Property owners in Queen Anne’s County will get an advance look at the budget proposed for the next fiscal year and also have an opportunity to attend public hearings. The QAC Commissioners have arrived at a proposed budget that is accomplished without any tax increase.
The county is mailing the proposed FY19 Operating and Capital Budgets prior to the upcoming budget hearings so that citizens can be better informed of how their tax dollars are being spent. This is a proposed budget and can change prior to the budget adoption scheduled for late May, based upon public input and further consideration by the QAC Commissioners.
The QAC Commissioners will be holding the following public hearings to address the budget: April 23, 7 p.m. at Bayside Elementary School; the Tax Rate Hearing, on April 24, 7 p.m. at the Liberty Building in Centreville; and April 25, 7 p.m. at Sudlersville Middle School.
The proposed budget includes:
• $1.0 million in new funding for public safety and health in the Sheriff’s Department, the Health Department, the Detention Center and the Department of Emergency Services
• Continued funding provided for the new County courthouse
• Budget and fiscal policies in accordance with the County’s AAA bond ratings
• Funding for numerous outside or non-profit organizations providing services to County residents
• A $27.4 million capital budget, including funds for public safety vehicles, parks projects, transit services, and Board of Education facility, security, and technology upgrades
• Funding for the Board of Education at Maintenance of Effort, a 2.5% increase above the current year
• A bond sale including the new courthouse, road resurfacing and numerous Board of Education capital projects
• All of this is accomplished with no increase in the County’s tax rates
The proposed Operating and Capital Budgets are available on the county’s website at http://www.qac.org/587/Budget-Section or type Budget Section in the Search Field of QAC.ORG