If You Go There will be one town hall meeting on the fiscal year 2026 budget for Frederick County in each of the five County Council districts. The remaining meetings are: District 1: Middletown Library, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. District 3: Waverley Elementary School, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. District 4: Oakdale Middle School, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. District 5: Walkersville Middle School, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. A recording of each meeting will be posted online for later viewing on FCG TV. The Jan. 30 meeting will also be live streamed.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater kicked off her annual series of budget town halls at Twin Ridge Elementary School in Mount Airy on Monday.
Under the county charter, the executive is required to hold two public hearings as part of the annual budget process. The first took place on Dec. 4. The second is planned for March.
In addition to the required public hearings, Fitzwater (D) also plans to host a series of town hall meetings on the budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1, and the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2026-2031.
Seven people spoke at the town hall meeting for Frederick County Council District 2, which is represented by Council Member Steve McKay (R).
Of the people who spoke on Monday, several had requests related to the Board of Education, which sets the budget for Frederick County Public Schools.
Laura O’Neill and Melissa Medwid asked Fitzwater to include funding for the Remote Virtual Program, an online schooling option that was eliminated for grades three to five during the school board’s fiscal year 2025 budget process. The program for grades six to eight was extended for this school year.
Cheryl Dyson, the superintendent of FCPS, has said retaining the RVP for middle schoolers would be a priority for the school system this budget season. She has said she is open to exploring options for other grades.
Joia Clevinger, a local Maryland State Education Association representative for Frederick County, and Casey Day, who said she has taught in FCPS for 29 years, both spoke on Monday about teacher salaries and education funding in general.
“I know the revenue outlook at the state and local levels are bleak,” Clevinger said. “But what I urge the council and the county executive to do, and I’ll be urging the Board of Education to do the same, we have to do the best we can for our kids.”
Eric Anderson, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County, shared a story on Monday about a Mount Airy woman whom the organization assisted with a roof repair.
Anderson said the organization has been able to expand its home repair program in recent years as a result of funds allocated by Frederick County through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, but that funding is set to run out.
He asked Fitzwater to continue providing financial support for organizations like Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County that support low- to moderate-income people, as well as older county residents.
Fitzwater must submit her proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the County Council by April 15.
Per the county charter, the council has until May 31 to adopt the budget with any desired amendments.
If a majority of the council does not reach a consensus by that date, the budget will take effect as proposed by Fitzwater.