PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners appointed Malena Brookshire as chief financial officer for Calvert County Government, effective Jan. 6, 2026.
Brookshire, a Prince Frederick resident, brings more than 20 years of experience in financial management and leadership in the public and nonprofit sectors. Her role involves aligning strategy with resource sustainability, according to the county announcement.
Before the appointment, Brookshire served five years as chief financial officer at AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service, where she led a multi-year finance and operations reform effort. From 2015 to 2020, she was deputy controller and deputy director for enterprise planning and analysis at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, overseeing strategic planning, program performance and risk management for the $8 billion agency. Earlier, she spent 10 years at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as deputy performance improvement officer and director of budget and planning.
Brookshire previously served on the Calvert County Commission for Women. She was president of the Association of Government Accountants D.C. Chapter and is a member of the Chief Financial Officers Leadership Council. In 2023, she was named one of the top 25 CFOs in the D.C. metro area by Finance and Investing and received a national Innovation in Business Award.
She holds certifications as a government financial manager and project management professional. Brookshire earned a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and Bachelor of Science degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“We are very pleased to have Malena Brookshire join us as a vital department director in Team Calvert,” said Calvert County Administrator Linda Turner. “She brings to Calvert County Government decades of financial management acumen, skill and expertise.”
“It is a privilege to join the Calvert County team, and I look forward to working collaboratively with leadership and staff to serve our residents,” Brookshire said. “I am committed to maintaining our county’s strong fiscal health through efficient resource management while investing in the future of our community.”
Brookshire’s federal experience positions her to address Calvert County’s fiscal needs, including managing a $386 million general fund operating budget for fiscal year 2026, which allocates 44% to education at $163 million and emphasizes public safety with nearly $40 million for the sheriff’s office and more than $20 million for other operations. Her background in strategic planning and reform at large agencies aligns with the county’s focus on prudent expenditure management and long-term fiscal sustainability, as outlined in the fiscal year 2026 staff-recommended budget.
Calvert County, part of Southern Maryland, maintains unchanged local income and property tax rates at 3.2% and 96.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, respectively, for fiscal year 2026. However, residents face potential increases in property tax bills due to rising assessments from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Brookshire steps into the role amid statewide fiscal pressures affecting local governments. Maryland anticipates a nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit for the 2026 legislative session, following 2025 tax and fee increases that did not fully resolve prior gaps. Statewide property tax assessments are set to rise by an average of 12.7% in 2026, impacting homeowners in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. These hikes occur without new state-level rate changes but add to local revenue burdens.
In Calvert County, budget challenges include balancing rising costs for education, health care, public safety and infrastructure against stagnant economic growth and external factors like federal policy shifts. The fiscal year 2026 budget added $750,000 for contractual increases in detention center inmate care and funded 16 new public safety positions, offset partly by $2.2 million in fee and cost recovery increases. Fees at the Department of Public Works and Department of Parks & Recreation rose July 1, 2025, to address community needs and cost of goods.
State funding adjustments pose risks, with proposed cuts totaling $143 million for fiscal year 2026, escalating to $817 million by 2030, affecting aid to local governments including public schools. Calvert County’s inflation-adjusted state school funding per pupil increased 25.7% in fiscal year 2026 but follows a net decline of 0.9% over two years due to temporary property value spikes.
Infrastructure demands include $7 million transferred to capital construction, with $5 million for road paving, amid regional growth and tourism. Calvert receives $32.5 million in state transportation funds for safety improvements on MD 231, addressing crash risks through intersection realignments and barriers. Economic efforts, such as a July 2025 data center initiative, aim to boost revenue in the county, which has a $350 million budget supporting public safety and education.
Brookshire’s expertise in operational excellence and innovation, as noted in her board roles at The Calverton School and MKE Forward, may aid in navigating these issues. The county earned its 24th consecutive budget award in December 2025 from the Government Finance Officers Association, recognizing transparency in its annual operating budget that covers public safety, education and infrastructure.
Fiscal year 2027 budget development milestones begin in October 2025, with public input opportunities. Calvert County’s prior budgets show steady growth, from $328 million in fiscal year 2022 to $381 million in fiscal year 2024, reflecting increases in services.