[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6377689,"mediaKeyId","2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de","parentId",2138836,"title","Commissioners tentatively set aside $600,000 for sheriff’s ECCs, ask sheriff to firm up allocations","audioSeconds",1324,"startMs",3266000,"endMs",4590000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de&start=3266&end=4590","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de/thumbnail_3266000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6377689/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-tentatively-set-aside-600000-for-sheriffs-ECCs-ask-sheriff-to-firm-up-allocations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377689-aa59b96f293fa187f4482fb8d3ee58a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775859968&Signature=HG72-4eXZ05lkwdDmgf3eEZaoH6cyCZ1hLOtrNNCzSkJ-18VQ0l3XXM98sNoR4VQ0QobdKI3K4DnxE5BwICpwxbozGxfe3TtZBFvE3~FdqP0Y2~SfuEHuHNIOJ5WrrmUcXwzcAxP0prVwrQhjUWD0H0n3GRc42ZZdOnz2zXxeOi-9zSYJorOObb1y0oIqZDXpNr8ENrU3xahuUlPDH3DAOnG90NvVUG-8t3v0ZroKe7gp9nXwS68wD0dDI8IiaakaHPK40oftsSrgJHc50BgWeLzI9vdV87lwId9efzbq~El-POpM7XuUE-iMxKrpX8H9lLMHYPG-u1GYpu2Xp30gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-22T18:19:00.273Z","article","Sheriff Tim Cameron and his staff presented a package of essential cost-change requests (ECCs) that included sworn positions to address an anticipated retirement \"drop,\" rank promotions, station clerks for new district offices, and equipment and vehicle needs. Commissioners signaled support for a recurring allocation of $600,000 and asked the sheriff’s office to refine and return with detailed cost estimates.

The sheriff explained that seven sworn positions were forecasted to retire in April 2022; the office proposed hiring replacements earlier so new hires could be trained and ready at the time of the retirements. The proposed approach would require filling positions in advance (creating what staff described as overlapping hires during training) to avoid service gaps. The sheriff described the seven hires as replacements tied to forecasted attrition rather than net new permanent FTE growth, and he also requested additional ranked positions (one lieutenant and three sergeants) to strengthen supervision and specialized services.

Commissioners discussed station staffing needs for two new district stations (one opening immediately in mid-March and others later), the potential role of station clerks to assist the public with report copies and records, and the role of grants (for example, a COPS grant that could offset some deputy costs for three years) in the near term. The board asked the sheriff’s office to consider which items are recurring operating costs and which could be financed as nonrecurring capital or vehicle purchases.

Several commissioners emphasized the importance of flexibility and acknowledged prior reductions in the sheriff's budget; they asked the sheriff to identify nonrecurring purchases and potential salary-savings offsets. Sheriff Cameron agreed to return with a refined proposal for the commissioners’ scheduled review on March 10 or 17, 2020.

Commissioners also agreed separately earlier in the session to the new sworn law-enforcement pay schedule (see related article), which staff said will be reflected in multi-year cost projections affecting the sheriff’s ECC requests.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/3/2020 CSMC Budget Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","In a wide-ranging discussion of the sheriff's ECC package, commissioners signaled support for a recurring $600,000 allocation to the Sheriff's Office to cover staffing ranks, new deputies tied to an upcoming 'drop' of retirements, station clerks and equipment; the sheriff agreed to return with detailed numbers.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6377693,"Commissioners allocate $30,000 extra to state's attorney, fund carpet from fund balance; interns and contract attorney deferred for rework",690,2520000,3210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de&start=2520&end=3210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6377693/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-allocate-30000-extra-to-states-attorney-fund-carpet-from-fund-balance-interns-and-contract-attorney-deferred-for-rework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377693-53246a2ee399ca1f60267b1c3cfdd022/orig.mp4?Expires=1775859968&Signature=ge22pKR8T2YKMBwFtmhGjjqbleDptuT0VS7FnSwVmSsLFzvzuVfIazCezw4913w8Ug-SmRI5t41WPbY9kS5c9oxEzT3G0kT2GMCma~c3ZHcqFl3v~RzxjzjoiBrIcmevuI4JdRDExNsGieImVxm1yHG8S5-jcff0XwNB5~GZtbFGQU7~n3VP3VF0JW1niVxMNjA70KlXVuXOeVeVBvbjcnM4LZw23IxOdTLY7lkqcXOm0b9AL9ndCwKFK~bDS0esJXcJPdKXwMZ7~27cglTgU8xkZ3-ncxa3KqLwnXGO-oeDzd34oLFipb0IuFgLXG~ZozMzVZZb2SezKopNUj4-2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jamie Sterling, the State's Attorney, presented several essential cost-change requests (ECCs) including district-court carpet replacement, updated legal reference books, and proposed temporary contractual attorney and intern positions.

