Charles County Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Charles County Board of Commissioners met on February 24, 2026, with Commissioners Bowling, Coates, Stewart, and Patterson present and Commissioner Collins absent. The meeting included announcements, approval items, morning briefings, a Maryland General Assembly legislative update, and a closed session. The board's next scheduled session is March 3-4, 2026.

Announcements and Commissioner Comments

• Commissioner comments opened with a moment of silence for Battalion Chief Keith T. Long of DC Fire and EMS, who died in the line of duty on February 4, 2026, after 38 years of public service and previous part-time service with Charles County Department of Emergency Services.
• Commissioners acknowledged the Bell Alton Alumni Association Black History Month program, Margaret Thornton Elementary School's inaugural Black History Month program, Charles County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Emily Leedy of J.C. Parks Elementary School, the Charles County Chamber of Commerce 70th anniversary gala, and the second annual HBCU Fest at Westlake High School.
• Commissioner Stewart highlighted the WISE flagship store grand opening in Fairway Village and urged residents to visit. Commissioner Coates noted the Thomas Stone High School band performed and playfully acknowledged the McDonough/Stone rivalry.

Approval Items

• Minutes: Approved the minutes of the February 3, 2026 meeting by voice vote.
• Budget Transfer Request 100: Approved a $71,800 budget transfer to recognize tourism event revenue from the 2025 Mixtape concert series held July through September. Staff said conversations with the Blue Crabs about the upcoming series are ongoing and any budget requests likely would come after July 1.
• Budget Transfer Request 195: Approved a general fund transfer of $219,000 (listed as '219' in the transcript) to cover Mixtape concert expenses not covered by revenues.
• Landfill Cell 4B Change Order No. 9: Approved a change order decreasing the contract by $2,263,314.22, from $8,419,588.82 to $6,156,274.60, a decrease of roughly 27%. The change addresses redeployment of the liner system, a leachate system design modification, and removal of two bid items. Savings will remain in the landfill capital improvement project budget.
• U.S. Bomb Technician Association Letter: Approved a letter of support for congressional directed spending for a multi-jurisdictional EOD/Hazmat training exercise focused on critical infrastructure, with Indian Head, Maryland as a focal point.
• USDA Wildlife Services Deer Cooperator Permit: Approved a deer management operation at Piscataway Park on Bryan Point Road in Accokeek before April 15. USDA State Director Kevin Sullivan said harvested deer are processed and donated to the Maryland Food Bank, with National Park Service coordinating with the Piscataway people for pelts, antlers, and meat. Suppressed firearms and public outreach are part of the process.
• Courthouse Lights: Approved lighting the courthouse blue on April 2 for Autism Awareness Day and green for the month of May for Mental Health Awareness Month, requested by the Epsilon Alpha Five Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
• Interfaith Iftar Funds: Approved $200 from commissioner community support funds for the Interfaith Commission's Iftar event on March 4, 2026, for Ramadan.
• Sewage Spill Letter: Approved sending a letter of concern about recent sewage spills in the Potomac and Port Tobacco rivers to MDE and COG. The board also requested water testing from the county line to Cobb Island, invited MDE to speak to county residents, and included the Tri-County Council as a regional partner.

Morning Briefings

• FY2027 VanGO Annual Transportation Plan: Approved the plan and authorizing resolution 2026-02. The plan requests approximately $13 million in net operating costs, with $5.5 million in federal/state share and $7.3 million county share; no new service is proposed. The capital request is approximately $2 million, including 12 bus replacements, 3 bus repowers, and bus stop improvements, with about $1.1 million county share. State match is projected at 2.5%, and the application deadline is March 27.
• FY2026 General Fund Second Quarter Review: The county projects a year-end net loss of $10.7 million; a $30.5 million loss would be expected at this point under the adopted budget assumptions because fund balance is treated as prior revenue. Property tax revenue is estimated at just under $35 million; income tax is estimated at $205.7 million versus $184.5 million adjusted budget, up $3.1 million from September. Statewide tax year 2024 income tax growth was 9.2%, while Charles County's growth was 7.6%. Total estimated year-end fund balance is just under $201 million, with $4.3 million unassigned. Adjustments include about $3 million for the January ice storm, $2.1 million in one-time employee bonuses, and about $1.1 million in leave sellback.
• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update: Of the county's $31.7 million ARPA allocation, $23.3 million, about 73%, had been spent through December 31, 2025, leaving $8.4 million. Funds must be spent by December 31, 2026, and by September 30, 2026, for transportation-related projects. Categories include business/economic development, public safety, infrastructure, broadband, housing, and public health. Staff said they are monitoring balances and may propose reallocations at the next update.

Legislative Update

• HB913/SB573 (Common Ownership Community Member Training): Has a hearing this week; the county will provide a letter of support.
• Senate Bill 574 (Bus Contractor Notice): Commissioners discussed a proposal requiring at least 10 years' notice before terminating bus contracts. Commissioner Stewart reported that contractors seek notice, but the current payback language should be revised to pay the remaining balance owed and allow the Board of Education to take the bus if the contractor chooses to relinquish it. The board agreed to propose amendments, including a six-year notice period, and to invite the Board of Education attorney and bus contractors to the March 3 meeting before finalizing.
• SB575 (Maryland Stadium Authority - Sports and Wellness Center): Hearing scheduled for February 25; county staff will attend, and written testimony supports the bill.
• SB952 (Redevelopment Authority): Requested withdrawal for this session.
• SB953/HB1497 (Rent Stabilization for Seniors): The board requested amendments to make the bill enabling, to change 'senior occupant' to a tenant who is a party to the lease, and to consider an income maximum at the local level.
• HB916 (Regional Transportation Authorities): The board voted 3-1 to send a letter of opposition as written. The vote was: Bowling yes, Coates no, Stewart yes, Patterson yes. Concerns included an added tax layer, reduced local control, and duplication of Tri-County Council functions.
• Senate Bill 26 (Power Generation Regulation): Commissioner Bowling raised concerns that off-grid power generators may avoid certain regulatory oversight; no formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• All approval items passed by voice vote, including budget transfers, the landfill change order, support letters, courthouse lighting, Iftar funding, and the sewage spill concern letter.
• The board voted 3-1 to oppose HB916 as written.
• Staff were directed to prepare amendment requests for SB574 and SB953/HB1497 and to invite the Board of Education attorney and bus contractors to the March 3 meeting with a redline version.
• The board moved into closed session at 12:30 p.m., with open session scheduled to resume at 3:00 p.m., under Maryland General Provisions Article 3-305(b)(17) to discuss appointments to county boards and commissions and consult with counsel.