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Carroll County unveils $802.8 million proposed FY26 budget; water, sewer and solid-waste rate increases proposed
Summary
Carroll County staff presented a proposed FY2026 budget totaling $802,817,052 and proposed increases to water, sewer and solid-waste fees at a public hearing. Commissioners scheduled final adoption for May 22; members of the public used the hearing to press officials on school funding and other priorities.
Ted Zaleski, director of management and budget for Carroll County, presented the county's proposed fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budgets and outlined proposed changes to utility and solid-waste rates during a public hearing televised on the county's YouTube channel.
Zaleski said the general (operating) fund proposal is $580,983,760 and listed capital and other funds including a capital fund of $128,310,901, a grant fund of $24,783,464 and combined enterprise and trust funds. He said total proposed funding across all funds is $802,817,052. "All funds total $802,817,052," Zaleski said during his remarks.
The hearing also included proposed utility rate changes. Zaleski described the water proposal (base charge $14.38; usage tiers of $11.03 for 0–10,000 gallons, $11.36 for 10,001–30,000 gallons and $11.82 for over 30,000 gallons) and sewer proposals (quarterly base charge $20.40; usage tiers $13.24 for 0–10,000 gallons, $14.17 for 10,001–30,000 and $15.54 for over 30,000 gallons). He said the rate proposals are made "pursuant to chapter 51-01C of the code of public local laws and ordinances of Carroll County."
Solid-waste and disposal fees the county proposed include $70 per ton for municipal solid waste, $85 per ton for construction and demolition debris, $90 per ton for sewage sludge, a minimum disposal fee and residential automobile flat rate of $8 per load, recycling at $55 per ton, and a range of scrap-tire fees (commercial $175 per ton; off-the-rim $3 each; on-the-rim $4 each). Zaleski also summarized enterprise fund totals for airport, septage, firearms facility, fiber network and the county LOSAP fund.
The hearing format, Zaleski said, allowed three minutes per speaker; an interpreter was in the room; sign-up cards were available in the lobby; and commissioners planned two budget work sessions before a scheduled adoption of the budget on May 22 at 10 a.m. "Commissioners are scheduled to adopt the budget on May 22 at 10AM," Zaleski said.
During public comment, many speakers focused on specific budget priorities (notably school funding) rather than utility or waste-rate details, but the rate proposals and the fee schedule were publicly presented and open for comment at the hearing.
The county's staff presentation and the public hearing are part of the formal budget process; commissioners said they will hold additional work sessions before final adoption. Members of the public were encouraged to submit written comments through the county website.
Ending: The hearing record and the proposed budget documents are available on the Carroll County website; commissioners planned two additional budget sessions and a formal adoption hearing on May 22 at 10 a.m., officials said.
