[{"_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",6377662,"mediaKeyId","2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c","parentId",2138861,"title","Board pulls FDR Phase 4 from FY16 draft amid questions about land donations and acquisition costs","audioSeconds",658,"startMs",1517090,"endMs",2175360,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c&start=1517&end=2175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c/thumbnail_1517090.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6377662/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-pulls-FDR-Phase-4-from-FY16-draft-amid-questions-about-land-donations-and-acquisition-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377662-99e0363ecb9fd22f5297a0b42c39d25e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213416&Signature=Kew23ow1VqwX7Vw~cKwLxZMapi4u93vP1MDLRNJ4UwVapHu~3mn1XPeXcb8fKNiDXGayJK-doVl8TCoA~DT~~gajMyCQdZBxfgW3xcF0cWly7KhHUOK5tOS5djz3AaKDdmDI5ziMkL15cSoqVUNYUizyKENb7ZhGYq9ICbnr1apWgsQo-2XkMCtox4KCoRhmYlrG6nOIVWkztQmmAfNYqov5ePznTbbeyDsEe7xMowIJf2uULxWsx4bdLqAhJ3m1YPD5vFFIFtWCX5J9KAVFvA6wYfUakdNt4wdZNxjCa344Eq1m4uQ--Vr03n4sqoeQ9ZiPNhlQA-db8jZNJWoLEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-22T18:37:37.237Z","article","Commissioners reviewed a revised CIP sheet for FDR Boulevard Phase 4 and questioned a property-acquisition line that rose from an earlier discussion figure of roughly $600,000 to $1.5 million in the current draft.

Staff explained the larger figure reflected the possibility of acquiring multiple parcels in a corridor rather than a single example parcel; commissioners pushed back, saying they had spoken with landowners who had indicated willingness to donate property and that the county should not budget large purchase amounts without signed donation agreements.

One commissioner said the county should “finish what we start” on work already underway and requested documentary proof of donations before committing to additional acquisitions. Another argued the board should be opportunistic on donations but not budget as though donations were certain.

After discussion, commissioners directed staff to remove the FDR Phase 4 project from the FY 2016 draft and to solicit donated land (and provide documentation) before including acquisition funding in the budget. Staff noted there is one small outstanding acquisition tied to work between Sanders Church Road and Peg Road that remains unresolved and clarified that the Phase 4 acquisition figure was separate from that ongoing property need.

Staff also warned that formal legislative approval is required if acquisition borrowing would exceed the county’s existing legislative authority; the draft included a borrowing plan tied to the CIP schedule so early notice to the legislature would be needed if additional borrowing were required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/9/2015 CSMC Budget Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners reviewed the FDR Boulevard Phase 4 CIP entry and questioned a jump in property-acquisition estimates, then directed staff to remove the phase from the FY 2016 draft pending documentation of donated land.","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},6377667,"Commissioners narrow scope for Leonardtown library project; Hayden Farm, Garvey Center and downtown options debated",309,373370,682440,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c&start=373&end=682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c/thumbnail_373370.jpg","/articles/6377667/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-narrow-scope-for-Leonardtown-library-project-Hayden-Farm-Garvey-Center-and-downtown-options-debated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377667-7fbab2f86d583a3e824c274d165cd485/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213416&Signature=mCxmLN3rZ3NivYZdu28WWxqI-IHfGfen-mwhnPYT3GoAWeFvy8DvfBDVNcXcwAJeuJKwR5GiXziQIgn2GiquNS2JBQQbICAH58yAoIi~Uj4qHsgN4nyaKtyi0TeTnxXD5yPagFBstYcavi3imPY7fTD15Yl8E0vTndu32~ni4JrdRY06sqqrsN9z1N~-y4k0XJmSuor~lv5hccc8A8aJITb8qvlO-KKNQIyV5Dsk2OwD0-g7qfUdmWwgfcVzH3TFAQz9bO4jB5FxFc34huad132d9tZCBeBWl8m5M-PETTNEKF93D4~olJhWo5hUGcZ6rTsW18-dX930nZKFZAtuEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told commissioners the Leonardtown library replacement in the draft CIP is sized at 30,000 square feet and that the recent budget update reduced the previously larger square-footage estimate.

