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Calvert County adopts $385.98 million FY2026 budget after 2% COLA proposal fails on tie
Summary
After a day of debate, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners adopted a balanced FY2026 operating budget of $385,978,812. A last‑minute motion to raise the employee cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) from 1% to 2% failed on a tie; the board then closed the record and approved the budget and related resolutions.
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt its fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budgets and enact related tax rates after hearing a staff presentation and extended commissioner debate.
Acting Finance and Budget Director Linda Turner and Beth Richmond, senior advisor for the Department of Finance and Budget, presented the staff recommendation and budget summary, saying, “The FY 2026 general fund operating budget totaling $385,978,812 is a balanced budget.” They told the board the proposed budget reduces some general fund appropriations compared with FY2025 but preserves core services and maintains education funding under the state maintenance‑of‑effort formula.
The adoption came after commissioners debated a late motion to increase the employee cost‑of‑living adjustment from 1% to 2%. One commissioner moved the increase, arguing higher pay is needed to retain and recruit staff and to avoid large catch‑up adjustments later; another commissioner objected, calling the proposal “unprofessional” to raise a material change at the last minute and noting outstanding operating unknowns (school board and health department budgets).
Beth Richmond described the fiscal effect of the additional 1% COLA as “about $1,000,000,” and staff identified potential offsets including pension savings and a possible health‑insurance rebate. Commissioners questioned whether those savings are realized and cautioned against budgeting projected rebates as firm revenue. After discussion, the motion to raise the COLA was seconded but resulted in a tie vote and therefore failed.
With the COLA motion defeated, the board proceeded to close the public record and vote on adoption of the FY2026 operating and capital improvement budgets and the resolutions setting tax rates, fines and fees. The motion to adopt the budgets carried by voice vote.
What changed: the board approved a balanced general fund plan that staff said reduces reliance on fund balance and deploys measures to manage revenue declines, while keeping education funding as a priority. The adopted budget package includes step increases and the originally proposed 1% COLA; staff said the average total employee increase where both a step and COLA apply is roughly 3.5% for many employees.
Next steps: staff will implement the approved budgets and provide routine reporting; commissioners asked for future work sessions on long‑term funding formulas and proactive budget planning to reduce last‑minute adjustments.
