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Commissioners schedule April 26 budget hearing at Chopticon HS and adopt constant‑yield notice for property tax
Summary
St. Mary's County commissioners voted to adopt the state-required constant‑yield advertisement and scheduled the FY2023 budget public hearing for April 26 at Chopticon High School. Commissioners discussed assessment increases and the county's current tax rate while authorizing the finance office to publish the required language.
St. Mary's County commissioners voted to adopt the constant‑yield advertisement required by state law and authorized the Department of Finance to publish the notice. They also scheduled the county's FY2023 budget public hearing for April 26 at Chopticon High School.
Finance staff briefed commissioners on the triennial assessment results and the constant‑yield calculation. "The most recent assessment is in area 1, which is the northern part of the county," Jodi Quavni, deputy director in the finance office, said. Staff reported residential values increased in the area by roughly 14.2% and combined values rose 14.3%, compared with a 12% statewide increase. Quavni noted that as assessments rise, the constant‑yield tax rate falls to keep property‑tax revenue neutral; staff showed a calculated constant‑yield rate of 0.8270 for FY2023.
Commissioners separately discussed whether to keep the county's current tax rate (referred to in materials as 0.8478) or to adopt the constant‑yield rate. After debate, the board voted to adopt the required constant‑yield advertisement language and to authorize the finance office to publish the notice. Commissioners also voted to hold the FY2023 budget public hearing on April 26 at Chopticon High School; staff confirmed the high school venue would permit in‑person attendance but would not support callers, so written submissions and in‑person testimony will be available.
Commissioners and staff also discussed tax credits and caps that affect net taxable assessment. Finance staff noted the county uses a homestead cap of 3% in coordination with State Department of Assessments and Taxation processes and listed projected tax‑credit estimates for FY2023.
The votes were taken during the afternoon budget work session as part of the FY2023 budget calendar. The finance office will place the required advertisement and return with recommended revenues and any revisions during the March budget sessions.
