Commissioners approve CIP changes, plan spring bond sale and discuss major projects including new jail, animal shelter and ECC expansion

St. Mary's County Commissioners accepted changes to the county's FY2022–2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) during a budget work session and directed staff to proceed with preparations for a spring bond sale to fund a slate of projects, county Chief Financial Officer Janet Cudmore said.

Cudmore told the commissioners the county is balanced for FY2022 and the CIP now shows $54.7 million programmed for projects in 2022, funded by a mix of previously authorized bond authority, new bonds and recurring transfer tax revenue. She said bond authority available for use in 2022 is about $13.5 million and that staff plans to present a bond resolution on March 16 and to sell bonds in May with a planned close by May 25.

Key projects highlighted: - Adult detention center: County staff and the project director reported construction is progressing and remains on track for an anticipated completion of the renovation phase in June 2022. Staff noted there have been daily construction updates and photographs showing progress, and the team said they are managing surprises within project budget. - Animal shelter: The project’s operating impact and staffing timing drew discussion. Staff described startup costs anticipated late in FY2022 and a first full-year operating impact in FY2023; staffing hires are phased with the project manager to start earlier and other staff to start roughly one month before opening. Commissioners noted FY2023 will include several new operating pressures as both the new jail and the animal shelter come online in similar timeframes. - Emergency Communications Center (ECC) expansion: The board questioned the per-square-foot estimate for the ECC expansion and the need to keep the facility in operation while construction proceeds, which raised the per-square-foot cost. Staff said the project includes about 2,360 additional square feet and includes a 20% contingency because work is in an early design phase and the facility must remain operational during construction.

Other CIP items discussed included a new radio-system interoperability project to connect the county’s system to the Maryland First statewide system, a proposed regional meat-processing facility (RAC) with an RFP for design consultants pending, and Shannon Farm park access improvements and a passive waterfront access concept that will require additional environmental permitting review.

The commissioners moved to approve the CIP project changes presented (with one item — the ECC detail — set aside for additional follow-up). A motion to accept the package, with an adjustment to bring back the ECC sheet next week for further detail, passed by voice vote.

Staff emphasized the county’s debt position remains within the board’s debt affordability limits: outstanding debt as a percent of the assessable base was projected at 1.85% for FY2022 and peaking at 2.13% in 2026, below policy thresholds. CFO Cudmore said bond sales are timed to cash-flow needs and that the county typically draws down borrowed proceeds quickly as projects proceed.

The board requested additional materials on ECC scope and costs, and asked staff to return with more detailed documentation on the ECC and the animal shelter at the next work session.