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Council approves 911 fee increase, property‑sales and capital items; budget and senior tax credit introduced
Summary
At its April 15 meeting Dorchester County Council introduced the FY26 budget appropriation ordinance and a senior citizen property tax credit amendment and approved multiple actions including raising the 911 fee to $4.25, approving a Tech Park sale, awarding a pickleball conversion bid and funding an airport wildlife fence design.
Dorchester County Council took several legislative and administrative actions April 15, introducing the FY26 budget appropriation ordinance and a proposed senior property tax credit while approving a mix of funding, procurement and property transactions.
On revenue and budget matters, the council introduced the fiscal year 2026 budget appropriation ordinance; public hearings will be scheduled and the full bill will be published to the public. The council also introduced an amendment to the county’s senior property tax credit that would lower the qualifying age to 67 and increase the credit to 10 percent; that measure will have a separate public hearing.
Following public hearings and staff presentations, the council approved a set of items by roll call or consent:
- 9‑1‑1 fee increase: After a public hearing with two written statements opposing the increase (from Verizon and CTIA), the council voted to raise the county’s 9‑1‑1 fee to $4.25 to support a high‑volume emergency communications center. Council members said the call volume and operating demands made the increase “painful but necessary.”
- Dorchester Tech Park sale: The council approved sale of Lots 11, 12 and 13 in the Dorchester County Business and Technology Park for $296,400 to support a proposed research and development campus. The county’s notice estimated creation of 200–300 jobs over the next 10 years. County staff said closing documents are expected to finalize the sale the day after the meeting.
- Airport wildlife fence (phase 3) design: The council approved a $35,000 design services contract with AECOM for phase 3 of a wildlife fence at the county airport; the project was funded in the FY25 capital budget.
- Herlock Park pickleball conversion: The council awarded the contract to convert two tennis courts to pickleball courts to Outdoor Concept LLC for $68,000; the project is funded 90 percent by the FY25 program open space fund and 10 percent by the FY26 capital budget. Council staff said the lowest bidder was disqualified for failing to submit required documents, so the second lowest bidder was selected.
- Poll confirmations: The council approved two interim poll actions: (1) authorization for the circuit court to submit a $427,338.48 FY26 jurisdictional family services grant application to the Maryland Administrative Office of Courts (no local match; performance period 7/1/2025–6/30/2026) and (2) a letter of support for a Maryland Department of Agriculture grant application submitted by Stif Tuck.
Other business included recognition proclamations for public safety telecommunicators and correctional officers, and the council voted to donate a 1902 copy of History of Dorchester County to the local historical society.
Most motions and approvals passed unanimously on roll call (Councilman Travers, Councilman Detmer, Councilman Kramer, Councilman Nichols and the presiding officer voting in favor where recorded). Public comment on the 9‑1‑1 fee included two written opposition statements from telecommunications industry groups; no speakers appeared in person on that item.
Votes and introductions will proceed through the county’s standard public‑hearing and ordinance process as staff schedules hearings and prepares final documents.
