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