Washington County Commissioners Tackle Museum Support, Park Upgrades, and Emergency Services Funding

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to convene for an open session on January 13, 2026, to address a comprehensive agenda that includes updates and funding requests from local institutions, critical infrastructure improvements, and enhancements to emergency services. The meeting will also cover budgetary adjustments for various county projects and consider potential legislative changes.

A key item on the agenda is an update and support request from the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts for Fiscal Year 2027. The museum is seeking $143,500, a modest increase of $1,500 from its FY26 funding, which is intended to cover a cost-of-living adjustment for staff and address rising maintenance and operational costs. In FY25, the museum received $142,000 from the county. The museum has highlighted significant accomplishments, including strong attendance for its Frida Kahlo exhibition, which drew visitors from across the country and exceeded attendance projections. The museum also continues its expansion project and focuses on engaging diverse audiences through various programs and exhibitions.

The Commissioners will also consider a significant grant application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Greenspace Equity Program. Public Works is requesting approval to apply for a $700,000 grant to fund the Marty Snook Park Multiuse Trail and Parking Project. This initiative aims to create a safe, looped pedestrian pathway for walking, running, and biking, addressing current safety concerns where visitors often park on grass shoulders and navigate along a constrained roadway. The project also seeks to improve the park’s vehicle parking capacity, which is currently overstretched. While the grant itself requires no matching funds, the project will draw from the county’s general fund, Program Open Space, and other federal grants.

In the realm of emergency services, the Board will vote on a sole source procurement for maintenance agreements on vital life-saving equipment. This includes LifePak monitors/defibrillator devices, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and Lucas CPR devices. The proposed agreement with Stryker Medical, for a sum of $211,399.43, covers preventive maintenance, inspections, repairs, parts, labor, and battery service for a contract period running from January 25, 2026, to January 24, 2027. This is the third and final renewal for this contract, deemed necessary due to the compatibility requirements of the equipment. Additionally, the Division of Emergency Services is requesting authorization to hire nine additional firefighter positions in FY26, bringing the total new hires for that fiscal year to eighteen. This expansion is intended to address instances where fire stations struggle to staff apparatus adequately for responses, with the precise placement of these firefighters to be determined based on response statistics. Funding for the initial nine positions is already allocated in the FY26 budget, with the additional nine to be funded by reductions in transfers to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) fund.

Significant infrastructure development is also on the agenda, including a contract award for the 40 West Landfill Cell 5 Construction. The bid of $11,274,400 from C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown, MD, is recommended for the construction of a new landfill cell. The project is slated to commence on February 1, 2026, and conclude by January 31, 2027, with funding secured through the Solid Waste Capital Improvement Budget. The Highfield Water Development is also set for advancement with a contract award to Buchart Horn, Inc. for $120,432.00 to cover engineering services for Spring 2 and Well No. 9. This funding will be supplemented by a $65,000 budget transfer from another project, bringing the total allocated for improvements to the Cascade Town Center Water System to $120,648.98. This project aims to reactivate previously idled water facilities to serve the developing Fort Ritchie property.

Budget adjustments are planned for several key county operations. The State Homeland Security Grant program requires a budget adjustment of $47,598.50 to address a shortfall. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) received less funding than initially requested and has federal mandates for border security and election security, leaving a gap that OEM proposes to fill by reallocating funds from the salary of an Emergency Management Specialist to procure essential emergency shelter supplies and enhance the county’s Emergency Operations Center. The Airport Grant budget will also see an adjustment to track an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant, which spans multiple fiscal years, separately for better control and record-keeping. The Airport Grant requires a 50% local match, which will remain available in the operating budget. Furthermore, the Smithsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant project will receive an additional $435,400 for construction management services, funded from Sewer Fund CIP reserves. A budget adjustment is also proposed for the 540 Western Maryland Parkway property, reflecting estimated rental income and operating expenses for FY26. Excess rental income will be transferred to the capital budget to support building renovations for a Patrol Relocation Project.

The Commissioners will also review tax differential calculations, as governed by Maryland state law. Washington County currently utilizes a tax setoff model, reducing the property tax rate by 12.5 cents per $100 of assessed value for property owners within municipal boundaries. This results in an estimated $6.4 million reduction in tax revenue for FY2026, with $4.8 million benefiting City of Hagerstown property owners and an additional $1.6 million benefiting owners in other municipalities. The current tax equity rate model accounts for duplicated services, revenues collected for county services, and excess use of county resources by those within city limits.

Finally, the Board will consider potential legislative items related to county procurement. The County Attorney is seeking consensus to support legislation that would clarify the authority to purchase or lease personal property under multiyear contracts, potentially allowing for savings through lower interest rates. Additionally, a proposed revision to the county’s code of public local laws aims to modernize the notification process for sole source procurement awards, allowing for electronic posting in addition to newspaper publication, aligning with the county’s move toward digitizing procurement processes.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland.

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