La Plata, MD- Charles County Commissioners attended the annual Fall Meeting of the Department of Economic Development on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the College of Southern Maryland’s Velocity Center, where they approved $2.7 million in fiscal year 2026 budget transfers and a $480,576.50 change order credit for a water infrastructure project.
The gathering, held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the 4465 Indian Head Highway facility, centered on the theme “The Partnership Economy.” Discussions examined collaborative strategies among businesses at local, state and regional levels to foster accelerated growth, resource sharing and innovation in Southern Maryland’s evolving economy. Acting County Administrator Deborah Hall provided an update on government activities, covering ongoing administrative priorities for the county’s 170,000 residents.
The Velocity Center, a collaborative space managed by the College of Southern Maryland since its 2021 opening on a former naval site, supports such events by integrating academic, military and community resources. It features conference rooms, tech labs and flexible venues designed for workforce development and public-private dialogues, drawing from the area’s naval heritage at the nearby Naval Surface Warfare Center.
Briefings followed the thematic panels. Jacob Dyer, director of fiscal and administrative services, along with representatives from Bolton USA and Empower Investments, presented annual investment and actuarial reviews for the Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan, Other Post-Employment Benefits and the Charles County Pension Plan. These updates summarized U.S. market conditions, including equity gains and fixed-income yields through the third quarter of 2025, and their impacts on fund accruals. The Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan, a defined-benefit program for sworn personnel, allows deferred retirement options for up to five years while maintaining employment, ensuring long-term stability for the 300-member force. Other Post-Employment Benefits cover retiree health insurance premiums, while the Charles County Pension Plan serves general employees, with combined assets exceeding $500 million as of June 30, 2025, buoyed by a 7.2 percent return amid moderated inflation.
Commissioners then addressed approval items. They authorized $1.5 million in inter-category budget transfers for administrative and operations categories, reallocating funds to cover personnel costs, technology upgrades and facility maintenance across departments. An additional $1.2 million transfer aligned the Phoenix International School of the Arts budget with Charles County Public Schools’ system-wide allocations. The school, a tuition-free public charter serving sixth through eighth graders in La Plata, emphasizes arts integration in core academics, enrolling 200 students in dance, music and visual programs to build executive functioning and global leadership skills. This adjustment ensures equitable funding for its partnership model, which began operations in 2022 as the county’s first such institution.
The board also approved a change order credit of $480,576.50 for the St. Charles Well No. 16 Replacement Project, reflecting reduced work and materials from a design revision. This netted against a $720,736.50 base credit, offset by $240,160 for added electrical and instrumentation enhancements, plus demolition of a storage shed and chemical tank. The project, underway since 2023 in the St. Charles planned community, replaces the aging well to sustain potable water supply for 15,000 residents in the densely populated area near Route 210. It includes drilling to 800 feet, pump installations and compliance with Maryland Department of the Environment standards for groundwater quality, with completion targeted for mid-2026.
These actions underscore the commissioners’ focus on fiscal prudence amid a $650 million operating budget for fiscal year 2026, which emphasizes infrastructure resilience and educational equity. The Department of Economic Development, under new Director Jim Chandler since August 2025, uses events like this to connect stakeholders with opportunities in sectors such as defense contracting and agribusiness, leveraging the county’s proximity to Joint Base Andrews and the Port of Baltimore.
Residents can access meeting minutes and agendas via the county’s online portal, with future sessions scheduled biweekly at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. These proceedings reflect methodical governance, balancing immediate needs like school funding with long-term assets like pension health.