX DIFFERENTIAL.

WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD.

I DON'T HAVE A CLUE. I MEAN, WE HAD MR. BARIANO WAS IN THIS MORNING.

I THINK HE SAID 53 YEARS HE'S BEEN GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND IT'S THE WORST, WORST SESSION HE'S EVER SEEN.

YEAH, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET ANY BETTER. TO ME, IF THERE IS A WAY TO GIVE A PROPERTY TAX BREAK, MY PREFERENCE IS GOING TO BE TO GIVE IT TO ALL COUNTY TAXPAYERS, NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MUNICIPALITIES.

RIGHT. THAT'S GOING TO BE HOW I'M GOING TO APPROACH IT.

OKAY. I CAN'T I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ONE.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF TOWNS THAT HAVE REDUCED THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATES AND GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT MUNICIPALITIES DON'T, SCHOOLS THAT, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE.

SO, I WILL GO ALONG THIS YEAR WITH HOLDING IT HARMLESS.

I WON'T DO IT AGAIN. AND SO I IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, FROM MY STANDPOINT AND I, I DON'T DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, LATELY AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, IT IT'S GOING TO CREATE A PROBLEM.

BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WE CAN'T, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FOREGO $600,000 IN REVENUE IN, IN COMING YEAR. I DON'T THINK WE WILL. SO, I SEE NOTHING BUT COSTS BEING SHIFTED EVERY YEAR. THE BLUEPRINT NUMBER JUST KEEPS EXPONENTIALLY GOING UP EVERY YEAR.

TEACHER PENSIONS WE'RE GOING TO GET TO, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO ALL THE TEACHER PENSIONS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO FROM THE FROM ANNAPOLIS, WE'RE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET, STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT NEXT YEAR.

EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, THE YEAR AFTER. SO, I'M NOT SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THE ROAD'S GOING TO TAKE US, BUT WE'RE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FOREGO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REVENUE.

AND IF WE IF WE ARE ABLE TO WEATHER THAT STORM, THEN I'D RATHER SEE ALL COUNTY TAXPAYERS BENEFIT FROM IT THAN JUST A FEW.

THAT THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT MAKES SENSE. AGAIN, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS, YOU KNOW, THE COST OF LOCAL POLICE PROTECTION AND TRYING TO AT LEAST PREPARE MY CONSTITUENTS FOR WHAT'S LIKELY TO COME DOWN THE PATH, BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. AND I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE SITUATION THAT YOU GENTLEMEN FIND YOURSELVES IN.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS OF, YOU KNOW, FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED.

YEAH. SO, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I, AND MY POSITION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN COMMISSIONER PORTER'S, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE REDUNDANT SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE MUNICIPALITIES, LIKE PLANNING CODES STREETS, TRASH PICKUP, A LOT OF CASES. TOWN RESIDENTS MAY NOT USE OUR HOMEOWNER DROP OFFS, WHICH ARE SUBSIDIZED, I BELIEVE. I DON'T THINK THE STICKERS COVER THE COST.

[00:45:01]

BUT ONE THING I LEARNED VERY EARLY ON IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS DON'T PROMISE ANYTHING, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL SITUATION IS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR.

WE MAY FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME DILEMMA THAT DORCHESTER COUNTY IS IN THIS YEAR.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL BARRING I MEAN, IF IF IT GETS THAT BAD, THERE'S GOING TO BE COUNTIES IN MUCH WORSE POSITIONS THAN WE ARE THAT ARE THAT ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SEE THE STATE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THAT MANY COUNTIES IN THAT DRASTICALLY BAD SITUATION.

SO BUT YOU KNOW, WITH THAT I AM STILL AT THE MAINTAIN POINT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER PORTER'S POSITION AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PORTER ON I MEAN, COMMISSIONER BREEDING ON, YOU KNOW, NOT PROMISING ANYTHING. BUT ONE THING CONCERNS ME, BRAD, IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE STRAIN THAT YOU PUT ON THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE GETTING PULLED FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.

THE INUNDATION OF CALLS IS, YOU KNOW EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS YEAR. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION AND END OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER. AND WHO'S TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PULL THERE? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD THROW ANYTHING ON US AT THAT POINT.

AND WE WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD THAT $600,000 BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO, BUT YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH ALSO, COMMISSIONER BREEDING, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE IN FINANCE A GOOD SHAPE AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT AND THAT'S TO, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE ME AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER PORTER AND LEAVENGOOD AND FRANKLIN, YOU KNOW, THEY SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW. YEAH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO, THANK YOU, LARRY. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN VERY MUCH.

AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE FORETHOUGHT THAT'S GONE INTO THIS OVER THE YEARS WITH YOUR PREDECESSORS AND CERTAINLY WITH MINE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I WILL TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REELECTION. REELECTION, I GUESS.

YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. I GUESS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES. OKAY. NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MUNICIPAL TAX DIFFERENTIAL RATES.

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

AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

SO, THIS CONCLUDES THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET PROCESS.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

ANY COMMISSIONER LIKE TO HAVE CLOSING COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

YEAH. I AGAIN THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE LIKE TO HEAR THE COMMENTS.

WE CERTAINLY LISTEN TO THEM AND PAY ATTENTION.

AND I WILL, YOU KNOW, REITERATE WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

WE ALL PROBABLY SPENT MORE TIME IN ANNAPOLIS THIS YEAR THAN WE EVER WANTED TO.

IT WAS A VERY IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING SESSION.

I THINK THERE WERE PROBABLY 3000 BILLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT WERE INTRODUCED.

AND YOU KNOW, ABOUT THREE OF THEM MADE SENSE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE KIND OF RIGHT NOW SHOOTING IN THE DARK. IF WE WE I'M CONVINCED I THINK WE ARE PRETTY SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT, BECAUSE WHEN THINGS COME OUT OF SPECIAL SESSION, YOU'RE YOU'RE STUCK WITH THEM. THERE'S NOT MUCH DEBATE, THERE'S NOT MUCH PUSHBACK.

I MEAN, AT LEAST ON SOME OF THESE BILLS, WE COULD GO TESTIFY.

THANK JEN DID A REALLY GOOD JOB THIS YEAR TRACKING THE BILLS, MAKING SURE THAT THE ONES THAT PERTAIN TO US YOU KNOW,

[Sherry Bratton, Director, Office of Human Resources]

AND I DON'T I HONESTLY COULDN'T TELL YOU WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SET UP HERE AND

[00:50:04]

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PUT INTO THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE FIVE COUNTIES WHO HAVE TO AGREE.

AND SO YOU GOT TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND YOU GOT TO YOU GOT TO TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT.

WE I THINK WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE IN THE IN THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE WITH KATHLEEN AND DANNY AND STEWART AND, YOU KNOW, OUR OVER THE YEARS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO CONCENTRATE ON IS FUNDING FOR PENSION BENEFITS, FUNDING FOR RETIREMENT.

I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THE PERCENTAGES THAT WE HAVE, THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE, HAVE MONEY IN THEM FAR EXCEEDS THE STATE AND PROBABLY MOST COUNTIES. BUT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BUILD THOSE FUNDS AND HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US AND DO A GOOD JOB AND BE ABLE TO LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE YOU'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF WHEN YOU RETIRE.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SHERIFF BAKER DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB. WE'VE GOT HIT THIS YEAR WITH THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HAVE JUST CAME OUT OF LEGISLATION THAT I, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WE ALL KNOW THE FIGHT THAT WE WERE HAVING AND HAVE HAD ABOUT SOLAR, BUT MORE AND MORE ALL THE TIME, IF I LEAVE WITH ONE THOUGHT, IT IS THAT IT, I CAN'T, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT I'M EVER SURPRISED ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE, BUT I AM TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THE TENOR IN ANNAPOLIS OF TAKING AUTHORITY AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS OF STATE AGENCIES.

AND THAT IS THE THING THAT I THINK IS THE MOST CONCERNING TO ME.

YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER SOMETIMES AND SAY, WHAT ARE WE GETTING ALL DRESSED UP AND COMING UP HERE FOR? BECAUSE WHAT DO WE REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO? IT USED TO BE PLANNING LAND USE. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN TAKEN AT THIS POINT.

SO THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE THIS MOVE TOWARD TAKING AUTHORITY AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND AS I'VE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WHAT I FEEL PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON.

YOU CAN BE YOU CAN GET YOURSELF ALL WOUND UP ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THE PRESIDENT. YOU'RE GOING TO MEET THE PEOPLE THAT SET UP HERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO MEET MR. SEARS BECAUSE HE'S THE GUY.

WE'RE THE PEOPLE THAT SET YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATES.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT SET YOUR WATER AND SEWER RATES.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO PASS POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY.

SO, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY, YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING YEAR, AND I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

SO, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NEW WHAT THE SPECIAL SESSION BRINGS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF MEMBERS.

DANNY, KATHLEEN, STACY, I MISSED YOU. JENNIFER STEWART AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS REPRESENTED HERE.

THANK YOU, SHERIFF BAKER, FOR I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO BE CONSERVATIVE.

YOU KNOW, AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

AND I THINK YOU YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU KNOW KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT CERTAIN THINGS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW ME, I'M NOT MUCH FOR WORDS.

SO WELL, I'LL CLOSE OUT JUST BY EXPRESSING MY OPINION.

EARLY ON, I WAS IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING.

I TOURED THE FACILITY AND THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITY THAT THEY ARE USING AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE CURRENTLY IS VERY OLD AND VERY DATED.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE VERY OLD AND VERY DATED THAT WE NEED TO REDO OURSELVES.

