St. Mary’s County commissioners trim FY2019 personnel requests, defer large pay increases pending Annapolis

St. Mary’s County commissioners on Tuesday narrowed requests in the fiscal 2019 budget, ordering multiple reductions and realignments to department hiring plans while setting aside one-time money for several capital and equipment items. The board also agreed to delay major salary and benefit decisions until the state’s education legislation and other Annapolis actions are clearer.

The panel met in Leonardtown for a budget work session led by Commissioner President Randy Guy and heard a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Jeanette Cudmore and Deputy Director of Finance Jody Quasney. Cudmore told commissioners the county had approximately $2.1 million available in the current budget cycle, including roughly $653,954 in proposed one-time uses of fund balance that the board could approve for nonrecurring items.

Why it matters: Commissioners described a gap between the county’s requests and available revenue. State policy under consideration in Annapolis — commonly referred to in the session as the Kirwan education package — could increase the county’s long-term obligations and influenced the board’s decision to hold off on broad new recurring commitments now.

What the board…