[{"_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",6265004,"mediaKeyId","3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e","parentId",3095423,"title","Public urges commissioners to fully fund schools as county presents FY2026 recommended budget","audioSeconds",9303,"startMs",1190000,"endMs",10493000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e&start=1190&end=10493","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e/thumbnail_1190000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265004/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Public-urges-commissioners-to-fully-fund-schools-as-county-presents-FY2026-recommended-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265004-b38fbcf7bbda2ed0baf6dec070c4cdd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143115&Signature=B8TCBQ8J0A4FuM406Q3t8W6M4SEZ7BprJZ8pdbr01Obp4Kczurabnvmtc81RNb~ynTYfxTNhrK94R2pGvdciWyEIGoJ~KtckcPF4UYKWaWAcXOAiA4vsdsKXHW47ePYK4BsGKqF2eQX-nUBx6iITUaQ49tYADmdl0lD~g3q2YWE8usAmdxenwCDEFpDeVG6V6MfOttLi4KWFvnTzKYv7BtUfXP9qwpYGW-KxEV0JCUo3X5BpvV8hNdrb-k7cBXTGmsKhWb4OXohYyOQHDM353UjHWXXhWl2QtIhY7Qp1tO5xNnhPaQexNOwhLy358kHAeEony4m7IkqUNembgjK~2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-04-23T16:10:52.473Z","article","St. Mary's County finance staff presented the FY2026 recommended budget; dozens of residents, educators, union and nonprofit representatives urged the commissioners to fully fund the county's public schools and other community services before the budget is adopted in May.

Vanetta Van Cleave, the county chief financial officer, walked through key budget figures: projected county revenues increasing from $323,500,000 to $337,400,000 (a $13,900,000, or 4.3% increase), an $11,500,000 use of fund balance that staff proposed for certain items, recommended general fund expenditures of $348,900,000, enterprise funds budgeted separately, and a FY2026 capital plan totaling $75,400,000 supported by approximately $29,500,000 in federal and state funding. Van Cleave also explained a change from Annapolis: a pension expense that had been estimated at $3,100,000 was updated to $1,562,000 after Maryland General Assembly actions, freeing $2,738,000 for commissioners to consider at the next budget workshop. The county's policy minimum reserve is 15% of revenues and current reserves are about 20%.

Public comment focused heavily on education funding. Sarah Penrod, president of the Education Association of St. Mary's County, told commissioners: \"We aren't just educators. We are community members, we are parents, and we are taxpayers.\" She said educators would \"reestablish the boundaries\" of unpaid labor if the board did not act to provide competitive compensation and preserve programs. Hannah Heisler, the student member of the Board of Education, said St. Mary's County provides among the lowest per-pupil funding in Maryland and that the Board of Education's request for an additional $5,400,000 covers what she described as \"the bare minimum.\"

Representatives from law enforcement and victim services spoke in support of public-safety investments. Austin Schultz, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, and Sheriff Hall both voiced support for the recommended budget's emphasis on public safety. Kurt Wolfgang, executive director of the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center, urged the commissioners to consider additional funding for the state's attorney's office to address workload and burnout.

Library leaders and patrons also urged support. Michael Blackwell, director of the St. Mary's County Library, described libraries as \"a place where the community has pooled its resources so that all may share them for learning and self development,\" and asked commissioners to keep libraries in mind during final budget adjustments.

Multiple speakers pointed to last year's local income tax increase (from 3.0% to 3.2%) and told commissioners they expected those additional revenues to be used for schools. Several residents said flat funding the school system despite the income-tax increase would breach that expectation and risk teacher retention, programs and school consolidations. Speakers offered a range of numbers and suggestions for offsets: one commenter and several speakers said about $7,380,000 in additional funds (including state adjustments and unassigned fund balance) could be available to address a portion of the Board of Education's request while maintaining reserves.

No final vote was held at this public hearing. Staff said the public comment period will remain open through April 29, the commissioners will hold budget workshops on May 6 and May 13 to consider Maryland budget impacts and other changes, and the final budget and tax rate are scheduled for adoption on May 20, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/22/25 Budget Public Hearing for FY2026","oneSentenceSummary","County finance staff presented the FY2026 recommended budget and a large group of educators, students, library staff and residents urged commissioners to fully fund St. Mary's County Public Schools and other community services.","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},6265010,"Resident urges overhaul of sprawling recreation fees as county proposes new kennel and solid-waste charges",1246,1122000,2368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e&start=1122&end=2368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e/thumbnail_1122000.jpg","/articles/6265010/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Resident-urges-overhaul-of-sprawling-recreation-fees-as-county-proposes-new-kennel-and-solid-waste-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265010-c4a9c9bbd8c4ded2c3621a023d1cfbd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143115&Signature=hEZ7dohWS8k9N7nWMRZy2IdS726q2ywdCLH1PheMaGF8svtwS7YxBoZDqF3L8TrHbPSmkvjJ63dZ90XIhgfBykL0BzHfoMTueEySy7RZLL6-TFDG0VB7MNKsE6ioYuCclQN0BVrtpthkuUNXCqSm9Jhd8yIJ3CekIrAioz6ABJf46fbvIgYu5fo6Ohgn8Xv7CXdyEU4phECiUJfbpeqMEAQE0irmYPfBzMjajKp5z-BqkU94BZ~ZO3MjjVKkLPkGg7~oJShXYx1RReM5dA-TMxWcz5PDb~EO8cJZ-OWIQTNdmInmZnIOQfWIxTJm5RLEQqzpbo4P5XRpgajqcSDUpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented a package of proposed changes to St. Mary's County fees and charges covering animal-control licenses, solid-waste service fees, and recreation activity fees; one speaker urged broad restructuring of recreation charges.

