County Council adopts Fitzwater's budget, tax rates for fiscal year 2026 as proposed
By Ceoli Jacoby cjacoby@newspost.com
The Frederick County Council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to adopt the $1.02 billion operating budget proposed by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater for fiscal year 2026.
The council also voted 6-1 to keep the real property tax rate at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, with 5 cents per $100 of assessed value going into the dedicated school construction reserve established as part of last year’s budget.
The vote breakdown was the same for both measures.
Council Members Brad Young, Kavonté Duckett, Renee Knapp, Jerry Donald and M.C. Keegan-Ayer — all Democrats — and Council Member Steve McKay, a Republican, voted in favor.
Council Member Mason Carter, a Republican, was opposed to both measures. He said he could not support a budget that would keep the property tax rate the same with so many people in the county struggling to afford their basic needs.
During the amendment process, Carter introduced nearly two dozen proposed cuts, the largest of which would have saved $3.67 million by reducing the budgets of most county divisions and departments by 2%. All of his proposed cuts failed.
“Had those passed, we would have been able to sit here tonight and deliberate a one-and-a-half-cent cut to our property tax,” Carter said. “And though that amount sounds small, I have heard the people of this county clearly — any little bit helps.”
Other members of the council praised Fitzwater, a Democrat, for coming up with what they described as a modest budget proposal.
McKay said this year marked the first time during his tenure on the council when the increase in the county’s operating budget from one year to the next has been “responsible.”
“I wish it wasn’t coming with the property tax rate where it is, particularly given the assessments that we have,” McKay said. “But at least from the standpoint of how much the budget is growing, I can support this.”
Even if the property-tax rate stays the same, tax bills increase as property values rise through assessments done by the state.
The adopted operating budget for fiscal 2026 is 3.8% higher than the current operating budget, which is $982 million.
Donald described the budget before the council on Tuesday as “rather conservative” and agreed that growth since last year is “much smaller” than in years past.
He said he believes the budget will help seniors, expand parks programs and protect farm land in Frederick County from development pressure.
Keegan-Ayer said that, as part of this year’s budget process, Fitzwater directed every division and department to scrutinize their base budgets for money that could be cut or repurposed before requesting more.
“I am very proud to be able to once again support the budget,” she said.
Duckett said he shares Carter’s concerns about county residents not being able to meet their basic needs.
However, he said that the differentiated income tax rates adopted in 2023 were “a step in the right direction” to help the county’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) population.
Knapp said it was clear to her based on the number of appeals in this year’s budget package that “every penny was looked at.”
Young said most of the people who spoke during public hearings on this year’s budget were concerned about funding for senior citizens and students.
He said he would have liked to have seen the council do more for education this year than it did, but the fiscal 2026 budget is “at least an improvement from where we are.”
The adopted $1.02 billion operating budget includes a $431.5 million allocation to the Frederick County Board of Education. The board initially requested $455.6 million from the county.
The board has already begun the process of reconciling the gap, which stood at $6.8 million as of Tuesday.
Young said he plans to come back to the council with suggestions about how to help the county’s senior population, including changes to existing tax credits for older people.
In a written statement after the council’s vote on Tuesday, Fitzwater said she was grateful for the council’s support of her fiscal 2026 budget proposal, which invests in public education and other essential services.
“We navigated significant challenges this year to deliver a budget that reflects our community’s priorities,” Fitzwater wrote. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Council to keep Frederick County a great place to live, work, and thrive.”
The council passed the budget and tax rate bills before the charter-imposed deadline of May 31. Fiscal 2026 begins on July 1.