Commissioners debated three possible locations: Hayden Farm, a downtown parcel proposed by the Leonardtown mayor, and building on county-owned property near the county complex. One commissioner said the Hayden Farm parcel currently contains an elementary-school conceptual plan and recreational fields; another said the downtown option “would be a disservice to the library itself” and preferred a location visible to county building traffic.

Commissioner Morgan and others raised traffic and EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) capacity concerns tied to the broader Leonardtown town-center development, including the Garvey Senior Center and a potential future middle school on Hayden Farm. “If the library was to go on the Hayden property, absolutely there would have to be intersection improvements done,” one commissioner said, noting residents’ complaints about existing traffic at the nearby intersection.

Staff warned the board that the draft library cost does not include property acquisition and that site topography at Hayden Farm could meaningfully change excavation and site-preparation costs. A commissioner asked staff to quantify how many acres of Hayden Farm are actually usable; staff said Parks and Recreation is doing an environmental assessment and the Board of Education had prepared a concept plan showing proposed athletic fields and a middle school footprint.

Commissioners agreed to keep the project in the CIP planning pipeline but to treat property acquisition and site selection as separate decisions. One commissioner said the library project would be removed from this year’s budget if land donations or acquisition arrangements are not secured in time, while another urged that the project be taken to the public for feedback once the board has narrowed options.

Staff noted the A&E (architect/engineering) process budgeted in FY 2016 could provide additional site information that would influence size and location decisions. The board directed staff to present updated EDU information from Leonardtown and to gather usable-acreage and environmental details for Hayden Farm before committing to land purchase.","Board reviewed a revised Leonardtown library project sized at 30,000 square feet, discussed possible sites including Hayden Farm and downtown Leonardtown parcels offered by the mayor, and asked staff for additional data on usable acreage, EDU capacity and traffic impacts before committing funding or land acquisition.",{"_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},6377672,"St. Mary’s County commissioners face roughly $11 million operating shortfall as budget work sessions begin",236,3517875,3754540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c&start=3517&end=3754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c/thumbnail_3517875.jpg","/articles/6377672/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-commissioners-face-roughly-11-million-operating-shortfall-as-budget-work-sessions-begin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377672-94c1f366b3e408bfbcabb01af23dee30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213416&Signature=eFsChTk2gBT9QPCExpdhPW4OiuxXCwm~r7Emc-hlUL-9TyZVvKfqAo2LH2BxhSrgn4VJD~wU0JMdo6EPSUFIif-gsOUyP-19AhepA3J09KYsF9sL8aqbIYQICmre1Jjqkcqb2AArHMxK~WMw57fnjNsgng1LnHFNbUJRiH2hQ4PD7X9a1gVr3euIJvFPwFKK6cav07lTlVmc9L3pEIR025GkOeJf1~6uccsUaCDEhJBmlgK2OM8KvRKadXrtWx8dQ6QdL7jZ0sLAWsYVjDEGHOPe672VQVj1mJI4UuopO6JTmbz5LfLMBn7lfpsep33px~VX8MY7MfbS64AUHgBihA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary’s County officials opened a March 9 work session with revised capital projects and an updated operating budget that shows an estimated $11 million gap between projected revenues and the county’s modified expense requests.

Finance staff told the Board of County Commissioners the modified expense total was about $226.5 million and that “the net difference between the revenues and expenses at this point in time is about 11,000,000 of a shortfall.” The staff overview attributed some changes to updated fringe rates, health insurance premiums and grant adjustments.

The budget presentation combined a review of the capital improvements plan (CIP) and the general fund; staff said the CIP changes reflect direction the board gave at its Feb. 23 session and updated project cost estimates. Commissioners were shown detail schedules for revenues, fund balances, position changes, vehicle replacements and grant-match obligations.

Budget staff recommended using fund balance for some nonrecurring items and cautioned against appropriating expenditures tied to uncertain revolving-fund revenues. “There are several in the 5:30 fund that I think we should revise based on that,” staff said, urging the board not to establish expenditure authority until cash is on hand for some funds.