Vanetta Van Cleave, the county CFO, said the animal control division is proposing a new commercial kennel license with a fee of $200 for 12–24 animals and $400 for 25 or more. The county's solid-waste environmental fee, which appears on property tax bills, is proposed to increase from $102.48 to $104.53. Recreation and Parks staff proposed consolidating multiple summer-stock rates into a single rate and modest maintenance increases across camps, classes and sports programs. The recommended budget documents list the proposed fees on pages 122–143 of the published packet.

Troy Gowen of Lexington Park urged the commissioners to \"radically restructure\" the Recreation and Parks fee schedule, noting he counted \"392 different and separate fees\" and questioned whether administrative costs justify the fee structure. He suggested reduced or no-cost participation for children in the free or reduced-price lunch program to promote access.

No formal action was taken tonight; staff will include fee proposals in FY2026 budget materials for commissioner consideration and final adoption.","County staff proposed changes to county fees and charges including a new commercial kennel license and a small increase to the solid-waste environmental fee; a resident urged the commissioners to simplify the Recreation and Parks fee schedule and consider reduced or no-cost access for children in free-and-reduced lunch programs.",{"_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},6265014,"County proposes regularized environmental health fees; public hearing draws no speakers",1240,1067000,2307000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e&start=1067&end=2307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e/thumbnail_1067000.jpg","/articles/6265014/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-proposes-regularized-environmental-health-fees-public-hearing-draws-no-speakers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265014-cebff67ff8219dec521ca48922fa4680/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143115&Signature=UWkbY7ezhpFG3CSL~pnTK0E4lpAGydAV2kzoVpB9B4-Ku2rkJwfiMLyZ7Sf~27tgdrQGqOgI7H8yptsTv~kvS4wJ1uZ3Kp37IxWXtNaJR2hXaBRjnzHsEfxK-WDnqVpOC7HxsLfcG54IPqYA7tcXlCQGKx6uEZCKXqT7haOR9IlVA8YEK5hHME2CgGcI5EhRBVLWUXeHmL9nz3TNiyx-w2dcFe4N-gjWdLO90rpmzKxYwKMESqKIvi-b60gYeVPWqlvPsp1NUxDYVR1z1VrdRlGmLHiowc~t37YFtpw~yMlEoYU4B3WZsfc0nimQLNrVAoHbqyP5qkP8iU8GdW52GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented proposed changes to the St. Mary's County Health Department environmental fee schedule and said the revisions are intended to regularize adjustments and minimize year-to-year impacts on fee payers.

Vanetta Van Cleave, the county CFO, said the most recent general inflation-based adjustment to the environmental fee schedule occurred in 2015; a new proposal would establish recurring biannual adjustments tied to average CPI changes. The presentation also noted earlier program changes: a 2020 addition of a mobile food-truck fee in response to a state regulation and a prior adjustment to the PERC fee to expand a local well-monitoring network.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the environmental fee schedule tonight; the public hearing was opened and closed with no comments.

County staff said the goal is to have a predictable adjustment cadence so fee payers are not subject to large, irregular increases. Final fee amounts and the schedule will be included in the recommended FY2026 budget materials and subject to commissioner action at a later date.","St. Mary's County presented proposed changes to the Health Department environmental fee schedule, including instituting biannual CPI-based adjustments and recognizing prior additions such as a mobile food truck fee; no public comments were made at tonight's hearing.",{"_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},6265019,"County staff present proposed rescue-squad tax increases; no speakers at hearings tonight",1184,1024000,2208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e&start=1024&end=2208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e/thumbnail_1024000.jpg","/articles/6265019/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-staff-present-proposed-rescue-squad-tax-increases-no-speakers-at-hearings-tonight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265019-a953343ace9defbd81af662c6d12b1bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143115&Signature=SMTPml4a81uC6PDBuNk83wvJn6fwOjw0-qhQJ8xIRXJ4u2wJLZ4apJ8VuBFaTLqeay1g-I0nBeHWUv80ESEXds1MAf1J3gCqFVKIGpuGHlA5Us47cqdNq7Qwp~eJtMixvtdRSeXnYSHK1JoV9~~d162Uv8ATYITYsf2FXoWE3adD2~gj15db98HvJNkBv8~KPJ6UMTgUb~qrD45IHaKCnj~6ktMKEa60UHYX1T6LWE-YUATJoh3Gx1gg-eapGUsnS51b--xbcXDtfrSraNqwzMrzhFXdM2o1aIGVd7XL6zUP~1A7qs3dm5j3W-nOw95PvH072jJNSlHfHUj~SuWuzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County finance staff outlined two proposed volunteer rescue-squad tax-rate increases during the public hearing overview but there were no public speakers on these items at tonight's meeting.

