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Commissioners send FY2023 CIP to planning commission after debate over north-county YMCA placeholder
Summary
St. Mary's County commissioners approved the FY2023 capital improvement plan for submission to the Planning Commission, after debate over whether to add a $20–21 million placeholder for a Charlotte Hall community center/YMCA and how to treat unspecified "other sources" of project funding.
St. Mary's County commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve the county's Fiscal Year 2023 capital improvement plan and authorized the finance office to present the package to the Planning Commission for its March 14 meeting.
The decision followed a focused discussion about one CIP project that had been updated since the board's prior review: renaming the Great Mills community center entry to the "YMCA at Great Mills" and updating narrative and funding lines to reflect recent fundraising and partner commitments. "We only have one CIP project that we're bringing back from our last discussion, and that is the community center where we changed the title to the YMCA at Great Mills," Jodi Quavni, deputy director in the finance office, told commissioners.
The commissioners debated whether to carry a full construction allocation — which presenters said could be as high as $20 million to $21 million — in the CIP for a second, northern-county facility in Charlotte Hall, or instead to list a smaller placeholder or only A&E funding. Some commissioners favored adding a placeholder as a commitment to equity for the northern part of the county; others urged caution and argued that large public allocations could undercut the YMCA's private fundraising model.
Finance staff recommended retaining an "other sources" line in the project budget to allow the county and the YMCA to identify federal, state, fundraising and other contributions as they become secured. Staff also described a flexible PAYGO balance (about $11.9 million available under the current plan) that could be applied if needed.
Commissioner discussion produced two practical outcomes: (1) consensus to move the FY2023–2028 CIP, including the revised YMCA at Great Mills entry, forward to the Planning Commission; and (2) no immediate consensus to add a distinct Charlotte Hall pool/community center project with a full multi‑million-dollar construction allocation. "We will take that forward to the Planning — our CIP right now to the planning commission," Jeanette Cudmore, chief financial officer, said after commissioners agreed to send the document forward.
The vote to present the CIP to the Planning Commission followed a motion and second; commissioners indicated approval during the meeting.
The county will discuss fundraising plans, federal/state grant possibilities and PAYGO options with the YMCA as the project advances through A&E and Planning Commission review. Staff said the final construction request and identified funding sources will be refined once those steps are complete.
The commissioners will consider the Planning Commission recommendations and any additional direction in subsequent budget work sessions.
