County commissioners adopt 2022-23 budget that cuts taxes but raises expenses
Taxpayers will see tax cuts while the Washington County Board of Commissioners will be spending more in the next fiscal year.
The commissioners on Tuesday adopted the operating and capital improvement budgets, and property and income tax rates for fiscal year 2023.
The commissioners voted 4-0, with Commissioner Charlie Burkett absent due to being in Philadelphia for a pastor conference.
The commissioners also voted to keep water and sewer rates the same, with an increase of certain lab fees to offset the cost of contracting out some lab tests, according to a document provided by the county.
The $262.8 million general fund for fiscal 2023 is a $10.9 million, or a 4.3%, increase from the 2021-22 budget.
The additional county expenses include:
$3.3 million for a new salary scale for uniformed law enforcement officers
$1.6 million increased appropriations to volunteer fire and rescue companies
$824,000 for public safety operations
$3.2 million for the county board of education
$406,000 for outside entities
$898,000 for capital
$2 million for employee 2.5% step raises and 1% cost of living adjustment
$520,000 for a one-time 1% COLA for retirees
$1 million for other items
The commissioners had voted unanimously in April to approve a property tax-rate cut from $0.948 to $0.928 per $100 in assessed value. Savings per household per year on average is expected to be over $50.
This also sets the tax rate for properties in the county's nine municipalities at $0.803 per $100 of assessment, according to a document provided by the county. The property tax differential is meant to account for services the municipalities provide that the county also provides, such as police and fire.
More: County talks tax cuts, increased fire & rescue funding at hearing; budget vote Tuesday
More: Tax rates steady in Hagerstown's $171 million budget, but tax bills might still edge up
The income tax-rate was also reduced from 3% to 2.95%, which was predicted to bring nearly $30 in savings on average per return per year.
The commissioners also approved a 3% increase in T-hangar rental charges at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, as well as a change to landfill user fees.
As part of the budget process, a 24-page "Citizen's Guide to the Budget" was posted on the county's website, www.washco-md.net.
'Surprise us'
Washington County commissioner candidate Dave Williams asked the commissioners during citizen comment Tuesday to explain "why you can't, why you think you shouldn't or why you just won't" fully fund the board of education.
"Or surprise us, and tell us how you will," said Williams, a Democrat who is married to Washington County Public School Board President Melissa Williams.
The school system's ask of the commissioners was $110.5 million, which is an increase of nearly $4.7 million, or 4.41%, over what it received in the 2022 fiscal year that ends June 30.
The commissioners are slated to give the schools $109 million through what is known as maintenance of effort.
The state's maintenance of effort provision requires each county government to provide, on a per-pupil basis, at least as much funding for the local school system as was provided in the prior fiscal year.
The county board of education's tentative operating budget is $318.5 million and was approved in March.
The state is slated to give Washington County Public Schools $207 million, nearly $16 million, or 8.33%, over the current fiscal year.
The county board of education had asked the commissioners to pick up the cost of the four sheriff's deputies who are school resource officers to free up funding for other vacancies in the county public school system, such as counselors.
No changes were made to the budget before the commissioners voted.
The fiscal year 2023 begins July 1.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County commissioners adopt 2022-23 budget
