Proposed budget includes raises for county employees; tax rates to remain same

CAMBRIDGE — Dorchester County’s proposed $86,523,125 fiscal year 2025 draft budget is a balanced budget, County Finance Director Karen Tolley said at a council meeting May 7.

“We’re excited about that,” said Tolley, who is also the mayor of Church Creek.

The proposed budget — an $81,938,414 operating and $4,584,711 capital budget — includes the council’s efforts to implement “across the board” raises for county employees.

Tolley said compared to the fiscal year 2024 budget, the fiscal year 2025 operating draft budget increased by about $2.5 million, or roughly 3%. She said the capital budget decreased by about $6.3 million, which is roughly 58%.

Within the operating budget, Tolley said the operating government funds budget increased about $2.9 million, or 4%. She said most of that increase is attributable to a 5% “across the board” raise to county employees.

“That was one of the council’s missions,” she said. “So therefore, that was one of the top priorities in this budget.”

Tolley said to balance this, other cuts needed to be made. She said those cuts were made in collaboration with department directors, and departments will still be maintaining full operations.

The county’s proposed tax rates are the same as the fiscal year 2024 budget. The proposed real property tax is $1 per assessed $100 of value. The proposed personal property tax is $2.44 per assessed $100 of value.

According to the draft budget document, within Cambridge, the real property tax rate is $0.9267 per assessed $100 of value. Within Hurlock, the real property tax rate is $0.9179 per assessed $100 of value. This is due to tax differentials for these two towns.

Tolley also talked about the grants budget during her presentation. According to the draft budget document, the county is leveraging $903,919 for $3.9 million in grant funds.

At the council meeting, the Dorchester County Council introduced the budget. Public hearings for the proposed budget are May 14 and May 21. A final hearing and adoption of the budget is set for May 28 during the regular council meeting.

Along with introducing the draft budget, the council passed a resolution that gives the county the authority to invest in the Maryland Local Government Investment Pool.

“I think it will give us some great returns,” Tolley said.