Dorchester Council introduces FY25 budget amendment to add Water & Wastewater funding

The County Council of Dorchester County on Oct. 1 introduced an ordinance to amend the FY2024–2025 budget to formally incorporate the Department of Water and Wastewater Services.

Executive Administrative Specialist Irene Barnes told the Council the amendment would increase operating revenues and expenditures by $988,023 and add $350,000 to capital expenditures and sources, to be covered by the Water & Wastewater Enterprise Fund balance. The Council agreed to publish the ordinance and hold a public hearing before final action.

The introduction came alongside a Dorchester County Public Schools briefing on the FY26 Capital Improvement Plan. Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Collins and Facilities Manager Pat Murphy presented the school system’s planning request and the status of prior projects. Murphy said the State of Maryland is expected to fund 100% of new school construction through FY26 — language he said could be extended to FY28 — and that the State has requested feasibility studies for Open Space schools to determine whether to build new facilities or remodel existing ones.

The Council gave only conceptual approval for the school CIP “for planning purposes only,” contingent on future budget approvals, and did not adopt specific school-project expenditures at the Oct. 1 session.

Next steps: the budget amendment will be published for public hearing as required; the Board of Education’s FY26 CIP will remain subject to later budget approvals and any state decisions following feasibility studies.