Westminster, MD, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – This morning, Mr. Ted Zaleski, Director of Management and Budget, presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Overview to the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BOC) during Open Session.

The FY24 Budget Overview is derived from hundreds of staff hours during which staff review prior budgets, meet with agency and department leaders, follow trends in the real estate market, income taxes, recordation and filing fees and a whole host of other activities to ensure that the recommended budget is based on the best, most accurate and up-to-date information possibly available.

Mr. Zaleski began the presentation with several core messages: the revenue outlook for Carroll County and the State has brightened considerably; the county is in a stronger position but still overcommitted; and the organization is still working through things that aren’t currently addressed in our plan. He then revealed a thorough and detailed presentation of the FY2024 budget. The entire Budget Overview presentation can be viewed on the county website.

Throughout March, April and May, a series of budget meetings will be held to develop and adopt the final budget.  On March 23rd, the Recommended Budget will be presented to the BOC.  Then the board will meet with any agency requesting funding not included in the Recommended Budget.   Below is the list of meetings as they are currently scheduled:

Agency Meetings with Commissioners:

Thursday, March 23rd

Tuesday, March 28th

Thursday, March 30th  

After the commissioners meet with agencies, the board will begin discussing the budget options amongst themselves to create a proposed budget.  The Proposed Budget Work Sessions will begin on April 4th. 

Once the Proposed Budget is agreed upon by a majority of the commissioners, a release of the FY24 Proposed Budget reveal will be held on Tuesday, April 25th.

Director Zaleski will then hold a series of community meetings to review and explain the Proposed Budget.  These meetings are currently scheduled as follows:

Budget Community Presentations:

Wednesday, April 26th           7:00 pm                      Eldersburg Library

Thursday, April 27th               7:00 pm                      Mount Airy Library

Monday, May 1st                    7:00 pm                      Westminster Library

Tuesday, May 2nd                   7:00 pm                      Taneytown Library

Wednesday, May 3rd              7:00 pm                      North Carroll Library

A Budget Public Hearing is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:00 pm. at Carroll Community College’s Scott Center located at 1601 Washington Road in Westminster. More information on the public hearing will be provided closer to the date.

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 16th and Thursday, May 18th.

The FY2024 budget adoption is planned for Tuesday, May 23rd.

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 about the budget can be sent to Director Ted Zaleski at tzaleski@carrollcountymd.gov at any time.

At this time, these sessions are in person and open to the public, will be televised on Channel 24 and streamed live on the county website.  All 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.

Meetings 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.