Announcement

County updates

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

The following appeared in the summer 2026 Ocean Pines Report quarterly newsletter: www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/quarterly-newsletters

It’s the season for swimming pools, the beach, visiting family, boating and all things outdoors. I hope you’re enjoying the activities and amenities.

Let’s get started. On June 2, the Worcester County Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget of $300,172,146, an increase of $18.7 million, or 7%, more than the FY26 budget.

The FY27 budget maintains the property tax rate of 81.5¢ per $100 of assessed value and the County’s local income tax rate of 2.25%. Worcester County residents will continue to benefit from the lowest income tax rate and the third lowest real property tax rate as compared to all other counties in Maryland.

Ocean Pines Association will receive $1,069,000 in county funding, an increase of $403,000.

FY27 funding includes $3.3 million in grants to county fire companies and $10.8 million in ambulance grants, which includes supplemental funding for 10 EMS companies to assist with runs and personnel costs.

The approved budget includes a transfer of $2.4 million to maintain a 15% Reserve Fund and $2.9 million to the Reserve Fund for capital expenses associated with the Buckingham Elementary School replacement project. The Reserve Fund is a tool that is vital to the County’s emergency preparedness plans and plays a key role in the County’s fiscal health and stable bond rating of AAA for Fitch, AA+ for Standard and Poor’s and Aa2 for Moody’s Investor Services. This outstanding bond rating enables Worcester County Government to borrow money at low interest rates that save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for capital projects, like the upcoming school replacement projects.

Moving on to other matters. As a result of the County Commissioners’ decision to recalculate commercial water bills impacted by the rate formula adjustments put in place July 2025 the Ocean Pines Association will receive a credit of about $15,000 in its July statement.

Moving forward commercial billing will be correctly calculated on total ratepayer EDU ownership across the county’s 11 water service districts.

While on the subject of water bills – the Commissioners amended the County’s Water Leak Adjustment Policy. The revised policy establishes a uniform, transparent framework for adjusting water and sewer utility bills in cases involving leaks, billing errors, unexplained high-water use, and other qualifying events.

The updated policy introduces three categories of adjustment available to domestic and commercial customers: RELIEF ADJUSTMENTS, OUTDOOR LEAK ADJUSTMENTS, and UNEXPLAINED HIGH-WATER USE ADJUSTMENTS.

Relief Adjustments reduce water consumption charges for customers experiencing valid high-water use due to leaks, theft, vandalism, or other documented unintended water loss.

Outdoor Leak Adjustments reduce sewer charges when a non-sewer contributing leak is identified and repaired.

Unexplained High-Water Use Adjustments address situations in which the cause of elevated consumption cannot be determined.

Each adjustment type is subject to eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and frequency limitations designed to ensure consistency and protect the financial integrity of the utility enterprise fund.

The revised policy reflects advances in metering technology and current utility practices. Notable updates include formalized eligibility criteria with defined documentation requirements, a structured appeals process through a Grievance Committee, clear frequency limitations on adjustments (36-month eligibility for Relief Adjustments, 60-month for Unexplained High-Water Use Adjustments), and provisions addressing meter testing, billing errors, and late fee waivers.

The policy also clarifies what customers are responsible for paying while their adjustment request is being reviewed.

That’s it for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 443-783-3248 or by email at [email protected].

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