Sterling said the carpet request was a one-time need and asked whether it could be funded from the available fund balance. A majority of commissioners agreed to use fund balance for the carpet purchase. Sterling also requested making an annual allocation for updated legal reference books; she said the books and publications would be an ongoing, recurring expense.

Commissioners expressed concern about the proposed contractual-attorney line and the intern positions, asking staff to examine classification, legal issues around unpaid internships, and whether positions should be reclassified as part-time FTEs. Several commissioners said the $113,000 contractual-attorney request and the intern funding needed more vetting with human resources and procurement before consideration. \"I think that needs a little bit more examination and needs to be represented in a different manner,\" one commissioner said of the proposed positions.

To bridge immediate modest needs, a motion was made and supported to add $30,000 to the State's Attorney budget to cover the smaller recurring requests (for example, shirts, publications, and other operating needs). The board also confirmed that the district-court carpet would be purchased from fund balance as a nonrecurring expense. Commissioners asked the State's Attorney's Office to work with HR to reclassify the intern positions, clarify hourly rates and hours, and return with revised language and cost estimates for a future work session.","The commissioners agreed to a $30,000 increase for the State's Attorney's office to cover small recurring needs, authorized using fund balance to replace district court carpet, and asked staff to rework proposed contractual-attorney and intern positions for further review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6377699,"St. Mary's County budget update: revenues, fund balance and multi-year outlook discussed",402,520000,922000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de&start=520&end=922","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de/thumbnail_520000.jpg","/articles/6377699/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-budget-update-revenues-fund-balance-and-multi-year-outlook-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377699-d4cf5ed12815c7b4f1decf042f85fdae/orig.mp4?Expires=1775859968&Signature=n5-6QpRjBzLKQ3l3ozOaexk6LZoFm58e4O6J-RlIH~7YLo7ThkFBodTLh2zfIE16bpbPZv0X~OwFx5EX5cGM0duKfhAatf7tqD0dGG~7~zhuUdSnOpsR13JJBbMax9TWUM5RXif7GomGwQgFIrA4dUPDPJ-xonlflOP9EDBAkQbJkYH90G9V-nANmCeoQJp9TAzttsw-cQl9EXH7-Yr6vZLgl-IPHHn3hi5CqihveGDVJquE6yU4P59cfw3XJ9npK8fvW1~UU5WNlXgSfqYo2NdOf5Yz6wNKwqxFyJTKQfB-g2P1qwqvaXp90F4U3x9fKliqcuokeOuhxKHONvf0Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeanette Cudmore, St. Mary's County chief financial officer, presented updated revenue and expenditure summaries during the commissioners' budget work session, outlining current general-fund revenue of approximately $259.1 million and recurring revenues near $250 million. Cudmore said the presentation includes $8.7 million of pay-as-you-go (PayGo) use of fund balance for capital projects in the current version of the budget.

Cudmore told commissioners the county's total fund balance at the 2019 audit was about $65 million. To maintain a 15% reserve level for the 2021 budget, staff had previously identified $9.5 million as available; the current CIP plan uses $8.7 million, leaving roughly $735,000 for nonrecurring operating items unless commissioners direct otherwise.

