Westminster, MD, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Yesterday, the Board of County Commissioners unveiled its proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, 2024. The $541.6 million General Fund, which authorizes day-to-day expenses, sees a decrease of $1.2 million or 0.2% from FY2024. The budget proposes a two cent per 100 of assessed value property tax rate increase for FY2025 from 1.018 to 1.038. Real property tax rates were last increased in FY1997. The budget includes increases to the county’s Recordation Rate fee from $5.00/$500 to $6.50/$500 ($1.50/$500 increase). The Recordation Rate was last increased in FY2003. The proposed document also includes fee increases for utilities.

The proposed FY2025 Budget will be available for public viewing on the county’s website soon. 

The commissioners made a number of significant additions, especially in education and public safety, including but not limited to:

  • Increased funding to Carroll County Public School $6M more than the previously approved $7M increase (a total of $13M more than FY2024)
  • Funding included for public safety pension benefit increases
  • Additions to public safety positions in courts and State’s Attorney’s Office and added $9M of one-time funding to the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters project
  • Added deputy chief of operations position and upgraded four shift commander positions to captains for the Department of Fire/EMS
  • Increase to Carroll Community College $150K to support salary increases
  • Increase Carroll County Public Library one-time funding 1.5%

The board also made some reductions in the FY2025 budget, including but not limited to:

  • Reduces ongoing funding to Department of Fire/EMS of $2.8M
  • Ag Preservation - ongoing reduction of $2.5M
  • Eliminated 10 vacant county government positions
  • With the exception of public safety related budgets, county department and other agency budgets held flat to FY2024 funding
  • Reduced planned 5.5% increase for commissioner, courts, and State’s Attorney’s Office employees to 4% (budget maintains planned 4% increase for Sheriff’s Office) 

Impact:

Examples of the impact with the proposed two cent property tax increase:

Home Value:  $250,000         Tax Impact:    $50/year or $4.16/month

Home Value:  $350,000         Tax Impact:    $70/year or $5.83/month

Home Value:  $450,000         Tax Impact:    $90/year or $7.50/month     

 

Proposed increase of $1.50/500 recordation rate impact examples:

Sale Price:       $250,000         Rate Impact:   $  750

Sale Price:       $350,000         Rate Impact:   $1050

Sale Price:       $450,000         Rate Impact:   $1350

A Recordation Fee is charged when registering a property’s transfer of ownership. These fees are a part of the bundle of expenses typically referred to as closing costs and only occur at property settlement.

Carroll County Management and Budget Director Ted Zaleski presented the proposed budget overview to the board. Beginning this evening, Mr. Zaleski will host five community meetings at library branches to review and explain the budget. All interested residents are encouraged to attend.

Budget Community Presentations:

Wednesday, April 24th           7:00 pm                      Eldersburg Library

Thursday, April 25th               7:00 pm                      Mount Airy Library

Monday, April 29th                 7:00 pm                      Exploration Commons (Westminster)

Tuesday, April 30th                 7:00 pm                      Taneytown Library

Wednesday, May 1st             7:00 pm                      North Carroll Library

A Budget Public Hearing is scheduled on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 7:00 pm. at the Carroll Arts Center located at 91 W. Main Street in Westminster. The meeting will be live streamed for viewing purposes on the county’s YouTube channel, but participation must be in person. The recording will be available later on the website and channel 24. Those unable to attend the public hearing but wishing to comment may submit any questions or concerns directly to Director Zaleski at tzaleski@carrollcountymd.gov.

Additional Budget Work Sessions may be held by the commissioners to make any modifications to the proposed budget based on the information received during the Budget Public Hearing.  These work sessions are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th and Thursday, May 16th.

The FY2025 budget adoption is planned for Tuesday, May 21st.

Updated information can be viewed on the Bureau of Budget webpage as it becomes available: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/management-budget/bureau-of-budget/.  Comments and questions can be submitted via the webpage or can be sent to Director Ted Zaleski at tzaleski@carrollcountymd.gov at any time.

These sessions are in person and open to the public, will be televised on Channel 24, and streamed live on the county website.  Meetings will be held in the County Office Building, 225 N. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157, unless otherwise noted.  Meeting times and places are subject to change, so please check the county website or call 410-386-2400 to confirm.

All previous budget meetings, presentations, and work sessions are available for viewing on the county meeting portal and the county YouTube channel. In addition, all meetings will be replayed on Comcast Channel 24.