Charles County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 17, 2026

This meeting of the Charles County Board of Commissioners was held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2026, beginning at approximately 9:00 AM. The session included approval of minutes, several consent items, detailed briefings on the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, departmental highlights, a comprehensive plan update, an EMS station location analysis, and the first budget work session for FY2027. The meeting adjourned into closed session at 2:30 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved the minutes from March 10, 2026, via voice vote (all in favor).
• Budget Transfer #372: Approved $65,700 from the general fund to update the Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (last completed 2022). The state already allocated $125,000; county portion covered by parks salary savings. Motion passed unanimously.
• Appointments to Board of License Commissioners: Appointed Lavon Proctor (at-large) and Carrie Ann Williams (District 2) to the liquor board. Approved unanimously.
• Letter of Support for Banana Ball World Tour: Approved a letter supporting the Blue Crabs' request to host a Savannah Bananas game in 2027, described as akin to the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. Motion passed unanimously.
• Congressional Earmark Request for Melwood Camp: Approved submitting a congressionally directed funding request (pass-through grant) on behalf of Melwood for an accessible medical cabin at Camp Accomplished. The request was clarified to go only to Congressman Hoyer's office (due to House rules). Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

Prescription Drug Affordability Board Briefing

Vincent DeMarco (Maryland Health Care for All Coalition) and Dr. Andrew York (Executive Director, Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board) presented. Key points:

• Maryland created the first prescription drug affordability board in 2019; now three other states (MN, WA, CO) have followed.
• 40% of Marylanders struggle to afford prescription drugs; high costs drive up insurance premiums and impact local government budgets.
• The board has authority to set upper payment limits for state and local government plans; in 2027, authority expands to all Marylanders.
• Colorado set an upper payment limit for Enbrel, estimated to save $32 million per year starting January 1, 2027.
• The board is currently studying six drugs: Farxiga, Jardiance (diabetes); Ozempic, Trulicity (diabetes); Skyrizi, and Stelara (autoimmune). Draft regulations for Jardiance and Farxiga published.
• Drug corporations argue high prices fund research; DeMarco cited a 2022 study showing the ten largest drug companies spent $20 billion more on profits and advertising than on research.
• Commissioners discussed the feasibility of the tax deduction elimination bill (SB987/HB484), which would disallow a state tax deduction for direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce opposed it, citing constitutional concerns and potential business climate impacts. By consensus, the Board decided to send a letter of support for SB987 (see Key Outcomes).

Departmental Highlights

• Animal Care Center: Partnered with Feline Felons Cat Cafe since September 2023; achieved 1,050 adoptions as of late January 2026.
• Emergency Communications: 25 high school students from the fire training academy completed emergency telecommunicator certification; three expressed interest in becoming dispatchers.
• AED Program: 90 new AEDs deployed across county buildings; two lives saved in 2024 and March 2026 (Clark Senior Center and Port Tobacco Community Center).
• Historic Storm Response (Jan 2026): Deputy Director Tony Rose reported unprecedented statistics: in the first 78 hours, 329 emergency requests, 887 apparatus responses, 2,200 first responders, 5 house fires (one May Day, one evacuation), 1 fatal pedestrian crash, 4 department collisions, 6 subjects not breathing. Winter 144 hours saw 507 events, 1,200 apparatus, 2,900 personnel, 2 additional house fires, 60 falls, 7 DES injuries. Response times exceeded 60 minutes in some cases due to ice.
• Resource Connection Website: LMB created a directory of local resources; over 100 agencies listed, 2,000+ views in February. Most popular categories: health, crisis, disability.
• Comprehensive Plan Update: Assistant Chief Tony Feltz presented the 2026 comprehensive plan update. The 2016 plan directed 75% of development to the development district; 2026 update focuses on housing affordability, revitalization (Waldorf, Bryan's Road), transit-oriented development, and transportation (including SMRT). Community engagement ongoing through April 2026; adoption targeted for late fall 2026/spring 2027.

