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Frederick County adopts 2026 legislative agenda; supervisor warns of mounting budget pressure
Summary
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors approved a 2026 legislative agenda focused on land use, transportation, education and mental health. Supervisor Dunn outlined fiscal shortfalls, urged consideration of a 1% sales tax referendum and other revenue options and called for fuller study of data centers and transfer-of-development-rights policy.
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a draft 2026 legislative agenda after a presentation from county staff. The agenda, which the board agreed to forward to the county’s delegates and senator in Richmond, lists four priority areas: land use and development regulation, transportation funding, education funding and mental health.
Supervisor Dunn, who presented a set of recommended priorities for the board to press at the General Assembly, emphasized county fiscal pressures and possible revenue responses. “This tax also would have raised more than $20,000,000,” Dunn said while describing the revenue potential of a proposed 1% sales tax referendum, which he urged the board to consider as an alternative to further real-estate tax increases. He said the county has faced a roughly $15 million shortfall over the past two years and will face ongoing costs from the financing of a fourth high school and annual salary increases.
Dunn outlined additional priorities for the board to include in its outreach to Richmond: measures on election integrity, opposition to unfunded state mandates, school choice options and a proposal to consolidate campaign information into a single election day. He also called for an in‑depth, balanced examination of data-center development — citing water and power needs and urging presentations from both proponents and opponents.
Board members approved the staff recommendation to submit the legislative list after discussion. County staff will deliver the adopted agenda to the county’s legislative delegation in Richmond.
The action was procedural: staff will track follow-up with state legislators. No new local taxes were enacted at the meeting; Dunn asked the board to consider public engagement and specific drafting ahead of any referendum or legislative request.
