On Tuesday, April 23, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Ms. TaTanya Bowman, Assistant Chief of Budget, held additional 2025 budget work sessions with the Commissioners. Yesterday’s session focused on a continued overview of the County’s proposed general fund budget by examining the budgets for all county-administered departments. County-administered departments include the Department of Emergency Services, Recreation Parks & Tourism, Planning Growth & Management, Economic Development, and other departments.
On Wednesday, April 24, County Commissioners met and conferred with the Town of La Plata and the Town of Indian Head on the Fiscal 2025 Tax Differential. Commissioners also held a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budgets, the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program, and Proposed Fees, Rates, and Charges. For detailed information on the proposed Fiscal 2025 Budget, read the full news release here. Commissioners voted unanimously to keep the public record open until May 3, 2024. Formal adoption of the proposed 2025 budget is scheduled for May 14.
- Joseph Green and Sherrie Simms, Lobbyists with GS Proctor and Associates, Inc., held a wrap-up on the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Session, which concluded on April 8. The review included an overview of legislative appropriation from the state to local governments and a review of legislative proposals passed by the legislature. During the 2024 assembly session, a local bill that would allow for the dedication of real property for recreation or a payment in lieu of dedication passed the general assembly. A bill that alters membership to the Charles County Adult Guardianship Review Board also passed as a statewide bill, while a law that would have legalized Golf Carts on Cobb Island failed as a local bill, but a statewide bill on the same issue passed the assembly.
- Wes Adams, County Attorney, updated commissioners on a request from Commissioner Vice President Ralph E. Patterson II to Amend Bill 2022-08 Charles County Commissioners Elections. Patterson had requested that the law be amended so that a candidate for county commissioner be chosen by a majority of voters. The county attorney's memorandum on the issue stated that The Maryland Constitution pre-empted the county from enacting any legislation that could change the manner of voting in the county.
- Staff held a briefing on proposed Bill 2024-11: Revisions to Hotel Rental Tax. The bill would establish a 5% tax and other regulations on short-term rentals, defined as renting of any residential home unit or accessory building for a short period of time. Commissioners voted unanimously to introduce the bill and scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
- William DeAtley, Chief of Accounting, briefed commissioners on the fiscal 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
Commissioners approved:
- A change order of $190,881.60 to provide additional funding to cover the costs of engineering support for the Mattawoman Inflow and Infiltration Project.
- A change order of $275,373.20 to provide additional funding to cover the costs of reviewing additional CCTV inspection videos of the County’s sanitary sewer system as a part of the Mattawoman Inflow and Infiltration Project.
- A change order providing a net credit of $156,129.27 to the Piney Branch Sewer Interceptor Upgrade Phase II project.
- A change order of $189,666.26 for costs to increase the size of the emergency generator on the Landfill Leachate Pretreatment Facility project.
County Commissioners received updates on the activities of the Animal Matters Hearing Board, the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board, and the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee.
Viewing option of the meeting and the Commissioner Listening Session: Click Here
Next Commissioners Session: April 30-May 1
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