Backing Volunteers: Charles Advances Tax Credit Increase, Public Hearing Set

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners has moved forward with a proposal to increase the property tax credit for volunteer emergency responders, voting to introduce a bill that would raise the benefit and schedule a public hearing.

The measure, Bill 2026-05, would raise the annual tax credit from $500 to up to $2,500 for eligible volunteers and surviving spouses.

Under the proposal, the credit would be capped at either $2,500 or the total county property tax owed on the home, whichever is less. The benefit applies to a responder’s primary residence.

The bill states the tax credit will begin with the 2024–2025 tax year, continue each year after, and will not apply to any previous tax years.

The program includes active and retired volunteer members of fire, rescue and EMS companies in Charles County, as well as surviving spouses who have not remarried and either remain in the home or acquire it as their primary residence within two years of the responder’s death. To qualify, applicants must also meet requirements tied to the county’s Length of Service Award Program.

The income limit remains at $150,000, which is set by state law and was not changed during the 2026 legislative session.

Acting Deputy County Administrator Daniel Mitchell said the county can make this change locally, even though other requested updates — like raising the income cap — would require state approval.

“The other piece of the request was to change the actual amount of the credit, and that’s something you can do as the Board of County Commissioners,” Mitchell said.

Officials said the county’s current budget can handle the increase based on how many people currently qualify.

“Based on what we’re seeing, there is enough funding in the tax credit budgets to support this,” said Jake Dyer, director of Fiscal and Administrative Services.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata.

The item was approved at the April 21 morning session. The full meeting can be viewed on CCGTV.

If approved after the hearing, the change would take effect 45 days after it becomes law.

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