The budget packet showed baseline reductions of about $477,000 identified from county departments and circuit court, and Cudmore said overall changes between versions reflected a revenue decrease of roughly $92,000 and expense decreases that produced a net positive change of about $255,000.

Cudmore reviewed revenue components: property tax (reflecting a 2.5% increase tied to assessment changes after a constant-yield letter), an income-tax increase of about $9 million over the prior year, and variable other local taxes and highway-user revenues that depend on state datasets (SDAT vs. legislative services). She said staff would continue to validate and update revenue estimates as departments' final requests are confirmed.

The presentation included options for using fund balance, including a proposed $700,000 supplemental transfer to the LOSAP/OPEB trust (bringing that trust to a round $5 million contribution) while noting a long-term target of about $17 million. Commissioners discussed the importance of increasing LOSAP funding and also planning for a possible future professional-services transition for emergency services.

Cudmore presented a multi-year projection with assumptions such as 2% property-tax growth and variable income-tax growth; the projections showed a variance of revenues over expenses starting near $2.0 million in 2021 and increasing to about $17.7 million by 2025 under current assumptions and recommended items. She cautioned this is an empirical projection and will be updated as state actions and other variables (for example, the governor’s education funding decisions) become known.

Commissioners asked staff to continue looking for additional revenue adjustments and to return with updated numbers at upcoming work sessions.","CFO Jeanette Cudmore presented updated revenue and expenditure summaries, showing current revenues of about $259.1 million, use of fund balance for CIP at $8.7 million, and multi-year projections that account for recently approved pay adjustments and OPEB funding proposals.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6377704,"Commissioners move 7th District Volunteer Rescue rate request to April public hearing",100,65000,165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de&start=65&end=165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de/thumbnail_65000.jpg","/articles/6377704/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-move-7th-District-Volunteer-Rescue-rate-request-to-April-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377704-6df9ea8f72ef4122da6ff86b13fcc607/orig.mp4?Expires=1775859968&Signature=i7GwhVo~6CKLlXGod2P02~ItzsgyYQHefEGquTFdHHqASFdWZKHZOki0WiunvVFfMikl8QkkEQoQMkSkudKPt~RjSlKGwM4zKOIDoUtsYlMY1YU77OX4jUjEifYYKbf94wYg4Y~cOV9c-Fm8R4I-xnM-BR7yUFxhbDS3c1wrs3mIkR70-1sf9yo1aRrb7NKriMETBHkdCWaPm1saUij1qJdkIQxtBW74q02s-ZDK-gK3iR3XM2UaeX4IdsG0VOMIaLk4RELKDokTjD6h9-qZI6H3tmbQRU9CRmx9yBKDoe1tg9tCcfj3LRZHsto4RCi6yBaG200MUDSdDsZXKQdflQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Commissioners agreed to forward the 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad’s rate request to a county public hearing on April 21, 2020. Jeanette Cudmore, the county chief financial officer, reviewed the packet materials and said the squad had held a local public hearing Feb. 18, 2020, with two attendees who supported the increase and that one letter from James K. Raley Jr. was received during the public comment window.

Cudmore said the squad’s advertised request would move the proposed rate from 0.11 to 0.30 (numbers presented as in the squad’s filing). The county’s legal-ad copy and the squad’s PowerPoint were included in packet materials, Cudmore said.

A commissioner motion to advance the item to the April 21 public hearing was accepted and the board signaled unanimous support. Commissioners did not take a final vote on rate adoption at the March 3 work session; the April hearing will be the formal opportunity for comment and a subsequent board decision.

