Hagerstown Regional Airport and Utility Rate Adjustments Highlighted in County Commissioners’ Agenda

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to hold an open session on April 28, 2026, addressing several key financial and operational matters. The agenda includes public hearings on proposed modifications to charges, rentals, and fees at the Hagerstown Regional Airport for Fiscal Year 2027, as well as adjustments to water and sewer rates for the same period. Additionally, the commissioners will discuss the framework for the Washington County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, which is supported by cannabis sales tax revenue.

Several other business items are slated for discussion, including bid and contract awards for dumpster services at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant and Clean County initiatives, as well as treatment services for substance use disorders at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Day Reporting Center. The board will also consider sole source procurement awards for disconnected youth services through the Western Maryland Consortium, for school-based health centers operated by Meritus Medical Center, and for a school-based mental health program provided by Brook Lane. A renewal for mattress and bed base removal and disposal recycling services is also on the agenda, along with the final closeout for the Rubble Reclamation Landfill capping project. Other items include a Memorandum of Understanding with Hancock EMS, a recommendation for hiring a Director of Planning and Zoning, a reappointment to the Washington County Gaming Commission, and a letter of commitment for the Williamsport Library replacement project.

Regarding the Hagerstown Regional Airport, a public hearing will address proposed changes to charges, rentals, and fees for Fiscal Year 2027, effective July 1, 2026. The primary adjustments include an approximate 3% increase in T-Hangar rental charges, necessitated by rising insurance premiums, upcoming paving projects for taxi lanes, and increased maintenance costs including employee salaries and benefits. Furthermore, the daily maximum fee for terminal ground vehicle parking is proposed to increase to $7.20, up from the current $5.00, which was last considered in 2023. This adjustment aims to help recover credit card processing fees and sustain revenues to cover escalating operational costs, particularly during periods of lower flight schedules. While competing airports in the region have significantly higher parking rates, the proposed rate for Hagerstown Regional Airport is intended to remain competitive while better reflecting operational expenses. Beyond these adjustments, no other fee increases are currently proposed for the airport in the FY27 budget. These proposed rate changes are projected to generate approximately $19,040 in additional revenue from T-Hangar rentals and $118,480 from increased parking fees.

The board will also hold a public hearing on modifications to water and sewer rates for FY2027. The proposed changes primarily involve increases in connection fees for both water and sewer services. These increases are intended to help offset the capital expenditures associated with new treatment facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, water tanks, pump stations, and capacity management projects. For water services, the connection fee is slated to rise from $3,200 in FY26 to $3,800 in FY27, representing a $600 increase. Similarly, the sewer connection fee is proposed to increase from $8,600 in FY26 to $10,300 in FY27, a $1,700 increment. The last adjustment to these rates occurred on July 1, 2021. These proposed changes are estimated to generate an additional $6,000 in revenue for the water fund and $198,900 for the sewer fund in FY2027, based on an average of 10 water connection fees and 117 sewer connection/allocation fees anticipated annually.

A public hearing is also scheduled for the Washington County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF). This fund was established following Maryland voters’ approval of adult-use recreational cannabis legalization in 2022. A portion of the cannabis sales tax revenue is directed to the CRRF, with the purpose of reinvesting in communities that were disproportionately affected by the enforcement of cannabis prohibition prior to July 1, 2022. In Washington County, these funds are specifically designated for initiatives serving ZIP Code 21740, which encompasses parts of Hagerstown and surrounding unincorporated areas. Eligible uses include community-based initiatives benefiting low-income communities, programs serving disproportionately impacted areas as defined by state law, and necessary administrative expenses for program implementation and management. Funds from the CRRF cannot be allocated to law enforcement agencies or activities and must supplement, rather than replace, existing local government funding. The county is required to establish guidelines for the distribution and management of these funds, including seeking community input, developing a community plan, and holding public hearings.

In terms of contracts and bids, the commissioners will consider awarding a bid for dumpster services at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant and for the Clean County initiative to BFI Waste Services, LLC, doing business as Republic Services of Hagerstown, MD. The proposed contract amount for this service is $62,853. The contract is planned to commence around August 1, 2026, with an option for two additional one-year renewals. The board will also vote on awarding a contract for treatment services for substance use disorders at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Day Reporting Center. The initial term of this contract is set to begin on July 1, 2026, and could be renewed for up to four additional one-year periods, contingent upon the contractor’s performance and alignment with the Sheriff’s Office goals. Funds in the amount of $90,000 are available in the department’s operating budget for these services.

Sole source procurement awards are also on the agenda. These include an award of $53,480 to the Western Maryland Consortium for enhancements to existing programming for disconnected youth, contingent on the approval of funding from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. No county funds are requested for this initiative. Another sole source award, totaling $317,957, is proposed to Meritus Medical Center for operating expenses of school-based health centers located at Western Heights Middle School and South Hagerstown High School. This funding is also dependent on a grant agreement with the State of Maryland. Additionally, a sole source procurement award of $283,335 is recommended for Brook Lane to support the operating expenses of the school-based mental health program. This award is contingent upon contract approval and a funding award from the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children. For both school-based programs, no county funds are being requested. These sole source procurements are being requested under a provision allowing them when only one source meets the county’s requirements.

The commissioners will consider renewing the contract for mattress and bed base removal and disposal recycling services at the 40 West Landfill with Turbo Haul, Inc. This renewal includes a request for a 2.7% increase in the rate, bringing it to $880.66 per ton, based on the January 2026 Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metro Area. This marks the second and final optional renewal period for this contract, which originally began on July 1, 2022. The final closeout of the Rubble Reclamation Landfill capping project is also on the agenda, with a motion to approve Change Order #1 for $67,230.43, which accounts for adjustments due to additional liner materials and modifications to the anchor trench location.

In emergency services, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is presented for execution between the Hancock Rescue Squad (HRS) and the Washington County Board of County Commissioners. This MOU authorizes the Division of Emergency Services to assume interim oversight and management of all administrative and operational functions of the HRS due to recent resignations of administrative officers and a continued decline in volunteer membership, which raises concerns about the organization’s sustainability. The agreement will place HRS under the full governance of the Division of Emergency Services for a minimum of 36 months, with potential for extension. The Division of Emergency Services will have oversight of executive, administrative, financial, operational, and personnel actions taken by HRS.

A recommendation to hire Alyssa Sebatto as the Director of Planning and Zoning is also on the agenda. The proposed offer is for Grade 18, Step 14, with an hourly rate of $61.95, resulting in an annual salary of $128,856. Her anticipated start date is June 22, 2026. This is a budgeted position.

The Washington County Gaming Commission is also up for review, with a request to re-appoint Selena Wilkes for a second two-year term, running from January 31, 2026, through January 31, 2028. The Gaming Commission comprises seven members, and this reappointment involves no fiscal impact as it is an unpaid position.

Finally, the Board of County Commissioners will consider approving a letter of commitment for the Williamsport Library replacement project. The Washington County Free Library is seeking this commitment to support a grant application to the Maryland State Library. The total estimated project cost is $21,943,060, with the County committed to contributing a total of $4,489,060, including $402,000 in FY27 and $671,000 in FY28.

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

Video Spotlight