Charles County proposes $641.8 million FY2027 budget with new investments in schools, public safety and infrastructure

Charles County officials on Wednesday presented a proposed FY2027 operating budget of about $641.8 million and a five-year capital improvement program that county staff said would fund schools, public safety and infrastructure without raising the property or income tax rates.

Acting County Administrator Deborah Hall told the Board of Commissioners the proposal includes targeted staffing and program investments: funding for an inspector general office, a mobile crisis unit, additional security posts and x-ray machines at the main building, seven positions for the rental registry, and seven positions for a new animal care center in Waldorf. Hall also said the county is absorbing roughly $6.1 million in state-mandated cost shifts for pensions, private pre-K and state assessments, which reduces local flexibility.

Jake Dyer, the county's director of fiscal and administrative services, said the recommended operating budget reflects roughly $661.9 million in departmental requests trimmed to $641.8 million in available revenues, leaving a gap of about $20 million. Dyer emphasized the county's continued goal of keeping tax rates unchanged and noted Charles County maintains AAA ratings from the three major bond agencies.

The proposed plan increases local support for the Board of Education by about $12.1 million over last year's adopted budget to cover negotiated salary steps, healthcare cost growth, bus replacements and special education needs. Dyer and Hall said the county's 10-year increase to education support totals about $79.3 million, a 45% rise since FY2018. County staff said the funding would pay for 99.4% of the school system's overall request for items tied to staffing and operations.

Public-safety and emergency services funding also rises in the proposal. The sheriff's office would receive a $6.3 million increase to support five new positions, a license-plate reader system, a first-responder drone, a youth-engagement program and additional equipment; emergency services would add six EMT positions, one ambulance and radio upgrades. Staff said some officer positions would be supported by grants.

On the capital side, the five-year CIP includes a proposed $171 million modernization of La Plata High School, planning for a new middle school, playground ADA upgrades, construction of a new La Plata library and a program that commits about $15 million over time to sidewalk expansion across the county. Staff said water and sewer projects account for about 46% of the proposed CIP, while education projects account for about 25%.

To support enterprise and operating needs, staff proposed several fee increases: an average 9.4% increase on the water and sewer bill (meter replacements, PFAS/lead/copper regulatory compliance, added positions and increased debt service were cited as drivers), a $10 per ton increase in landfill tipping fees (from $108 to $118) and modest hikes to recycling and stormwater remediation fees. The budget office said the full schedule of fees and charges is posted on the county's budget website.

Dyer said the county proposes to rely on a mix of financing sources for the CIP, including water and sewer bonds for enterprise projects, general obligation bonds for governmental projects and school excise tax bonds restricted to capacity-adding school projects.

Next steps: the commission moved to keep the public record open through May 8, 2026, set a tax-rate hearing for May 12, 2026, and concluded the public hearing by unanimous voice vote.