The St. Mary’s County Commissioners Tuesday formally approved on a 4-1 vote the three motions necessary to affirm their budget decision from last week’s made last week. Commissioners Larry Jarboe (R: 3rd) voted against the motions to set the tax rate and approved the revenue and appropriation ordinances.
The property tax rate remains at $.857, which is lower than the constant yield for the first time ever. The Income tax rate and other special taxing district rates remain the same.
The $192.4 million budget is $2.8 million more than last year, or a 1.5 percent increase. Highlights include adding $750,000 to the school board’s maintenance of effort budget, giving full-time county employees a $500 bonus but no cost-of-living or step increases, eliminating 21 full-time positions and keeping 6.5 positions frozen, funding for 25 new vehicles (12 for the sheriff’s office) and equipment and maintenance for the NextGen Emergency Communications System.
Jarboe, in voting against each motion, noted he had supported giving the school board more and had supported returning about $600,000 to taxpayers in lower tax rates. Jarboe was also critical of the $2.2 million in the capital budget for design and acquisition of FBR Boulevard.
Commissioner Daniel Morris (R: 2nd), who had supported Jarboe’s earlier motions, voted for all three of the budget motions. Morris emphasized the need for accountability for the non-profit organizations that receive county funding. His message to the organizations for next year: “Tell us what you are doing.”
Commissioner Todd Morgan (R: 4th) called this year’s budget the new normal, and said the amount of monies left in reserve could cushion the county for further state cuts and unfunded mandates.
Commissioner Cindy Jones (R: 1st) said the county needs to be “visionary.” She said, “We are looking at things fiscally and economically that we haven’t seen before.” Jones added, echoing Morris’ comments, “We have to be accountable to the taxpayer for every dollar we spend.”
Jones did defend the FDR capital budget project, saying it not only benefited businesses but everyone in the county.
Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell said, “Nobody is going to be happy with this
