Carroll County commissioners open budget talks, warn 'Blueprint' funding could shift costs to counties

Carroll County commissioners used their Feb. 27 open session to press the importance of public input ahead of upcoming budget work and to warn that state-level shifts tied to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future could increase county costs.

Commissioner Rothstein said the budget process is beginning and stressed broad public involvement: "The key thing about the budget, it is our budget. It is the community's budget." He urged residents to provide candid, specific feedback ahead of the county's statutory deadline to adopt a budget by May 31.

Commissioner Garen and other commissioners said a wave of emails from residents has accompanied the budget debate but urged attention to outcomes as well as spending. "If you are focused solely on what it costs, if you're so focused solely on inputs and spending more money, you're avoiding the key factor of outcomes," Garen said, arguing that higher per-pupil spending does not automatically produce better results.

Several commissioners described efforts to track proposed state actions that could alter county finances. Pam, the board's legislative staff member, told commissioners the county has identified a set of priority letters and anticipates more rapid legislative developments when bills must cross chambers. Pam highlighted a pending budget reconciliation and financing package and said some proposals would shift costs to counties, including potential full local responsibility for employee pension costs previously split with the state.

"These cost shifts are going to hurt the infrastructure in the county," Pam said, describing the county's coordinated letter to Annapolis urging amendments. Commissioners asked staff to keep monitoring specific bills and to notify them quickly when the county should submit written or oral testimony.

Commissioner Kyler and others said the county has already increased school operating support relative to state measures of effectiveness (MOE), and disputed statements that the board has cut school funding. "Since July of '24, the FY '25 budget ... has consistently provided more money than what is considered measures of effectiveness," Kyler said, citing $41 million in additional funding over about a decade. He and other commissioners urged residents who want to influence school funding to contact state legislators and to follow the county's public budget hearings.

The board did not take any formal budget votes during the session. Commissioners scheduled internal budget briefings next week and invited continued public comment before formal decisions are proposed.

Looking ahead, Pam said the county will circulate the top-four legislative letters later that day and would follow up with committee chairs and staff in Annapolis to protect Carroll County's fiscal interests.