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Frederick County reassessment projects $16.5M revenue gain; board to consider revenue-neutral options and budget workshop
Summary
County staff told the Board that the two-year reassessment taking effect Jan. 1, 2025 shows residential values rising about 17.6% and commercial about 26%, which would raise revenue by roughly $16,461,406 at the current 51¢ rate; the board discussed advertising options, a revenue-neutral calculation and scheduling a full-day budget workshop.
Speaker 3 of the commissioner—s office presented the county—s 2025 reassessment and its budget implications, saying the reassessment will take effect Jan. 1, 2025 and that Frederick County moved to a two-year reassessment cycle rather than the four-year minimum required by state code. "It is required by law," Speaker 3 said, and added the county—s current reassessment was completed to set values at 100% of market value.
The presenter told the board that the reassessment shows roughly 1,600 more parcels than in 2023 (the 2023 parcel total was 49,096) and that residential parcels overall increased about 17.57% while commercial values rose about 26%. Speaker 3 said that if the tax rate remains at 51¢, the reassessment-based revenue increase from 2024 to 2025 would be about $16,461,406 — an approximate 21% increase overall. "Revenue neutral, allowed by the state code, I have up there is 42.57," Speaker 3 said when describing the rate the board could advertise as revenue-neutral under state rules.
Board members pressed staff for mechanics and timing. Speaker 10 asked how much 1¢ of tax would generate at the new values; Speaker 3 answered, "It is 1,860,000.00, for 1¢." Staff clarified that the figures presented reflect reassessment of taxable values only (tax-exempt parcels are excluded) and that new-construction supplementals are handled separately and removed from the reassessment totals used in the advertised rate calculations.
Staff and board members discussed deadlines and next steps for the budget calendar. Staff said the board should aim to reach a consensus on the advertised reassessment rate by the board—s Jan. 8 work session; the reassessment advertisement is scheduled to publish Jan. 10 and a public hearing will be held Jan. 22. Several supervisors said they want staff to provide an explicit figure for growth attributable to new construction (so that supervisors can decide whether to set a revenue-neutral rate and still capture growth from new development). Speaker 2 committed to calculating and providing that supplement/new-construction number in January.
The board also discussed planning a full-day, in-person budget workshop so department heads could present capital plans and staffing requests in a concentrated session; staff proposed a 9 a.m.–4 p.m. format and agreed to circulate department material in advance to make the day productive. Staff said the Feb. 24 date (referred to in the meeting as the "20 fourth") looked workable for several supervisors and that the workshop would be televised with the option for partial virtual participation if needed.
The next procedural milestones are the Jan. 8 reassessment work session, the Jan. 10 advertisement of the reassessment rate and the Jan. 22 public hearing; staff said the advertised rate can be lowered later but cannot be increased after publication. The board did not take a formal vote on a final tax rate at the meeting and asked staff for additional supplemental and growth estimates ahead of the January schedule.
