The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission reviewed the county’s recommended fiscal‑year 2013–2018 capital improvement plan at a regularly scheduled meeting and approved two procedural motions, commissioners and staff said. The presentation highlighted a $7.5 million pay‑as‑you‑go placeholder intended to let the county act quickly if BRAC‑related infrastructure needs arise.

The plan shows projects across public facilities, parks and recreation, highways, water‑quality and land preservation, and the county’s schools program. Elaine Kramer, presenting the plan to the commission, said the BRAC placeholder is intended to let the county “be ready, willing, and able to put our money into a project if it’s needed” while staff and other agencies finish assessments.

Why it matters: commissioners said readiness for BRAC — the Defense Department’s Base Realignment and Closure process — could require rapid public‑works responses (water, sewer, roads or other infrastructure). County budget choices now affect debt capacity, future operating costs, and the timing of school and detention‑center projects that rely heavily on state funding.

Key details

- BRAC placeholder: The recommended FY13 budget includes a $7,500,000 pay‑go allocation described by staff as a placeholder and an appropriation to allow immediate commitment to one or more infrastructure projects tied to BRAC outcomes. Kramer and commissioners emphasized the amount is not a line‑item project estimate but a reserve to enable a prompt local response if needed.

- Debt policy and capacity: Staff described the county’s debt policy, adopted by resolution, that limits full faith and credit debt to 2% of assessed value and caps debt service at 10% of the general fund. Under current projections staff said outstanding debt is roughly 1% of assessed value and modeled debt service peaking around 6–8% in 2018.

- Funding mix and timing: The five‑year plan lists funding by project, year and source: dedicated local sources for ag‑land preservation and impact fees for expansion projects; pay‑go (use of fund balance) for selected FY13 items; and general obligation bonds. Staff said the county expects to sell approximately $20 million in bonds in 2013, largely to fund prior projects. The plan assumes about $6.3 million in GO bond proceeds in FY13, rising in later years per the schedule in the book presented to commissioners.

- Schools and state funding: Brad Clements of the Board of Education attended and spoke about school funding and planning approval. Clements said the state generally honors its share for school projects once planning approval is granted, stating, “they've never reneged on their commitment.” Staff and commissioners stressed that timing and availability of state funds remain uncertain and can shift projects between fiscal years.

- Selected projects mentioned: library renovation at the existing site (county‑funded), phased detention‑center repairs and expansion (timing tied to state funding), Lancaster Park improvements and Leonardtown Park coordination with a school complex, next‑generation radio upgrades through FY18, a fire and rescue revolving loan fund to offer low‑interest loans to volunteer companies, and workforce housing set‑asides for matching/leverage. Staff noted the Saint Jerome’s Creek jetty project remains dependent on Corps of Engineers scheduling and that roughly $5.6 million in federal funds tied to that project has been deferred one year in the county schedule.

- PAYGO mechanics: Staff explained pay‑as‑you‑go financing can reduce future debt service. As presented, every $1 million of pay‑go used instead of borrowing avoids roughly $80,000 of annual debt service over a 20‑year equivalent period, staff said, and FY13 uses a portion of accumulated fund balance to limit new borrowing.

Actions and motions

- Approval of minutes: The commission approved minutes from the April 9 meeting on a motion by Mr. Evans, seconded by Ms. Roeberg; the motion carried by voice vote (no recorded roll call in the transcript).

- Authorization to sign transmittal letter: Near the meeting’s end the commission approved a motion described in the record as one “that would permit me to sign a letter, awarding this to the county commissioner.” The motion was moved by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mr. Willard, and approved by voice vote (no roll‑call tally provided in the transcript).

Staff and next steps

Staff told commissioners the CIP document provides project descriptions, expense recaps by year and funding source, and that the county will seek planning‑commission concurrence before the county’s May public hearing on the recommended budget. Kramer and department representatives asked commissioners to raise specific questions to the appropriate department leads; several department heads attended and answered technical questions during the presentation.

Taper: Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted that state and federal funding timing can shift projects between fiscal years; the plan assigns projects across FY13–18 to provide flexibility while preserving the county’s stated debt limits and readiness posture for BRAC outcomes.