St. Mary’s County Commissioner Michael R. Alderson Jr. used his remarks at the Sept. 15 Board of County Commissioners meeting to push back on campaign-season claims that the county is sitting on “excess” money it should return to taxpayers, arguing that anticipated new costs — including millions in rising fuel expenses for schools — are already eating into any apparent surplus.
Alderson, who represents District 3, is seeking re-election this year as an unaffiliated candidate, a path required under the Hatch Act since he works for the federal government. He told fellow commissioners he had seen candidates in local coverage arguing the county has significant excess funds available to give back. “I go, really? Access the money? How much? Somebody’s mentioned million dollars,” Alderson said, without naming a specific candidate. He argued that budgeting requires planning six months or more in advance based on projected, not guaranteed, revenue, and that funds that look unspent on paper are often already earmarked for near-term obligations.
As an example, Alderson pointed to recent school system budget presentations anticipating $7 million to $9 million in additional fuel expenditures for the coming year — costs he said would ultimately come back to the commissioners for funding. “This excess money we have is slowly being absorbed or will be and other expenses as we go on,” he said. “Believe me, it’s not wasted.”
St. Mary’s County’s fiscal 2027 budget, approved earlier this year, totals just over $360 million and left roughly $78,000 unallocated after baseline department requests, cost changes and employee raises, according to county budget documents. The county also carries about $2 million in additional unassigned general fund balance and holds roughly $50 million — about 15% of the budget — in reserve, consistent with a county policy requiring reserves to stay at or above 15% of general fund revenue to protect its bond rating and cushion against economic uncertainty.
Maintaining reserves at that level is standard municipal finance practice, intended to preserve the county’s credit rating and provide a buffer against revenue shortfalls or unexpected costs. At the same time, candidates arguing for tax relief or a return of surplus funds to residents represent a common and legitimate position in local fiscal debates, particularly amid continued economic uncertainty and rising costs; several candidates in this year’s county races have campaigned on themes of reducing taxes, fees or county debt.
Alderson defended the current board’s budgeting record, saying commissioners have “been very solid on looking at every dime we spend,” and encouraged residents to research candidates’ positions before the Nov. 3 general election. He also offered lighter commentary on recent grocery price swings he’d noticed while shopping — citing large eggs at 99 cents a dozen and ground beef around $3.99 a pound — while noting gas prices topping $4 a gallon and diesel above $6 a gallon, which he said continues to drive up costs across the supply chain.
Earlier in his remarks, Alderson reflected on attending a Leadership Southern Maryland session the day before, where commissioner presidents from Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties spoke to a group of residents interested in county government; he encouraged attendees to consider volunteering for county committees or running for office themselves next year.
Alderson’s Sept. 15 comments came during the same meeting where commissioners approved a resolution on gaming device permits for local nonprofits and held a public hearing on a proposed usage policy for the airport terminal and pergola.
