historical expenditures and upcoming requests. Where possible, this budget uses one-time funding for one-time expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility. From January 2025 through May 2025, residents shared their budget priorities at numerous budgetary sessions held during citizen comment at regular meetings and at public hearings that were held to discuss the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and proposed service rates for operations at the landfill, water, sewer and the airport. I worked very closely with the Board, department heads, and community leaders to develop innovative, common-sense solutions while continuing to make significant investments in our public safety, emergency services, public schools, and core services.
PUBLIC SAFEY
Building stronger neighborhoods means ensuring that communities where residents Live ● Work ● Play are safe. It is the job of County government to be vigilant and forward-thinking. Responsive, respectful and vigilant public safety is required to ensure that our communities are safe. In fiscal year 2026, we executed two (2) year collective bargaining agreements
for our personnel in emergency medical and fire services, law enforcement officers and detention officers by providing well-deserved pay increases to all three (3) bargaining units. This salary initiative began in fiscal year 2022 and has continued yearly since then by providing additional increases, recruitment and retention bonuses, and shift differential incentives for those employees. These salary initiatives have improved retention and provide competitive wages in
order to attract the next generation of individuals interested in making public safety their lifetime careers. In response to the need for added public safety in Washington County that was identified through community input during a Public Safety Town Hall, the Board unanimously approved the mid-year addition of eight (8) patrol officer positions and five (5) detention officer positions in fiscal year 2025.
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Washington County, Maryland FY2026 County Administrator Message
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