On Tuesday, April 23, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, presented the county’s proposed fiscal 2025 budget of $559,743,200, an increase of 6.1 percent over last year. The proposed budget does not increase the current property or income tax rate while expanding investments in education, public safety, and recreation priorities.

The General Fund budget was developed in alignment with Commissioner goals and objectives, departmental needs, and community input from surveys and town halls. It finances continued investments in infrastructure, supports employee compensation with cost-of-living increases, and applies the use of a new equity tool in allocating resources.

General Fund budget highlights include:

• $12.64 million increase for Charles County Public Schools, which exceeds maintenance of effort by nearly $11.7 million and doubles last year’s total funding increase, in part to pay for costs associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s future. It also includes funding to support salary increases for their employees and the opening of the Waldorf Early Learning Center for Pre-K students. The total allocation, which also includes funding for the Charles County Public Library and College of Southern Maryland, is $248.57 million, or 44.4 percent, of the General Fund budget.
• $9.28 million increase for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, with a total allocation of $130.59 million, or 23.3 percent of the General Fund budget. It includes funding for 10 new sworn officers and two other positions, continuance of the body worn camera program, and cost-of-living increases.
• $9.81 million increase for County Government operations. The total allocation is $99.52 million, or 17.8 percent, of the General Fund budget. New spending is proposed for emergency services with the addition of 10 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), additional staff for recreation and community services, a new position to support commercial development in the County’s Western Technology Corridor, and administrative tools and support for technology, security, equity, and accountability.
• Debt service totals $32.6 million for FY25 and remaining items are $26.8M for a combined 10.6% of the General Fund Budget.
• A total allocation of $21.63 million, or 3.9 percent, for other government functions, including the State’s Attorney’s Office, Health Department, Circuit Court, Election Board, and other local government agencies.

The proposed fiscal year 2025-29 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Governmental budget is $515.45 million. It provides for county infrastructure including schools, county buildings, roads, and parks. A detailed summary of the CIP budget is located here which includes, in part:

• Construction of a new elementary school, a new middle school, and expanding La Plata High School to accommodate projected growth in La Plata
• Expedited construction of a new sports and wellness center beginning in the fiscal year 2026.
• Continued support for a new La Plata library, and renovation of the previous library building.
• Pedestrian sidewalk improvements including a new sidewalk in Bryans Road.
• Funding for continued development of a new Waldorf Park and Popes Creek Park Phase II.
• Repaving the White Plains golf cart path and renovation of restrooms at various County parks.

The budget also provides capital project funding over the next five years for water and sewer facilities, environmental, and stormwater management which totals $556.53 million.

A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed fiscal 2025 budget is scheduled on Wed, Apr. 24, at 6 p.m. in the Charles County Government building, 200 Baltimore St, La Plata. Commissioners will discuss additions and changes at a budget work session on May 7, and the Fiscal 2025 Budget is scheduled for final adoption on May 14. More information is available at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.