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 www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/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.