100 W. Washington Street, Suite 1401 Hagerstown, MD 21740 | 240.313.2380

PUBLIC NOTICE: WASHINGTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUDGET 101

April 3, 2019

Washington County Government and the Board of County Commissioners are in the heart of budget season and planning for fiscal year 2020. To best inform our citizens, we would like to provide a simplistic overview of main budgetary goals and focus on where and how tax payers dollars are being spent throughout the County.

Washington County Government is focusing on three factors that significantly impact the FY2020 general fund budget:   Washington County Board of Education Public Safety (Fire & EMS) Job Growth and Increasing Tax Base The following sections will provide a breakdown of funding and the County’s plan to fulfill requests from Washington County Board of Education and Fire & EMS.

WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION   Washington County Board of Education receives funding from three different levels of government: local, state, and federal.

LOCAL STATE FEDERAL

County tax dollars fund approximately 33% of the WCPS budget. The State funds approximately 59% of the WCPS budget. The federal government funds approximately 8% of the WCPS budget.

The graph above displays a steady annual growth in the contribution of funds to the Board of Education from the State of Maryland.

This graph displays the amount of funding provided from Washington County Government to the Board of Education. Between FY17-FY20, there has been an increase of almost $20 million for total operating and capital funding. 43% of Washington County's General Fund Budget funds the Board of Education Operating and Capital Budget.

WASHINGTON COUNTY FIRE FIGHTER & EMS

A general consensus among the fire and EMS community is that something MUST change. With a steady decline in the number of volunteers and community funding, the County must take action in order to continue services that provide safety and security to protect its citizens. Below are the proposed plans and phases of how to fulfill the growing need for staffing and funding of Washington County Fire and EMS.

BUDGET OVERVIEW FY2019 - FY2021

FY2019

CAUSES Speed Camera Revenue down from projections: $2M Income Tax Revenue down from projections: $3M Snow Removal over budget: $750K South County Flood 25% cost: $1M

SOLUTIONS Capital Project Savings: $2.2M Surplus Property: $1M OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits): $800K Slowed Capital Expenditures: $1M

FY2020

CAUSES Fire and EMS: $600K BOE Increase: $2M Day Reporting Center: $250K Cascade: $200K Other Mandates: $2.5M Enterprise Funds: $8.1M Historically Drawing Reserve FY2019 Drawing General Fund Historically Raising Rates

SOLUTIONS Slow CIP Spending: $3.5M Eliminated 3 Position: $350K Savings from Upcoming Retirements: $300K Retirement Structural Savings Revenue Increase: $8.6M

FY2021

CAUSES Police, Fire, and Emergency Services Training Facility Operating Cost: $500K School Resource Officers: $250K Kirwan: $1M Cascade: $1M EMS: $2M Capital: $1M Sewer: $3M Water: $260K

SOLUTIONS Revenue Increase May be in the form of a Fire Tax

Below is a chart that indicates the minimum funding level required for Washington County Government's General Fund Budget FY20. It displays the proposed tax rate increases over the next five years to citizens of Washington County.

On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, the Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve for the Office of Budget and Finance to move forward with balancing the budget based on increases to the Real Property and Income tax rates proposed for FY2020. Washington County Government will notify the public as to when the public hearing is scheduled for the proposed tax rate increases. The FY2020 Budget Draft Presentations presented to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 can be reviewed below.

Detailed FY2020 Budget Draft Presentation

Simplified FY2020 Budget Draft Presentation

Long Range Fiscal Year 2019

For additional questions or information, please contact the Public Relations and Marketing office at pr@washco-md.net or 240-313-2380.

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