At an April 30 public hearing on the Commissioners’ proposed budget for FY 2014, COmmission President Jack Russell and County Chief Financial officer Elaine Kramer outlined the first draft spending plan for the year ahead. From coverage on TheBayNet.com:

The proposed budget calls for holding the line on the county property tax rate of $.857 per $100 of assessment. The Constant Yield, which would generate the same revenue as this year, would have lowered the rate to $.8526.

…

In his opening statement, Russell said the county continues to remain concerned about the fiscal uncertainty in Washington and Annapolis, the effects of Sequestration, and possible effects of another round of Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC). “We still don’t have information as well as we would like to have it,” he said.

The commissioners will keep the hearing record open until May 10 for written comments. They then will hold budget work sessions on May 13 and 20 and will then set the tax rate and adopt the budget on May 28.

In addition to the general spending and revenue plan, much community attention landed on a recent school fire and the facility maintenance issues the incident raised.

Read the complete coverage from TheBayNet.com online.

(editor’s note: a previous posting indicated the date of the hearing incorrectly as may 2, MACo regrets the error)