Calvert County commissioners present FY26 budget with $17.8 million in cuts; public comment period extended to June 9

Commissioner Gerald Hans, president of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, opened the May 6 public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget and said the commissioners are not proposing tax increases to balance the plan. “There are no tax increases or, other pass along cost to our citizens that we're gonna impose tonight to balance this budget,” Hans said.

The commissioners presented a reconciled budget after staff and the county finance office identified new state pass-through costs and made department-level reductions. Bruce Miller, Calvert County finance director, said the staff-recommended budget initially showed a $15.4 million revenue deficit; after $2.2 million in state pass-through expenditures were shifted to the county, the shortfall grew to $17.8 million. To close that gap the county implemented approximately $17.6 million in department operating cuts and reduced PAYGO capital funding by $6.8 million.

Why it matters: the proposed FY26 budget sets county operating priorities and the first year of the six-year capital improvement plan. The board said it aimed to avoid short-term reliance on fund balance while protecting essential services.

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