During a recent emergency meeting held on June 12, 2024, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners faced significant backlash from community members regarding budgetary decisions impacting local education. The meeting was characterized by heated discussions about funding levels for the Calvert County Public Schools, with critics accusing the commissioners of mismanagement and lack of transparency.

One speaker, Sarah Hall, a parent and community member, expressed her disappointment over the decision to flat fund the Board of Education by $10 million below their request. Hall emphasized the potential job losses that could result from this funding shortfall, highlighting the urgency of the situation as the county's educational leadership had been advocating for these funds since March. She criticized the commissioners for delaying necessary financial support and for politicizing educational funding, which she argued should be a priority for public safety.

Another speaker raised concerns about the legality of the emergency meeting itself, questioning whether it adhered to the Open Meetings Act. They pointed out that the meeting was called without adequate public notice and suggested that the discussions regarding the budget had been neglected until the last minute, undermining the transparency of the process.

The meeting also revealed discrepancies in budget figures, with one speaker noting a significant difference between the amounts discussed in the emergency meeting and those recorded in the previously adopted budget resolutions. This raised further questions about the county's financial management and the potential impact on its bond ratings.

In response to the public outcry, the commissioners acknowledged the concerns raised but did not provide immediate solutions during the meeting. The discussions highlighted a growing tension between the county's leadership and the community regarding educational funding and the overall budget process, indicating that these issues will likely continue to be a focal point in future meetings.