(6/2022) By the time you read this article, the Frederick County Council will have adopted the Fiscal Year 2023 Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a brief overview.
This year's budget was $792.1 million. We were able to maintain the property tax rate as well as the income tax rate with no increases. I am proud that we have not raised property tax or income tax during my four years serving you on the County Council.
This year's budget will have seen a lower income tax rate to our taxpayers who file ?joint status? returns and have taxable income of $100,000 or less. It will also lower the income tax rate to taxpayers who file ?single status? returns with a taxable income of $50,000 or less. Over 80 thousand tax filers will benefit from the income tax rate reduction, or 60% of all tax filers in Frederick County, according to the County Executive's budget message.
I will now breakdown some of the major categories of funding in the budget. $402.1 million or 51% of the budget goes to education, $156.9 million or 20% goes the public safety. These are the two largest expenditures in our budget. Together, education and public safety make up approximately 70% of our total budget.
In FY23 Frederick County has made a record investment in education. Over the past 8 years, we have provided over $100M above Maintenance of Effort (MOE). The budget this year provides for over $1 million in additional funding to Frederick Community College (FCC). With this additional funding FCC was able to freeze tuition for the upcoming academic year.
Our public safety agency budgets are the second largest component after education. This year we were able to include more than $500,000 for body cameras for Sheriff's Deputies.
In support of more workforce housing, the County is seeking more choices and has added a one-time investment of $3M to the housing initiative fund.
The budget also has assistance for Seniors. The County will implement a new delivery model for Meals on Wheels. Paratransit services will expand with two additional buses and drivers for increased demand.
The Capital Budget exceeds $211 million this year with a 6-year CIP of over $1.1 billion. This funding will allow Frederick County Government to provide new construction and renovation of schools, libraries, fire stations, parks, roads, and bridges.
It has been my honor and privilege to assist in providing an effective, efficient, and companionate government. I want to stress again, and proudly state, Frederick County has not seen any tax increases during my four years of service.
The Primary Election will be on July 19th. You can vote in person during early voting. Early voting will be held from Thursday, July 7, through Thursday, July 14. Early voting centers will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. If you have not registered to vote, please do so as soon as possible.
You can call my office at 301-600-1034 or email me at MBlue@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
