This year’s budget is especially challenging due to both federal and state budgetary actions. The State of Maryland faced a $3 billion structural deficit at the start of the 2025 General Assembly Session in January. Through tax increases and budget cuts the Assembly adopted a mandated balanced state budget when they adjourned on Monday, April 7th. However, their actions resulted in significant unanticipated shifts of expenses to local governments totaling around $8 million dollars in new expenses to Frederick County.

On the Federal side of our budgeting challenges, Frederick County is home to more than 12,000 federal employees, and with so many being fired from the federal government, Maryland’s and Frederick County’s economies will take a hit. The federal government had also cancelled millions of dollars’ worth of grants expected by the counties. The actual impact of these cuts is yet to be seen.

On April 23rd and 24th, the council held budget workshops to hear department presentations and review any budget appeals (new additions to the budget). These public meetings were televised on FCG-TV and can be viewed at any time. I encourage every Frederick County taxpayer to pay close attention to the entire budget process and make sure you voice any concerns or recommendations to the Council.

On Tuesday, May 6 the Council will be discussing a bill I cosponsored with Renee Knapp, Bill 25-05, to Update Design Requirements for Critical Digital Infrastructure Facilities and update Specific Use Regulations for Critical Digital Infrastructure Facilities and Critical Digital Infrastructure Electric Substations. There will be a discussion of amendments and if amendments are adopted, this amended bill will then return the following week for a public hearing to receive public comments.

On April 15th the Council discussed the recommendations made by the Compensation Review Committee. The County Charter mandates the Council appoint a Commission every four years to review the salaries of the County Executive and the County Council. The Commission recommend raising the CE’s salary from $137,000 to $163,000 and the Council’s salary from $35,000 to $42,000 per year. After discussion, a motion was made to raise the CE’s salary to $143,500 for the years 2027-28 and $150,000 for the years 2029-2030. It passed 5-2 with me and District 5 Council Member Mason Carter opposed. After additional discussion, a motion was made to raise the Council’s salary to $36,500 for the years 2027-28 and $38,000 for the years 2029-2030. It passed 4-3 with me, District 5 Council Member Mason Carter, and District 2 Member Steve McKay opposed. I felt given the state of the budget and the economy that it was not the right time to give ourselves raises.

The Frederick County Council encourages public involvement at every stage of the legislative process. We welcome public comment at every Council meeting on Tuesday evenings. Members of the public are welcome to attend and give comment in person, leave a voicemail to be forwarded to each Council Member, or email us any time at councilmembers@frederickcountymd.gov. Please visit our website at http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/countycouncil to view our latest agendas, legislation, and upcoming calendar of events.

The Frederick County Council meets regularly on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 pm at Winchester Hall, located at 12 East Church Street in downtown Frederick. All meetings are open to the public, and we public welcome participation.

And as always, if there is ever anything I can do for you, please feel free to reach out to me and my office. You can contact me via email at: BYoung@FrederickCountyMD.gov, or you can call my office at 301-600-1108.