The county clerk’s office will publish the public-hearing notice and packet materials for the April 21 meeting as required by county procedure.","The commissioners agreed to advance the 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad's request for a rate change to a public hearing on April 21, 2020; the squad held a local hearing Feb. 18 and received one letter of comment.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6377709,"St. Mary's County commissioners approve updated sworn law-enforcement pay schedule effective March 6",331,174000,505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de&start=174&end=505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138836-6e6d0369e9cdb2d36b33b29cb52e05de/thumbnail_174000.jpg","/articles/6377709/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-commissioners-approve-updated-sworn-law-enforcement-pay-schedule-effective-March-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377709-473551706540cd928c091d078a509a6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775859968&Signature=EqQl-Wrl5XoGssaPu3B1jSpo~vW4gKuYFrMMLAS48Zni-J2WX1jRJ~cBSS0E-HbO23gwHebYyGMEhLkiAYMYoYVk~HPT8leRCA4YIYFBTzfJBwgwjUDXJcUQLjez5ORDPhreJ-1QQvMi2xyeOQuA5h7MaBLOWwYa94dT4Kd9e1IP9K-1AwFkkCQM1eNNjc0BmzZ-CoLYLFy63irFvDMe9wLs6cWaZBV-LCc5rm4frjazx~SOEZT1Nf3-nSact5BQOqnR~6U0kYZllXexeV3BRy6qi5w~FZEaONnX10x6tf9a1PIsrVXcZKZH2z-d1BDowRG53K3E8b4sl~z-jKA-FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Commissioners voted to approve a revised sworn law-enforcement salary schedule that county staff described as an average 18% increase, effective March 6, 2020. Catherine Preston, the county human resources director, told commissioners the schedule was intended to reduce pay disparities noted by the sheriff's office.

The change follows an earlier, separate adjustment approved Nov. 5 that increased the correctional officer salary schedule by an overall average of about 11% effective Jan. 1. Preston said the sheriff had asked for parity with Charles County and the Maryland State Police and submitted updated requests in December.

The county human-resources presentation said the March 6 implementation would produce a roughly 7% increase to the sheriff's office FY2020 salary budget; a full-year implementation would add about 12.5% in recurring cost. The presentation described the combined effect as an average 18% increase to sworn salaries and estimated the recurring budgetary impact at roughly $3,400,000 for the county’s sworn law-enforcement payroll.

Preston also told the board that if commissioners chose a Jan. 1 effective date to align with the corrections adjustment, the sheriff’s office had reserves to cover the FY2020 difference and that the recurring annual cost would be the same whether the change was implemented Jan. 1 or March 6. \"The sheriff's office has the reserves for both scenarios, and the annual expense is the same for either scenario,\" Preston said.

A motion to adopt the March 6, 2020, schedule passed on a roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded unanimous approval in the meeting minutes.

The approved schedule also, per the HR presentation, eliminates certain prior line items: the top-of-grade stipends would no longer be requested for sworn officers and the existing 10% promotional increase and the previously planned phased market adjustment would be removed as implemented under the new schedule.

Commissioners and staff placed the new sworn schedule within the larger ongoing budget conversation, noting the multiyear projections and recurring cost pressures. Catherine Preston said the county will continue to update long-range fiscal models as decisions and state actions (including possible changes to Board of Education funding) become final.

The commissioners did not detail in the public record any single county-wide funding source to offset the recurring cost beyond the sheriff's office absorbing FY2020 effects; staff said the sheriff’s FY2020 budget could fund the FY2020 portion and that annual costs were reflected in multiyear projections.

The county will publish the adopted salary schedule and associated budget adjustments in subsequent budget materials and incorporate the change into the multi-year forecast.","Commissioners approved an 18% average pay increase for sworn law-enforcement officers, effective March 6, 2020, with the sheriff's office absorbing FY2020 budget impacts; correctional officers received an 11% earlier adjustment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners tentatively set aside $600,000 for sheriff’s ECCs, ask sheriff to firm up allocations

Commissioners allocate $30,000 extra to state's attorney, fund carpet from fund balance; interns and contract attorney deferred for rework

St. Mary's County budget update: revenues, fund balance and multi-year outlook discussed

Commissioners move 7th District Volunteer Rescue rate request to April public hearing

St. Mary's County commissioners approve updated sworn law-enforcement pay schedule effective March 6