Dorchester County Council adopts FY26 budget, enacts $0.03 tax increase to preserve Cambridge and Hurlock differentials

The Dorchester County Council unanimously adopted the FY26 Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance (Bill No. 2025-4) during its May 20, 2025 meeting, approving a $0.03 increase in the county tax rate to balance the budget while maintaining tax differentials for the City of Cambridge and the Town of Hurlock.

County Manager Jerry Jones told the council he proposed a $201,331 reduction in contingency—driven in part by a reported 50% reduction in the county's Teacher Pension expense—to avoid shifting greater tax burdens onto the two municipalities. Mayor Lajan Cephas of Cambridge told the council she supported the manager's recommendation to preserve the differentials.

Council members noted the difficulty of the budget. Council President George L. Pfeffer Jr. thanked staff and voiced concern that further state-level fiscal pressure could require additional local adjustments next year. Councilman William V. Nichols described the FY26 budget as the worst he has seen in 30 years, while Vice President Mike Detmer urged residents to make their views known to state legislators.

The council's roll call on the ordinance was: Pfeffer — aye; Detmer — aye; Kramer — aye; Nichols — aye; Travers — aye.

Why it matters: the budget balances county priorities for FY26 while preserving a tax structure between the county and its municipalities that local officials said is important to Cambridge and Hurlock. Council members repeatedly warned that state fiscal actions and mandates could force further local increases in coming years.

What happens next: the ordinance was adopted and the new rates will take effect according to the county's normal schedule for budget implementation. The council encouraged residents to contact state representatives about mandates they believe shift costs to local governments.