Commissioners and staff agreed to continue the process across four work sessions (roughly 14–15 hours of meetings) leading to a recommended budget for public hearings in March. Staff said next steps would include consolidating approved changes, updating revenue/expenditure schedules to reflect any program-specific use of fund balance and incorporating any compensation decisions the board makes in later sessions.

Discussion points included the treatment of grant-funded programs, how personnel-cost adjustments (turnover, pension and health benefits) changed the modified request, and the timing of multi-year CIP items that can make year-to-year totals appear to grow when out-years are added to the plan.

The board did not take any formal votes during the session; it directed staff to remove one major highway project from the FY 2016 draft and to notify the planning commission of that change before tonight’s planning commission meeting.

Officials said they will return to the revenue/expenditure gap after elected-official budgets and department reviews are complete and after the board’s discussion tomorrow on compensation. Staff emphasized the difference between one-time fund-balance uses (appropriate for discrete purchases) and recurring operating costs (which require a stable revenue source).","County staff presented a revised FY 2016 draft that includes capital project changes and updated revenue estimates; commissioners directed staff to remove one major road project from the draft and identified items that could be funded from one-time sources while noting an estimated $11 million recurring gap.",{"_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},6377652,"Sheriff asks for staff conversions and new deputies; commissioners debate unfunded billets and detention operating costs",2444,6096600,8540895,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c&start=6096&end=8540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c/thumbnail_6096600.jpg","/articles/6377652/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Sheriff-asks-for-staff-conversions-and-new-deputies-commissioners-debate-unfunded-billets-and-detention-operating-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377652-2774354a322f13d1b8a5e1fe6610683f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213416&Signature=QtKCz3dMJ9QMZSQ2JRz~aQuCKvC06gL9gK2nJYYHJez0MHZa5u~D-s3qFFXIDbH4GtIbVODMZFgIJPByxCPUKgeJREdYuIH~LErScZ~E5C1ez2diuyPtinEAgEfwfCwP8y9uSrs6auoOpjjsr3kFQqADJE8yzxbTzxV6cIrQN3rL35OA~Vr8qezWhz-1fME1caFlLVgv1PLUScSzeTw4a7Y1RuxP-fcz-Y40LqeTX4SRsMQcJzXXAQf2LIyL4752ewhrQDRwPBf6DTiP30XnqGcEzI1savT0XdkJqnxnKPby6DUqwHeAmuEU-K7Zh36vjdD8Gkh6oV1aQEQjXjhHiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The sheriff’s office presented a detailed FY 2016 request that included personnel conversions, four new patrol deputies (first-year costs and full-year salary/fringe estimates were supplied), vehicle replacements and equipment items including 40 tasers and associated training and uniform costs.

Staff and sheriff’s representatives provided per-position breakout estimates: first-year costs for a new patrol deputy (salary, pension, health and equipment) as well as comparable figures for corrections officers. Staff said much of the incremental cost of converting temporary positions to FTEs is pension and health insurance.

The sheriff asked the board to consider making additional positions available (one commissioner proposed adding four more billets with zero funding, so the positions would be authorized but not funded until the sheriff justified and the board approved funding). Finance staff and at least one commissioner cautioned against adding unfunded billets because doing so can create administrative and fiscal complications; the practical effect is that funding must still be identified before positions can be used.

Commissioners and the sheriff discussed high attrition and recruiting challenges; the sheriff noted recent resignations even as new academy classes were onboarded, and said turnover makes it expensive to recruit and train deputies. The sheriff also described a resource-analysis need that would inform longer-term staffing targets and deployment models.

Detention-center operating costs were raised: staff noted an added $434,000 in operating impacts tied to the ADC renovation (temporary inmate relocation and kitchen operations) and a projected $55,000 increase in food-service costs tied to a May 2015 contract award. Several corrections items (medical services for inmates, replacement equipment, breathing apparatus and live-scan replacement) were presented as nonrecurring items eligible for fund-balance funding.

