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Saint Mary's commissioners adopt $379.3 million FY2027 budget after debate over zero-based review
Summary
The Commissioners of Saint Mary's County adopted a $379.3 million general fund FY2027 budget on May 19, approving related tax and appropriation ordinances and a small bond realignment. Commissioners discussed expanding a zero‑based budgeting pilot; one commissioner later said he voted against the measure.
The Commissioners of Saint Mary's County voted May 19 to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget, approving a $379,272,851 general fund plan alongside supporting ordinances and a $326,395 bond realignment for Chopticon High School.
Finance director Vanetta Van Clee presented the balanced proposal, saying, “We bring forward today the balanced FY27 budget,” and laid out multi‑fund totals: $379,272,851 in the general fund; $34,156,357 in enterprise and special revenue funds; and a $72,590,791 capital improvement program for FY27 (with the capital plan extending through FY32). Van Clee also noted the Chopticon High School bond realignment included in the package.
Why it matters: the board approved both the revenue and appropriation ordinances that set tax rates and spending levels for the coming year. Commissioners debated whether to continue or expand a zero‑based budgeting pilot used this year to examine line‑by‑line requests from departments. Some commissioners said the approach provided useful detail; others asked that past actuals be presented alongside pilot results to improve accountability.
Commissioner discussion focused on transparency and implementation. One member asked for three years of actual expenditures to be shown with zero‑based submissions so the board can see historical patterns. Van Clee said the pilot “is starting at zero” and agreed to consider presentation changes and a July follow‑up about expanding the pilot.
The consent motions recorded in the meeting included: a bond realignment resolution for Chopticon High School, approval of fees and charges presented in the public hearing, adoption of the revenue ordinance setting tax rates, approval of the appropriation ordinance including compensation increases for appointed employees, and final adoption of the FY27 budget.
Commissioner Mike Hewitt said later during commissioners’ time that he voted against the budget, explaining his objection to borrowing through a general obligation bond rather than using available fund balance for a county loan program. “If you borrow $3.4 million ... now you're paying interest,” he said, arguing that paying cash would avoid roughly $1.4 million in interest over 15 years.
What’s next: the county’s public‑school annual budget certificate was not yet available; staff said that will be presented at the June 9 meeting. The board authorized the commissioner president to sign related documents so budget implementation can proceed.
Sources: presentation and motions by Vanetta Van Clee and other finance staff at the May 19 commissioners meeting; verbatim remarks from Commissioner Mike Hewitt.
