(6/2021) In May, The Frederick County Council approved the budget for the 2022 fiscal year and voted to update fees for developers building in school districts. Additionally, the 2022 County Executive race continues on with some additional candidates throwing their hats into the ring.

Last month, the County Council passed the county’s 2022 fiscal year budget by a 6-1 vote. Phil Dacey (R) cast the single dissenting vote. The total operating budget is $963 million, with the majority of that money ($717 million) going to the general fund appropriation. An additional $123 million goes towards special revenue fund appropriations, including agricultural preservation, grants, and housing initiatives. The final $123 million goes to the comprehensive care facilities fund, Bell Court housing fund, solid waste management fund, and water and sewer management fund. The capital budget for the 2022 fiscal year is $207 million, of which $184 million goes to the capital projects fund. The remaining $23 million is divided between the parks acquisition and development fund, impact fee/school mitigation fund, and school construction fund.

Impact fees for developers in school districts has been a topic amongst the County Council for several years now, but last month the council finally voted to update those fees. The bill passed by a vote of 6-1 and will update the fees to be more in line with inflation and the rising costs of school building costs. The lone dissenting vote on the bill came from Dacey, who believed that the fee increase would hurt homebuyers and not developers. Ultimately, the goal of this bill, per sponsor Steve McKay (R), is to reduce a tax burden on the county’s citizens and help to solve the overcrowding problem in county schools.

As of last month’s paper, current councilmembers Kai Hagen (D) and Jessica Fitzwater (D) were the only candidates to officially announce their candidacy for County Executive. Hagen had previously already filed his candidacy with the State Board of Elections. As of the end of May, Fitzwater still had yet to officially file her candidacy with the State Board of Election. Within the past month, two new names have filed their candidacies as well: Daryl Boffman (D) and Michael Hough (R). Boffman is the executive director of public affairs for Frederick County Public Schools and is a former school board member. Hough is a current Maryland State Senator and a former member of the Maryland State House of Delegates.

Gail Bell (Unaffiliated) is the only candidate who has filed with the Board of Elections for a seat as an at-large member of the County Council. As an unaffiliated, she has filed a declaration of intent and will still have to complete the petition process before her name appears on the ballot in the general election. No candidates have filed for the County Council seat in District 5 yet, but incumbent Michael Blue (R) has indicated he intends to run for re-election. Candidates still have until February 22, 2022 to file their campaigns with the Board of Elections.