EMS Station Location Update

Michelle Lilly (Director of Emergency Services), Chief Laurie Jacobs, Sarah Guy (Property Acquisition), and Britta Hartling (Capital Projects) presented a data-driven analysis of four proposed career EMS stations. Current system has 16 volunteer/career stations; career units run high call volumes and unit hour utilization (UHU) exceeding national benchmarks (ideal 25-35%). Proposed stations (with order of construction recommendation):

1. Pinefield Station – Groundbreaking May 12, 2026. Would absorb 1,790 calls from Waldorf, cut Waldorf's UHU from 37% to 24%, reduce response times to 5.4 minutes. Con: proximity to PG County may increase mutual aid calls.
2. La Plata Armory – Feasibility study recommended demolition and new build. Would absorb 1,346 calls from La Plata, which is the highest growth area (5,947 planned housing units). Con: ingress/egress challenges on MD 301.
3. Piney Church Station – Near Regency Stadium; currently low call volume (441) but 2,020 new housing units planned. Con: low current volume.
4. Sears Auto Center – Would absorb 2,814 calls from Waldorf/White Plains/Westlake but is on the wrong side of 301 for majority of calls. Requires demolition. Staff recommended order: Pinefield → Armory → Piney Church → Sears. Commissioners expressed support and noted need for staffing (training pipeline: 10-week academy plus internship up to 1 year).

FY2027 Budget Work Session (Enterprise Funds)

The first budget work session covered enterprise funds and special revenue funds. Highlights:

• Water & Sewer Enterprise Fund: Proposed $67.3 million budget (6.5% increase). Rate increases: sewer from $13.69 to $15.07 (10%), water from $6.05 to $6.53 (8%), billing fee from $11.60 to $12.62 (8.8%), blended 9.4% increase. Quarterly bill from $246 to $269. Fund balance used for lead/copper mandate ($711k) and meter changeouts. New positions: 12 FTEs. CIP five-year plan: $227.6M water, $321.4M sewer.
• Recreation Enterprise Fund: Proposed $3.0 million (up from $2.3M). Includes $600k to support a concert series (one big concert); $100k projected revenue; $575k general fund subsidy. Fee increases not yet presented.
• Cable Franchise Fund: Proposed $2.5 million (down from $2.8M). Revenues declining as streaming grows; 1.7 FTEs moved to general fund. Broadband reserve still in place for rural expansion.
• Community Reinvestment & Repair Fund (CRRF): Proposed $776,700 (down from $811k). Allocations: $183k charitable trust, $175k senior meals (Waldorf), $100k Lyft Assist (lift assist), $100k rec assist scholarships, $120k for mental health/wellness workshops, $70.7k resiliency authority, $16k summer youth employment, $12k administrative. A work group had recommended different allocations; some changes were made by staff. Commissioners requested the work group's original proposal for review.
• Environmental Service Fund: Proposed $12.4 million (up $842k). Fee increase from $193 to $206 ($13). Includes weekly recycling addition. Five-year plan projects fee to $238.
• Landfill Enterprise Fund: Proposed $14.3 million. Tonnage declining (good for landfill life, bad for revenue). Tipping fee from $108 to $118 per ton (9.26%). Fund balance used for lower tonnage support ($962k) and new equipment. CIP: $20 million for gas management, cell 4C, convenience center.
• Watershed Protection & Restoration Fund: Proposed $9.2 million. Fee increase from $162 to $168 ($6 – better than projected $12 increase). CIP: $29 million for stormwater improvements.
• Inspection Review Fund: Proposed $12.75 million, balanced. Two new positions: inspection technician and small business inspection navigator.
• Tax Differential Calculation: Calculated rates: La Plata 0.118 per $100 assessed (last year 0.126), Indian Head 0.029 (last year 0.024). These will be used in proposed budget; meet-and-confer with towns scheduled before April 29 public hearing.

Key Outcomes

• Votes & Approvals: All consent calendar items approved unanimously (minutes, budget transfer, liquor board appointments, Banana Ball letter, Melwood earmark).
• Consensus Letters of Support: The Board agreed by consensus to send a letter of support for SB987/HB484 (pharmaceutical advertising tax deduction elimination). Commissioners stated support for helping vulnerable populations and curbing drug advertising.
• EMS Station Priority Order: Expressed support for the recommended order: Pinefield (funded, groundbreaking May 2026), then La Plata Armory, Piney Church, Sears. Commissioners noted the need to align building construction with hiring and training (up to 1 year per employee).
• Budget Direction: Staff will incorporate the proposed enterprise fund fee increases and CRRF allocations into the FY2027 proposed budget. The general fund budget work session is scheduled for April 14-15, 2026. Public hearing on the budget will be in late April; adoption on May 12, 2026.
• Closed Session: A motion passed unanimously to enter closed session at 2:30 PM to discuss collective bargaining agreements, a potential land acquisition, and potential use of county-owned property. Open session resumed at 4:00 PM (no further public summary released).