Carroll County is considering increasing its property tax rate for the first time since 1997 to support schools, public safety, and other essential services.
Last week, the Board of Carroll County Commissioners presented the fiscal 2025 proposed budget, which includes an operating budget of $541.6 million, a decrease of $1.2 million or 0.2 percent from fiscal 2024.
The Commissioners made several significant additions to the budget recommended by the County's Director of Management and Budget, Ted Zaleski, including:
- Increasing funding to Carroll County Public School $6 million more than the previously approved $7 million increase (a total of $13 million more than fiscal 2024)
- Including funding for public safety pension benefit increases
- Adding public safety positions in courts and the State's Attorney's Office and added $9 million of one-time funding to the Sheriff's Office Headquarters project
- Adding deputy chief of operations position and upgraded four shift commander positions to captains for the Department of Fire/EMS
- Increasing funding to Carroll Community College to support salary increases
- Providing one-time funding for the Carroll County Public Library
In addition to ballooning costs for the Carroll County Board of Education to implement the Blueprint for Maryland's Futue, needed investments in public safety and emergency services, aging infrastructure, and a weakening revenue outlook contributed to a proposed two-cent per 100 of assessed value property tax rate increase (from 1.018 to 1.038). In addition, for the first time since 2003, the Commissioners are proposing a nominal increase to the County's recordation fee ($1.50/$500 increase).
A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Monday, May 6, at 7:00 pm, at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster.
The Commissioners may hold additional budget work sessions based on resident feedback. Those work sessions are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 16. The Commissioners plan to adopt the fiscal 2025 budget on Tuesday, May 21.
Visit the Carroll County website for more information.
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