[Wednesday, May 13] On Tuesday, May 12, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a balanced General Fund of $644,157,500, an increase of 8.2 percent over last year. The approved budget does not increase the current property or income tax rate and aligns with the Commissioners’ strategic priorities.

“Throughout this year’s budget process, we remained focused on listening to our community, making thoughtful decisions, and staying true to our shared priorities. This adopted budget reflects a balanced approach that invests in our residents, supports important public safety, housing, and accountability efforts—including initiatives such as pretrial services, the rental registry program, and the Office of the Inspector General—and plans responsibly for the future without increasing the tax burden,” Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II stated. “I appreciate the collaboration of my fellow Commissioners and the engagement of our community in helping shape a budget that moves Charles County forward.”

 

FY27 General Budget Highlights

The General Fund budget funds the ongoing costs of government and includes:

• $13.1 million increase for Charles County Public Schools, which exceeds maintenance of effort by nearly $15.8 million. This year’s record $255.8 million investment supports Blueprint implementation, salary increases, and transportation costs.  This includes an additional $1 million in funding, assigned by the Board of County Commissioners during a prior budget work session, to support operational needs.

• $655,200 increase for the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), with a total allocation of $12.8 million.
• The total education allocation, which also includes $6.4 million for the Charles County Public Library, is $280.1 million, or 43.5 percent of the General Fund budget. The Library’s budget includes $142,200 in additional funding designated by the Board of County Commissioners to implement the results of the Library’s Compensation Study.
• $6.3 million increase for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, with a total allocation of $145.2 million, or 22.5 percent of the General Fund budget. The budget supports compensation adjustments, new positions, technology enhancements, and capital equipment.
• $10.9 million increase for County Government operations. The total allocation is $117.1 million, or 18.2 percent, of the General Fund budget. Funding includes expanded emergency medical services staffing, new positions to support the new Animal Care Center, which is scheduled to open during fiscal year 2027, the new rental licensing program, facility maintenance, technology improvements, and other enhanced community programs. This funding also includes additional funding assigned by the Board of County Commissioners to support a new Executive Commissioner Specialist full-time position and a part-time position for the Office of Equity and Access.
• A total allocation of $25.4 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.
• Debt service totals $35.8 million for FY27, or 5.6 percent, of the total budget.

Following the county’s presentation of the proposed FY27 budget, important additions were funded through the fund balance that reflect the Board’s consensus priorities to strengthen community services, expand educational and workforce initiatives, and support operations. Key investments include increased funding for pre-trial services, food insecurity programs, agricultural initiatives, and a new water and sewer financial payment assistance program, alongside commitments such as the UMD Incentive Awards Program and the Commissioner Cares Scholarship. Additional allocations support staffing, equity initiatives, a feasibility study for a multi-generational facility, and an added day of paid leave for county employees.

The real property tax rate is maintained at $1.141 for County Government and $0.064 for Fire and Rescue per $100 of assessed value. The income tax rate of 3.03 percent remains unchanged. The adopted Fiscal Year 2027 budget details are available at https://charlescountymd.info/Budget.

2027-31 Capital Improvement Program

The fiscal year 2027-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget is $1,139,498,000. It provides funding for county infrastructure, including schools, county buildings, roads, parks, water and sewer facilities, and stormwater management. A detailed summary of the CIP budget is located here.

Highlights include:

• $258.2 million for Board of Education projects, including funding to renovate La Plata High School, a new middle school, and capacity improvements.
• Continued investment in transportation projects such as road reconstruction, traffic safety improvements, and sidewalk expansion.
• Funding for public safety and government facilities, including emergency services stations, communications upgrades, and detention center improvements.
• Investments in parks, recreation, and community amenities, including Waldorf Park development and facility improvements.
• Other additions by the Board of County Commissioners include targeted. .investments in parks and recreation, which includes funding to repair and renovate the tennis courts and basketball courts at Southern Park in Cobb Neck, funding to shorten the White Plains Golf Course driving range into a smaller short distance warm-up, practice swing area to allow for additional park amenities at the park, to fully replace tennis courts at White Plains Regional Park, and to enhance safety through new parking lot lighting at Stethem Park.