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St. Mary's County official warns state unfunded mandates could force borrowing for $70 million in projects
Summary
An unnamed St. Mary's County elected official said state-imposed costs and a bond authorization under consideration could affect the county's finances, citing nearly $70 million in planned projects including repairs at Chopticon High School and a long-delayed sheriff's office building.
An unnamed St. Mary's County elected official told fellow local leaders that state “unfunded mandates” and planned bond authorization could push the county to borrow to cover major capital needs, including nearly $70 million in projects for a high school and the sheriff's office.
“I’m a little concerned with the budget going on,” the official said. The official described two projects that amount to “almost $70,000,000” and said one is “one of our bigger high schools, Chopticon, which is in need of repair.” The official added that the sheriff’s office is overcrowded and has been housed in temporary space since 1998.
The official warned that state-level budget pressures — including what was described as a roughly $3 billion state shortfall — have led to costs being pushed down to counties. The speaker said local estimates of those additional obligations have grown over time: an initial estimate of about $1.2 million, a later figure of about $2.4 million, and a concern that the total could reach roughly $3.5 million in new recurring expenses for the county.
The remarks distinguished between authorizing borrowing and taking on debt. “This is not money we’re borrowing right now. This is just the authorization to borrow when we can. And when we need it,” the official said, urging residents to contact state legislators about the fiscal pressure.
The speaker also noted St. Mary’s County’s property tax position in Maryland: “We are number 3 or 4 from the bottom of the 40 jurisdictions in the state of Maryland as far as our property tax,” and said county leaders want to keep rates low but worry that sustained state mandates could change that.
On credit ratings, the official said the county recently received a AAA rating, meaning borrowing would come at lower interest costs than when the county had AA+ ratings. “By borrowing this money, it’ll save us millions in the long run,” the official said.
No formal motion or vote on bonding or mandates was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. The official urged residents to “write your delegation” — the senator and three delegates — to express views about state budget actions and their local consequences.
The comments combined budget concern, project descriptions, and a call for constituent engagement; the transcript did not record a legislative decision or staff report in the excerpt provided.
