The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County will hold the first budget work session for fiscal year 2027 on November 18, 2025, starting at 1:30 p.m. in the commissioners meeting room on the first floor of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown.
This session marks the initial step in developing the county’s operating and capital improvement budget for the period running July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Commissioners review department requests, revenue projections, and priority funding during work sessions, which continue through spring before a public hearing and final adoption.
Commissioner President Randy Guy described the process in a statement: “The budget process is one of the most important responsibilities of county government. We encourage residents to follow along, attend sessions, and provide feedback as we work together to shape the priorities for our community.”
All work sessions remain open to the public with options for in-person attendance at the Chesapeake Building, live viewing on Channel 95, or streaming and on-demand access through the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov. The full budget timeline, past meeting videos, and feedback instructions appear on the dedicated page at www.stmaryscountymd.gov/Budget.
The FY2027 budget calendar, approved by commissioners on September 16, 2025, outlines key dates including multiple work sessions typically at 1:30 p.m., department submissions, a public hearing in spring, and final adoption targeted before June 1, 2026, per county code requirements. Additional sessions follow in coming months, with dates posted on the county website and subject to adjustment.
St. Mary’s County operates under a commissioner form of government where the five elected officials serve as both legislative and executive branches, directly overseeing fiscal policy. The budget encompasses revenues from property taxes, income taxes, fees, and state aid, alongside expenditures for public safety, education funding to St. Mary’s County Public Schools, recreation and parks, aging and human services, economic development, and capital projects like roads and facilities.
Residents can submit input during designated public comment periods at work sessions or the formal public hearing, often held in April or May. Online forms and email options supplement in-person testimony, allowing comments on specific line items or overall priorities.
Maryland counties follow state guidelines for budget transparency under the Tax-Property Article, requiring balanced budgets and public notice for tax rate changes. St. Mary’s maintains a constant yield tax rate policy in recent years, adjusting the property tax levy to offset assessable base growth without increasing rates beyond revenue-neutral levels unless overridden by vote.
Education typically claims the largest share of the operating budget through maintenance of effort funding mandated by state law, covering local contributions to schools based on enrollment. Other major categories include public safety with the sheriff’s office and volunteer fire departments, plus infrastructure maintenance funded partly through capital improvement program bonds or pay-go allocations.
The process begins with the Department of Finance compiling requests from agencies, followed by commissioner deliberations that refine proposals. Final documents detail line-item expenditures, reserve fund targets, and debt service, guiding daily operations and long-term planning for growth tied to Naval Air Station Patuxent River and regional development.
Community involvement has shaped past budgets, with input influencing allocations for recreation facilities, emergency services equipment, and senior programs. The county’s finance page at www.stmaryscountymd.gov/finance provides historical budgets and financial reports for comparison.
As St. Mary’s County addresses ongoing needs in public works, health services, and environmental protection, the FY2027 cycle offers residents direct channels to influence resource distribution in a jurisdiction balancing rural character with base-related expansion.