HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.05.2015 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Hagerstown, Maryland
May 5, 2015
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET
A public hearing of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was held
at 7:09 p.m. in the Kepler Theatre at Hagerstown Community College to consider the
proposed Tax Rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 pursuant to Maryland law as well as the
FY proposed 2016 budget for Washington County. In attendance were President Terry L.
Baker, Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline, and Commissioners John F. Barr, LeRoy E. Myers
and Vincent G. Spong.
County Administrator Gregory Murray announced that the public hearing was being held
pursuant to and to satisfy the specific requirements of Maryland law, the requirements of
the Constant Yield Tax Rate law, as described in the notice published in The Herald -Mail
on Tuesday, April 21, 2014, and to consider and obtain public comment on the proposed
FY 2016 budget for Washington County as advertised. He stated that the County's real
estate tax rate remains at $0.948 per $100 of assessed value with no tax rate increases since
2001. Mr. Murray referred to the Citizen's Guide to the Budget available at the public
hearing and located on the County's website. Washington County has one of the lowest
expenditures per capita of all the Maryland counties and Baltimore City at $3,451 per
person, with the statewide average at $4,690. He provided details of the proposed balanced
budget of $206,592,450 (General Fund budget and $304,481,865 total budget), which is
$2,053,440 or 1% above the FY 2015 budget level for the General Fund and $6,612,975 or
2.22% for all funds, and assumes slightly increased revenue projections. He indicated that
a majority of the increase is to be applied toward the County's educational and public
safety services, which account for over 72% of the General Fund budget or $149.9 million.
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan includes expenditure projections for the
next ten years totaling $394,654,500 million and includes a proposed borrowing level of
$12 million for FY 2016. CIP projects are funded through several sources such as grants
and contributions, cash, taxes, fees, cash reserves, and bonds. The funding mix for the FY
2016 CIP is 60% cash and grants, and 40% bonds; with 23% tax -supported debt and 17%
self -supported debt.
Greg Murray announced that the County was notified yesterday that it had earned
upgraded ratings of "AA+" from Fitch Ratings for general obligation bonds and "Aal"
from Moody's for general obligation bonds and consolidated public improvement
refunding bonds. Standard and Poor's upgraded the County to "AA+" last year. The ratings
indicate that the County maintains a favorable low debt profile, uses sound debt
management policies, and remains in a solid financial position.
May 5, 2015
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Commission President Terry L. Baker opened the hearing for public testimony. Eleven
individuals spoke on issues concerning the budget. Commissioner Baker adjourned the
hearing at 7:48 p.m.
Gregory B. urray, Co my Administrator
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John M. Martirano, County
Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk