As soon as the previous year’s budget is adopted, County Executive Jan Gardner begins to work on the next one. She meets with County management, County employees, the County Council, groups, and organizations to hear the needs of the County.

On or around April 15th, after the County Executive has held a public hearing on her proposed budget, she gives her proposed budget to the County Council. It states in the Charter, "The proposed budget shall present a complete financial plan for the government reflecting anticipated revenues from all sources, expenditures, and any surplus or deficit in the general or special funds of the government."

This is where the County Council comes in. Following the County Executive’s presentation of the budget, we go to work reading next year’s proposed budget from cover to cover. We take notes on any questions, or issues we may have. We hold public hearings and receive constituent calls and emails on the pluses and minuses of the budget. We consider all the information and get ready to state our positions.

There are many aspects of our budget that are not generally known. The County Council is only allowed to decrease or delete items from the budget. We cannot add items. We have no power to change the form of the budget as submitted by the County Executive. Each year the Judicial Branch of Frederick County Government, Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, Board of Education, Public Libraries, Board of Elections, Liquor Board, and other independent agencies, receive funds from the County from our budget process. Neither the County Executive nor the County Council, however, has any control over the allocation of their funds once the budget is adopted.

The County Council can amend the Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance to provide funds for a capital project not previously appearing the Capital Budget for the fiscal year. As stated in our Charter, "The amendment may not increase the total amount of the appropriations for the fiscal year, unless such increase appropriations shall be funded from revenues received in excess of the those budgeted or from unanticipated revenues not previously budgeted in the Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance for the fiscal year."

Any changes the Council makes to the budget requires a public hearing. After much discussion, the Council adopts the budget with an affirmative vote of not less than four members no later than May 31st. This is known as the "Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance of Frederick County". If the Council fails to adopt the budget by May 31st, the proposed budget as submitted by the County Executive shall become law.

The next step for the Council is to levy the amount of taxes required by the budget to ensure that the budget is balanced. Proposed revenues must equal proposed expenditures.

So, there you have it folks. The Frederick County budget process as directed by our County Charter. It is a big task for us since most of the Council Members work full time jobs and we only have from April 15th to May 31st to deliberate. It is, however, worth the hard work and is one of best aspects of being an elected official. I take the task very seriously.

We have just recently heard that the 2022 deadline for filing certificates of candidacy has been extended to April 15th and the Primary Election has been rescheduled from June 28th to July 19th. If you have not registered to vote, please do so as soon as possible. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the parades and events that will be taking place prior to the primary.

You can call my office at 301-600-1034 or email me at MBlue@FrederickCountyMD.gov.