Charles County commissioners agree to multiple FY2027 add/delete changes, set budget adoption for May 12

Charles County commissioners met May 5 for a budget work session and reached consensus on several commissioner-proposed add/delete requests that together change the proposed FY2027 budget before formal adoption next week.

Jake Dyer, director of fiscal administrative services, said the board was seeking consensus rather than formal votes at the work session: "What we need to do today is we're just looking for consensus from the majority of the commissioners," he said, noting staff would incorporate agreed changes into the proposed budget for the May 12 adoption meeting.

Why it matters: the changes would shift unassigned fund balance and operating funds to a mix of priorities that commissioners described as urgent or time-sensitive. Key agreed items included using fund balance to create a $1,000,000 allocation proposed for the Board of Education, increasing pretrial services funding to an even $500,000 (a combination of existing operating dollars and a $144,600 fund-balance supplement), and adding targeted community supports.

Budget details and program changes - Education and scholarships: Commissioner Collins’s scholarship request for a University of Maryland cohort (a requested $59,400 for FY27 that would obligate a four-year commitment if approved) was discussed and supported as part of the overall package staff said the fund balance could accommodate; the county estimated a four-year commitment of about $237,600 if the cohort continues.

- Pretrial services: Commissioners agreed to increase pretrial funding to $500,000 for FY27. Jake Dyer said the board would use a mix of operating revenue and $144,600 of fund balance to reach that total.

- Board of Education: Commissioners discussed using unassigned fund balance to provide $1,000,000 to the school system. Multiple commissioners raised the need to be committed to replacing one-time fund-balance support in the FY28 operating budget if used as a stopgap.

- Community and social services: The board added $50,000 for community services to support food-insecurity programs and senior nutrition gaps, and authorized $300,000 in fund balance to pilot a Water and Sewer Financial Payment Assistance program; staff will return with program parameters before rollout.

- Grants and boards: Several small board/commission requests were scaled to conform with county SOPs; the Forestry Board, the Commission on Disabilities and a Head Start/early-childhood request were set at $1,500 each.

- Personnel and staffing: The board discussed and reached consensus to add an executive commissioner specialist position (with an adjusted hire date to address contingency funding timing) and to convert a temporary part-time administrative role to permanent part-time under the commissioners’ office. Human-resources staff said the part-time role had been used recently on salary-savings and would have up to 28 hours per week.

- Capital projects and parks: Commissioners approved several CIP additions including upgrades to courts at Southern Park and a two-year project at White Plains Regional Park to add courts and reconfigure a portion of the driving range to maximize amenities; park staff said the design includes netting and stormwater adjustments to allow the new courts.

What did not move forward: Commissioner Stewart’s proposal to shift $800,000 to the Board of Education by reducing funds intended for an inspector-general office did not reach consensus and was opposed by at least two commissioners.

Next steps: Jake Dyer and budget staff will recalculate the proposed general fund total with the agreed add/deletes and present formal motions for adoption at the board’s May 12 meeting. Dyer summarized the timeline: staff will "put the changes in the budget" and prepare the full motion for adoption next week.

The board adjourned the open work session portion and scheduled a closed session later in the day to receive legal advice and discuss personnel and land matters.