LA PLATA, Md. — A proposal to provide sworn deputies with a $1,000 one-time bonus was discussed but not voted on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, during a meeting of the Charles County Board of Commissioners after Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling said his request to place the matter on the agenda as an approval item was instead handled as a discussion.
The issue stems from a Dec. 9 vote by the board, when commissioners voted 5–0 to approve a one-time take-home bonus of $1,000 for certain county employees during the fiscal 2026 first-quarter general fund review.
Under the staff recommendation approved by commissioners, the $1,000 bonus applied to active full-time Charles County Government employees, sheriff’s office civilian staff, members of the Charles County International Association of Firefighters, members of the Charles County Correctional Officers Association, and employees of the state’s attorney’s office, Circuit Court, Soil Conservation District and Resource Conservation and Development District who are on county payroll.
Sworn deputies represented by the Charles County Fraternal Order of Police were not included.
Bowling said he submitted an agenda request seeking a vote to extend the $1,000 bonus to Fraternal Order of Police members after learning they were excluded. He said he believed deputies were included when the board approved the original bonus package and emphasized that his concerns were directed at elected officials, not county staff.
“I put an agenda request in to make sure that the sheriff’s department bargaining unit members received the $1,000 bonus,” Bowling said.
He said he expected the item to be brought forward for a vote.
“I asked for it to be on the agenda so we could vote on it today,” Bowling said. “I was prepared to vote yes.”
Bowling emphasized that his comments were directed at elected officials, not county staff.
Instead of being listed as an approval item, the matter appeared on the agenda as a discussion item, which prevented a vote from being taken.
County Attorney Wes Adams advised commissioners that because the issue involves the expenditure of public funds, it cannot be acted on without being placed on a future agenda with proper public notice.
County staff said the exclusion was tied to collective bargaining.
Jacob Dyer, director of Fiscal and Administrative Services for Charles County, said when the bonus proposal was presented in December, it outlined which employees would receive the payment but did not specify which groups would not.
“It just outlined who would receive it,” Dyer said, adding that the Fraternal Order of Police did not bargain for the bonus, while the firefighters and correctional officers unions did.
County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II said an explanatory email was sent to the Fraternal Order of Police on Dec. 16 outlining the county’s position. Collins was responding to a Dec. 11 email from Fraternal Order of Police President Michael Smith requesting clarification on the matter. The county’s response reportedly explained that the bonus was tied to collective bargaining agreements and that the FOP had not negotiated for the payment.
“I did not know that they were not getting it,” Bowling said. “And to be clear, if we’d like to do it, we can do it right now. We have given the FOP items that they did not have to bargain for before.”
Bowling said he was frustrated by the agenda handling, calling it unprecedented during his tenure on the board.
“I mean, I just got to be honest with you — this is in the seven years I’ve sat on this board, I’ve never had an agenda item changed,” Bowling said.
Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II said he determines the agenda for Board of County Commissioners meetings and chose to list the item as a discussion rather than an approval measure because he believed the county’s response to the Fraternal Order of Police was sufficient.
The discussion concluded without action. Bowling said he plans to bring the issue back as an approval item so commissioners can formally vote.
Collins said he would not oppose bringing the matter back before the board for further consideration.
Watch the Jan. 6 Meeting: CCGTV
See the complete 2026 FY2026 General Fund Report First Quarter here.
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What BS is this, “County staff said the exclusion was tied to collective bargaining.”? Then why include other employees that are active union members of thier respective unions that engage in “collective bargaining”? The FOP isn’t even a labor union and does not engage in collective bargaining. Charles County just hates law enforcement!
I’m sure that Collins would rubber stamp a $1000 bonus for judges in this county without a problem. But of course he won’t do the same for the law enforcement officers and first responders who have to put up with all the crap of the criminals who voted for him.
“Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II said he determines the agenda for Board of County Commissioners meetings and chose to list the item as a discussion rather than an approval measure because he believed the county’s response to the Fraternal Order of Police was sufficient.”
If all those other entities are receiving a $1000 (give or take) bonus, why not just list the FOP bonus as an approval measure? Plus, bonuses are a show of appreciation. No discussion needed.
They make enough money don’t need no bonus us tax payers have to pay for there fuel they don’t do nothing for me
Just do your jobs don’t be like the losers commissioners wanting something for nothing
Doesn’t the FOP get bonuses that the other county employees don’t get?
Yes and gets a better retirement plus get paid for letting church members out on our dime