April 21 and 22 Commissioners Meeting Update

News Release # 2026-053

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

On Tuesday, April 21, the Charles County Commissioners were briefed on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. This year's proposed budget of $641,826,500 represents a 7.9% increase over last year. The general fund budget was developed in alignment with the commissioners' strategic priorities, incorporates departmental needs and is shaped by community input gathered through surveys and town halls.

On Wednesday, April 22, the commissioners were briefed on the proposed budgets for county agencies and departments. Learn more about the budget by reading the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget press release.

Briefings

• Commissioners were briefed on a proposed bill for an amendment to the Charles County Volunteer Fire Tax Credit. The bill builds on the current credit, which provides up to $500 annually for eligible responders, and proposes increasing the annual credit amount to $2,500. The changes are intended to recognize the critical role volunteer fire, rescue, and emergency medical personnel play in protecting the community, while helping offset the financial burden of service and encouraging long-term participation. Commissioners voted unanimously to introduce the bill and hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
• Jacob Dyer, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, William DeAtley, Acting Deputy Director and Chief of Accounting, and Remi Omisore, Principal with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, briefed commissioners on the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Fiscal Year 2025 Single Audit Report. The reports cover an extensive review of the county's financial activity, including revenues and expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

• Frankie Sherman, chief of Environmental Resources, and Bill Prendeville, Senior Engineer at ARM Group LLC, discussed the vertical expansion at Charles County Landfill. The project would raise the height of the existing landfill footprint rather than expand outward, allowing the County to manage future waste needs while minimizing impacts to surrounding land. The briefing described the design approach, including additional liner systems, stormwater controls, and environmental protections to meet regulatory requirements. Presenters also reviewed projected capacity gains, timelines, and cost considerations, as well as how the expansion fits into the County's long-term solid waste management strategy.

• Commissioners were briefed by Charles Rice, Planning Director, Department of Planning and Growth Management; Jim Chandler, Director of the Department of Economic Development, and Mark Thompson, Chief of Commercial Development, whereby they presented the Planning Commission's Report and recommendation for Zoning Text Amendment 25-187. As originally drafted, the Zoning Text Amendment would add a definition of "Data Center" to the Zoning Ordinance and permit Data Centers in the Business Park, General Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Planned Unit Development Industrial Zones, and Low-Density Residential Zones, subject to additional restrictions.

The Planning Commission recommended denial of the Zoning Text Amendment as originally proposed. The Planning Commission presented an array of recommendations, including limiting Data Centers to the Heavy Industrial Zone, banning the use of potable water for cooling, and requiring that data centers be responsible for their own power generation, among other changes.

The presenters offered a revised Zoning Text Amendment that eliminates the Business Park and Low-Density Residential Zones as options for data centers, strengthens the text regarding water use, adds language requiring the applicant/owner to pay for all public infrastructure improvements, among other amendments. A request was made to have the revised Zoning Text Amendment sent back to the Planning Commission for their review and public hearing. The motion passed 3-2.

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, April 21, Charles County Commissioners held their annual public hearing on local legislative proposals. Commissioners heard 20 local legislative proposals submitted by residents they will review and consider for future action.

Commissioners also held a public hearing on Affordable Housing PILOT projects. During the public hearing, three qualifying projects: Eagle Point Phase 1, Lenville Crossing, and Pineway Village were presented. All were approved unanimously by commissioners.

Legislative Wrap-Up

Danielle Mitchell, acting deputy county administrator, and representatives from G.S. Proctor and Associates Inc. briefed the commissioners on the results of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session. Of the bills submitted to Annapolis by Charles County, SB 573 - which requires training courses for members of homeowners' associations - was passed into law.

Update: Economic Development Goals and Objectives

Charles County Commissioners received an update on progress toward economic development goals during an April 22 briefing. Efforts include strengthening business attraction by promoting county assets to key industries such as defense, information technology, business services and agriculture.

The county is also advancing initiatives tied to increased Department of Defense investment in energetics, including enhanced signage and marketing for the Western Charles County Technology Corridor, which runs from Maryland Airport to the Naval Support Facility Indian Head. Maryland Airport continues to expand as part of its master plan, supporting additional industrial use.

To improve the development review process, the Economic Development and Planning and Growth Management departments are collaborating on streamlining efforts, with new tracking measures set to begin in fiscal year 2027. Additional improvements include the upcoming Comprehensive Plan and zoning code updates.

The county is also expanding business support services, including the launch of LaunchPad, a pilot program for entrepreneurs, in May. Ongoing partnerships, such as the Sister City relationship with Matola, Mozambique, continue to foster economic and cultural exchange.

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

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