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Commissioners introduce bill to raise future pay; board approves amended step-up schedule and hearing dates
Summary
County counsel introduced proposed bill 2025-015 to raise future commissioners' salaries to $24,000 (members) and $25,000 (president) for the 2026–27 term; the chair moved, and the board approved by voice vote, an amendment to add a step up to $26,000/$27,000 after year one. The board also approved a public hearing Jan. 3, second reading Jan. 13 and third reading Jan. 20 with a prospective effective date of March 7, 2026.
County legal counsel presented proposed legislative bill 2025-015 on Dec. 16, which would set the commissioners' salary for the 2026–27 term at $24,000 for members and $25,000 for the president and take effect prospectively for terms beginning after the 2026 election.
Mr. Barrow explained the proposal and cited Section 10-302 of the Local Government Article of the Maryland code and a compensation review commission resolution dated Nov. 13, 2025, as background. The review commission had recommended a phased increase starting at $24,000 and rising by $2,000 per year to $30,000 (and $31,000 for the president) by the fourth year. The introduced bill, however, set initial salaries for the next term and did not fully implement the commission's phased recommendation.
The chair said he supported implementing the commission's initial recommendation and adding one step: moving to $26,000 for members and $27,000 for the president after the first year. He moved to amend the pending legislation to reflect that sequence; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair then moved to approve the legislative calendar and schedule a notice of public hearing for Jan. 3, 2026, a second reading/public hearing on Jan. 13 and a potential third reading and enactment on Jan. 20, with an anticipated effective date of March 7; the board approved the calendar by voice vote.
Mr. Barrow noted the statute bars changing salaries during an incumbent's term and that the bill would apply only to the next board. Commissioners discussed the review commission's finding that current compensation had not changed since 2009 and that increased administrative and constituent demands justified an adjustment.
The board recorded no roll-call breakdown for the voice votes on the amendment or calendar beyond the chair's statements that "the ayes have it." A separate roll-call occurred later for the closed session authorization.
