La Plata, MD – There was a time, not so long ago in fact, when it came time to produce the annual Charles County fiscal year budget there was much hand wringing and gnashing of teeth.

County employees hadn’t been given a pay raise in years. Property taxes were raised year after year to the point where residents threatened to move to King George, VA in protest at public hearings.

Charles County citizens should be amazed at how incredibly smoothly the Fiscal Year 2017 budget process went, considering that in lieu of wailing and gnashing of teeth, the $375.5 million general fund—a 2.7 increase over FY2016—was adopted without raising property tax or income tax rates, county employees got step increases and measures were taken to insure vital projects have funding for completion, including the long-needed Western Parkway.

“Congratulations commissioners, you have just given birth to a budget,” Charles County Finance Director David Eicholtz (pictured above), told the board.

“This is my first full budget cycle,” Charles County Administrator Michael Mallinoff said. “I have to say I am very impressed with the quality of work of the staff,” he said of Eicholtz, Chief of Budget Jeni Ellin and their staff. “They do the best work I’ve seen. They were professional; they asked good questions.

“By and large I try to stay out of the way,” he admitted. “These folks know what they’re doing.”

“I was amazed,” Commissioner Ken Robinson [D-District 1] said. “When you projected us passing a budget on May 3, I thought it was a pipe dream. And here the county has increased staff in areas of public safety, merit increases for county employees. Thank you for making this the most painless of the six budget cycles I’ve been through.”

“For all the warm and fuzzy, we have to address long term plans and I still don’t feel as though we’ve been doing that,” Commissioner Vice President Debra Davis [D – District 2] said.

“I would beg to differ with you, Commissioner Davis,” Charles County Commissioner President Peter Murphy [D] said. “I’m very proud of some of the tough decisions we made last year help bring us to where we wanted to be this year. We’ve given a $4.4 million increase to public schools, a $3.7 million increase to law enforcement, we’re supporting the community college, provided additional funding to the health department.

“I think we do have a plan,” he stressed.

The real property tax rate was maintained at $1.141 for county government and $0.064 for fire and rescue per $100 of assessed value, and the local income tax rate was kept at 3.03 percent of the state liability.

As has been the case for many years, education and public safety accounted for more than 71 percent of the General Fund budget. The budget adoption also supported an investment in the county government workforce, as well as a fiscal 2017 Capital Projects budget of $94,833,000.

Included are:

• A $4.4 million funding increase for Charles County Public Schools, 2.6 percent more than fiscal 2016. The county’s $170.5 million investment, to support salary raises for teacher and other public schools employees, is the largest ever for Charles County Public Schools.

• Continued funding for the Board of Education’s priority projects, including a new elementary school on Billingsley Road; renovations to Dr. Samuel A. Mudd and Eva Turner elementary schools, and Maurice J. McDonough High School; various full-day kindergarten additions; and existing schools’ maintenance.

• College of Southern Maryland funding increase to $120,100 for network security system enhancements and increased mediation services.

• Initial funding for the College of Southern Maryland’s Health Care Training Facility at the new regional campus in Hughesville.

• The Commissioners approved the Charles County Public Library’s request for a bookmobile, contingent on an operating cost agreement with the Library Board.
Public Safety and Health

• A $2.8 million funding increase for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, 3.5 percent more than fiscal 2016, to support hiring additional officers, capital/equipment purchases, and a salary increase for staff.

• Five new Emergency Medical Service (EMS) employees, to improve public safety services in underserved areas of the county.

• Additional funding for the Department of Health to offset a decrease in state grant funding.

• Preservation and protection of county land through the rural legacy and agricultural preservation programs.

• Continued funding for development of the Popes Creek Rail Trail.

• Expansion of the Curbside Recycling Collection Program to serve 1,500 more homes. 

• Funding to pay for stormwater management requirements associated with the federal Clean Water Act.

• A 3 percent overall county department budget increase, including salary raises for eligible employees and capital/equipment purchases to improve operating efficiencies.

• A new online and mobile application for landfill and recycling programs will benefit Charles County residents.

• A rate per ton increase from $70 to $75 to support county landfill expansion.

• An additional $1 million for water and sewer operations, with just a 2.6 percent rate increase for the average customer.

• Addition of a litter removal crew to improve the appearance of county roads.

• Replacement of the county’s financial software program.

Fiscal 2017 budget details are available online at: www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/fas/budget/budget.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com