Queen Anne's County adopts $FY26 budget, holds property tax rate

The Queen Anne's County Commissioners on June 10 adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget, approving Resolution 25-05 and a capital program that includes roughly $48 million in projects while keeping the county's tax rate at the same level as the previous three years.

County budget director Jeffrey Frank thanked county departments and commissioners for eight months of work preparing the plan, saying the budget funds current service levels and a series of capital projects despite a state budget shortfall that reduced some state support. "Despite a state budget crisis that trickled several expenses down the list this year," Frank said, the county managed to include capital investments and maintain tax stability.

Commissioners had discussed the budget at multiple meetings and received written testimony from Chesapeake College supporting county funding for local technical-education projects. Commissioners made and seconded a motion to adopt Resolution 25-05; the motion passed and the budget was adopted.

The adopted plan includes the board's capital priorities for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and continues the county's multi-year funding approach. County officials said they will continue monitoring state developments that could affect local finances and noted that federal or state changes later in the year might require further adjustments.

The vote to adopt the budget was recorded during the meeting after discussion and formal motion.

Looking ahead, county staff said they will continue budget oversight and report back to commissioners if additional state actions require midyear revisions.