On equipment, the sheriff said the department opted for straight purchases of tasers rather than an assurance program after weighing lifecycle and payment alternatives. The board discussed vehicle replacement timing, mileage thresholds and the overall cost of vehicles across the sheriff’s fleet; staff noted some timing differences between schedules in the department submission and the county vehicle replacement plan.

No formal votes were taken; commissioners agreed to continue reviewing the sheriff’s requests and to follow up on documentation for forfeiture funds and vehicle/equipment replacement plans.","The sheriff’s office requested multiple conversions (temporary to full‑time staff), four additional deputies, vehicle and equipment replacements (including tasers) and operating increases tied to the detention center renovation; commissioners discussed vacancies, attrition and the implications of approving unfunded positions.",{"_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},6377657,"County staff flags tobacco-restoration receipts for farmland preservation; commissioners await state action in Annapolis",230,2202180,2432705,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c&start=2202&end=2432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138861-e1742296bd23d092ab876fff15b23a5c/thumbnail_2202180.jpg","/articles/6377657/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-staff-flags-tobacco-restoration-receipts-for-farmland-preservation-commissioners-await-state-action-in-Annapolis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377657-d5e9b381356de9e54bd908a530ceffa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213416&Signature=if2EFZeTEUsjUr9lfnspU6YLOZu-UZ0hPJTJyujW0jVcQClPwSo3Z8UpkqlPpTxWVsz368~EiVf~gyZ7dHH06cqJMcJwaInQOHUHFD1FiS~AeqUYfcDqi2jFtZ2afIheL3x6X~N0vTcqioScNSvTnrWOFbjR~~0eJkpZjKZgeAbnewtVD~sCsxZdge90kOZa6w2urQT6YpQQwilprHRIAXPdMR87zK54XiltfhzC38~j~lqYa8ZUJdd8pECsGsI~eBOREGltgXdxsdXIWiuJWHhpGj261c9UMhru~pjKxRZasxwhzBzE1-03qMdOip~~YuEoMcUBpGfglyCukTl4nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff incorporated anticipated cigarette restitution (tobacco settlement) receipts into the ag-preservation funding entries in the revised CIP and noted a prior balance of $1,251,320 and an annual estimated carry of $3,472 (note: transcript said \"3472\" as an estimate) that could serve as local match for farmland preservation programs.

Finance staff cautioned the board that cigarette/tobacco restitution monies are subject to state legislative action in Annapolis and that the county’s share could change if the state reallocates or sweeps those funds. “This is a very, very tough topic in Annapolis right now,” staff said, noting the allocation math and bills in the legislature that could alter the local share.

Because the restitution fund is uncertain, several commissioners recommended not fully relying on that revenue in the FY 2016 plan and to leave the ag-preservation line as-is until state decisions become clearer. Staff agreed to prepare a clearer explanation in a forthcoming budget amendment showing annual program expectations and what the county’s exposure would be if the state pot were reduced or eliminated.

Commissioners discussed the concept of treating the ag-preservation program as an on-going annual program rather than a single “balance to complete” figure and asked staff to provide a clearer multi-year presentation showing estimated annual allocations, local transfer-tax contributions and how cigarette-restoration receipts might reduce local transfer-tax use if the state funds are available.

Staff said it would return with a budget amendment that explains the assumptions and the extent to which restitution funds would be used as local match.","Staff added cigarette (tobacco) restitution funds to the ag-preservation program line in the draft CIP and recommended a budget amendment when the state releases formal allocations; commissioners expressed concern that the state legislature could change the restitution pot and asked to wait on amendments until clarifying legislation is resolved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board pulls FDR Phase 4 from FY16 draft amid questions about land donations and acquisition costs

Commissioners narrow scope for Leonardtown library project; Hayden Farm, Garvey Center and downtown options debated

St. Mary’s County commissioners face roughly $11 million operating shortfall as budget work sessions begin

Sheriff asks for staff conversions and new deputies; commissioners debate unfunded billets and detention operating costs

County staff flags tobacco-restoration receipts for farmland preservation; commissioners await state action in Annapolis