SO, I TOOK AN OPPOSITION POSITION TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING, AND I PRETTY MUCH CARRIED THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

I WOULD STILL LIKE TO BUILD THINGS HERE FIRST, BUT WITH THAT, I RESPECT DR.

COPPERSMITH FOR HIS ADVOCACY FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND KAREN WHO WAS HERE TONIGHT? WE ARE ONE OF FIVE VOTES, FIVE MEMBER COUNTIES THAT ARE

[00:55:02]

IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT KENT, QUEEN ANNE AND TALBOT WERE GOING TO VOTE TO FUND IT.

DORCHESTER WAS THE LONE HARD. NO. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DISCUSSED IT INTERNALLY, I BELIEVE.

I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW IT SHOOK DOWN. IF WE ENDED UP SUPPORTING IT.

BUT I DID GO TALK TO DOCTOR COPPERSMITH ABOUT OUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER BEING ABLE TO USE THE FACILITY THERE. AND HE AGREED TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE COLLEGE AGREED TO DO THAT. SO THERE ARE SOME POSITIVES THAT THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE WHOLE CONVERSATION.

BUT JUST KIND OF WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT AS FAR AS THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE NON-PROFITS.

I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT THOSE NON-PROFITS DO.

THEY DO VERY IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT MY POSITION HAS BEEN THAT IF WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE PERSONALLY, THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THAT THAT WAS ANOTHER POSITION WHERE I'M KIND OF THE OUTLIER.

SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE MOVING FORWARD. THIS YEAR, THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALLOWED COUNTIES TO INCREASE THEIR INCOME TAX RATES TO 3.3%. THE PREVIOUS CAP WAS 3.2%.

CURRENTLY, CAROLINE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE FEW DISPARITY GRANT COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHERE OUR INCOME TAX RECEIPTS ARE SO MUCH LOWER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE. WE RECEIVE A DISPARITY GRANT BY FORMULA, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BRING US TO WITHIN 75% OF THE STATE AVERAGE PER CAPITA. SO THAT THE STATE BASICALLY BRINGS US UP TO WITHIN 75% OF WHAT A THE AVERAGE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WOULD RECEIVE PER CAPITA. THAT FORMULA IS DICTATED OR HAS A INPUT BASED ON YOUR TAXING EFFORT. SO IF YOUR MAXIMUM INCOME TAX RATE, IF YOU'RE MAXED OUT AT THE 3.2%, YOU RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM GRANT FROM THE STATE THAT THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. THE INCREASE TO 3.3 DID NOT AFFECT THAT FORMULA CURRENTLY, BUT I THINK THAT MAY CHANGE. I THINK THEY WILL CATCH ON TO THAT.

SO THE IMPACTS OF. NOT GOING TO THREE THREE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NONE.

BUT I THINK NEXT YEAR THE STATE MAY CHANGE AND AND CHANGE THAT TO FORCE US TO GO TO THREE THREE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR FULL DISPARITY.

GRANT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO IT DOES IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT THEY WOULD BASICALLY FORCE US IN TO RAISING OUR INCOME TAXES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

ALSO THIS YEAR, OUR THE DISPARITY GRANT THE STATE MADE A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY SHIFTED SO MUCH OF THE COST THAT MR. FOX OUTLINED EARLIER ON TO THE COUNTIES SPECIFICALLY, I BELIEVE TEACHER PENSION THE STATE, I GUESS, FELT A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT SHIFTING SO MUCH ON TO THE DISPARITY GRANT COUNTIES THAT FOR ONE YEAR, THEY AGREED TO ADJUST THE FORMULA TO BRING US TO 90% OF THE STATE AVERAGE.

[County Administrator’s Report]

IDEALLY, IF WE FOLLOW THIS THE SAME IN LINE WITH THE AVERAGE.

YES. RIGHT. SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN. SOMETHING TO KEEP EYES ON AS THIS AS THIS MOVES FORWARD.

IT'S A LONG, GRUELING PROCESS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF WHO SPEND SO MUCH TIME PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER.

IT IT'S MY LEAST FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS JOB, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT IDEOLOGICAL POSITIONS THAT THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE THAT WE REPRESENT HAVE IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE BEST FOR EVERYONE AND HAVING TO TELL PEOPLE, NO, I'M SORRY.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. I THINK THAT YOUR PROGRAM OR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE

[01:00:04]

I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD FUND IT. THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT I DISLIKE THE MOST ABOUT THIS.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING IN THIS EVENING AND GIVING US YOUR OPINIONS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS PROCESS. SO. WITH THAT.

I WILL ADD THAT IF ANYONE HAS WRITTEN, HAVE SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS THEY WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES.

JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS? NO.

OKAY. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE HEARING. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.