Vanetta Van Cleave, the county chief financial officer, summarized the proposals: the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad sought to increase its tax rate from 0.014 to 0.03 per $100 of assessed value to support renovation in addition to an original station; a public hearing on that proposal was held Feb. 25 and staff reported eight public comments at that hearing, all in support. The Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad proposed increasing its rate from 0.009 to 0.03 per $100 to support land purchase and construction of a new facility; staff reported a March 4 hearing that drew 16 comments, all supportive.

Tonight the commissioners opened and closed the public hearings on both proposals after no one signed up to speak.

No vote or action was taken at this meeting; staff will carry the proposals forward in the FY2026 budget process and the commissioners may take final action at a later date when the county budget is considered.

Details available in the recommended budget packet identify the proposed rates and list the prior hearing dates; the record for those earlier hearings shows only supportive comments as summarized by staff.","St. Mary's County staff summarized two separate proposed tax-rate increases for volunteer rescue squads—Hollywood and Leonardtown—previously considered in February and March hearings; no new public testimony was offered tonight.",{"_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},6265024,"Volunteers urge commissioners to adopt proposed fire and rescue rewards program",833,982000,1815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e&start=982&end=1815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095423-c1a4d8a65283c7d567868cb30094b94e/thumbnail_982000.jpg","/articles/6265024/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Volunteers-urge-commissioners-to-adopt-proposed-fire-and-rescue-rewards-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265024-1fc5409511482a599cdf2a8fc3e04283/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143115&Signature=FUOZhvdBvakzQWwc6wfY4vxQtu2AoomsovDngDl8-SQcChXKZOe7oGOKpaPewswLbsnw7XXMLCCWqGwXXHm0R6huaXnYFwZMaNNbFf519f6NPT6I2xgtwz-Q~YhiW~XCCAGVc3vhJlcngTCIIfID8cAL9ZlT8nJT0VSjG75rJbjrKG9xc5Cmm38C7deU0bZZd-pL1sLj0ffHZgAKeNttOTjzf5OivTRGQrjshZFC4hQYZg0CfjNEzkpDeft~gV-Nlo3cy6XNP4dt3M6BQzNbCaq1BGwQjOre2gKE8IIcf~j7G3TPwPqCHHbc6oIRtSXSNNWsOxgBezCSpfjr4h91pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County volunteer fire and EMS leaders urged commissioners to adopt a proposed volunteer firefighter and rescue squad rewards program intended to retain and expand the county's volunteer force.

The program, as presented by county staff, would let active volunteers opt for an annual property tax credit or a cash stipend in one of three tiered amounts based on activity level. Vanetta Van Cleave, the county chief financial officer, told the public the commissioners would reconsider and set the actual amounts each year during the county budget process.

Jay Nelson, chair of the Emergency Services Board and chief of the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department, said the initiative represents months of collaboration between volunteer leaders and county staff. \"This plan is supportive of building upon and bolstering our current volunteer system,\" Nelson said, adding that volunteers spent \"countless hours\" serving the community.

Ken Hicks, chair of the St. Mary's County Rescue Squad and Ambulance Association and chief of the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, said the proposed program could cost the county \"up to $1,600,000\" and would provide both property-tax relief and stipends to volunteers who meet minimum participation thresholds, leadership roles, or length-of-service credit requirements. \"This investment is dwarfed by the value added to the community by your EMS personnel,\" Hicks said, citing the contribution of more than 600 volunteer EMS personnel countywide.

Resident Brandon Russell, who identified himself as supportive, urged careful implementation and noted \"there seemed to be a little bit of confusion about the implementation of this\" in the documents he reviewed.

No formal vote or motion was taken at the hearing; staff presented the proposal as part of the FY2026 budget process and commissioners will consider program design and funding amounts during upcoming budget workshops.

The presentation placed the program in context with other public-safety and compensation items in the recommended budget; staff emphasized the proposal is voluntary for participants and that annual parameters would be set in future budgets.

If adopted, the program would be funded from county revenues and/or fund balance allocations approved by the commissioners during the budget process. The county will accept written comments through April 29 and hold budget workshops on May 6 and May 13 before adopting the final budget on May 20, 2025.","Volunteer fire and EMS leaders told St. Mary's County commissioners they support a new volunteer rewards program that would offer eligible volunteers a property tax credit or a stipend; county staff estimate the program could cost up to $1.6 million and would be set annually during the budget process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public urges commissioners to fully fund schools as county presents FY2026 recommended budget

Resident urges overhaul of sprawling recreation fees as county proposes new kennel and solid-waste charges

County proposes regularized environmental health fees; public hearing draws no speakers

County staff present proposed rescue-squad tax increases; no speakers at hearings tonight

Volunteers urge commissioners to adopt proposed fire and rescue rewards program