Calvert County officials present balanced FY26 budget in work session; public hearing set for May 6

County Administrator Mark Willis and finance staff on April 29 told the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners they are prepared to present a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget at a May 6 public hearing after months of work to close a multi‑million dollar shortfall.

"We will display a balanced budget for you today," Willis said during a work session, describing a process that used 0‑based budgeting and that aimed to align spending with the board’s priorities across two fiscal years.

The work session summarized changes made since the staff recommended budget. Finance Director Bruce Miller told the board the staff budget originally reflected a "$15,400,000 revenue deficit," and that adjustments and updated state pass‑through figures produced a proposed county budget with total general fund revenues and expenditures projected at $385,000,000. Miller said the net change included roughly $17.8 million in operating cuts, a $6.8 million reduction in pay‑as‑you‑go capital, and increases that included a $6.5 million pension cost pressure.

Staff presented a high‑level explanation of major fund balances and the capital improvement program. Highlights included: - General fund revenues and expenditures each projected at about $385 million, with property tax ($229 million) and income tax ($121 million) as the largest revenue components. The county is budgeting a $163 million maintenance‑of‑effort contribution to the Board of Education, plus $4.8 million in school debt service and $31.6 million in school CIP (much of which staff said would be covered by school grants). - Enterprise funds (water/sewer, solid waste) shown as balanced at roughly $11.5 million and $17.1 million in revenues respectively, with staff stressing enterprise funds are managed distinctly from the general fund. - A capital improvement program proposed at about $62 million, with roughly $30 million from grants and $18 million financed by debt; education projects comprised about 51% of the proposed CIP.

Willis and Linda Turner, deputy county administrator, said the board would consider the commissioners’ recommended budget in a May 6 public hearing at 7:00 p.m., with official adoption scheduled for the June 10 board meeting. Willis emphasized staff were not asking the board to adopt the budget at the April 29 session; rather, they sought guidance and public awareness before the formal hearing.

Commissioners discussed the tradeoffs used to balance the plan, including service and staffing decisions, steps and a proposed cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees, and a clarified $2.2 million state pass‑through the county had been awaiting. "We've covered everything we know we have to do, and we have a balanced budget," one commissioner said near the session's close.

What’s next: copies of the budget were to be available in county libraries and online by the end of the day, and staff said they will take public comment and return with any additional adjustments during the May 6 public hearing.