The Charles County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the FY2013 budget on Tuesday morning. The budget itself was approved unanimously, while the property and income tax increases were passed 4-0 with Commissioner Vice President Reuben Collins (D) abstaining.
The $325,073,900 budget approved by the commissioners includes step increases for Charles County Sheriff’s deputies and Charles County Public Schools teachers. To offset a $10,036,700 budget deficit, the commissioners voted to raise the property tax rate to $1.1210 for every $100, a 1.7% change from last year’s rate. The income tax rate was also increased 10.6%.
Collins explained that he did not abstain as an intention to vote against teacher and police pay but that he could not vote for a budget that did not include spending cuts while increasing taxes.
Each of the commissioners praised the fiscal service staff for the time, effort and energy put in to the budget process, which has been lengthy. Last week, the commissioners appeared destined to pass a budget that did not include pay increases for the sheriff’s deputies and public school teachers nor increased tax rates as significantly until Commissioner Bobby Rucci (D: 4th) brought forth a motion to reconsider in a stunning, last minute reversal.
The final general fund budget can be read here: http://www.boarddocs.com/md/chrlsco/Board.nsf/files/8VLRYV70495D/$file/FY13GeneralFund.pdf
