Proposed FY26 Budget Message
Watch County Executive Kathy Klausmeier deliver the Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget message.
Budget Message Speech
Good morning, Chairman Ertel, members of the County Council, esteemed colleagues in County government, honored guests and residents of Baltimore County.
95 days ago, you invited me into this chamber and presented me with your sacred trust to lead the Baltimore County Government.
Today, I am back in this chamber to begin the one annual thing the citizens of Baltimore County entrust us to do—adopt a responsible budget. It is my privilege to join you today to present my proposed Baltimore County Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.
We have worked alongside our partners on the council, Administrative Officer D’Andrea Walker, our department directors and residents in every community to craft this budget. Because of our shared efforts, we’re confident in our County’s fiscal future.
Facing Challenges
However, this process has not been without challenges. Like many of our peer jurisdictions, Baltimore County has faced a very uncertain budget season.
That starts at the state level where budget reductions have threatened our ability to continue funding core services. Transportation programs, public safety investments and funding for our students, schools and teachers, have all been reduced by an ever-growing deficit in Annapolis. When the state can’t close a deficit, it challenges counties like ours to pay more and make up the difference.
These challenges continue at the federal level, with severe and unexpected cuts to vital jobs, grants and contracts. These actions come as federal COVID-19 aid has just ended. The effects of inflation and tariffs also continue to increase the price of labor, construction materials, groceries and utilities for our government, and for families in every community. We already know that federal tariffs are likely to increase costs for Baltimore County. Unfortunately, we don’t know when additional tariffs will be announced, when they will be executed, or what they will affect.
These uncertainties—coupled with increased insurance and utility bills, new state taxes and inflation—are already a burden on our families and businesses. Because of this, we cannot ask Baltimore County residents to pay more taxes.
I will say it again. Because of this, we cannot ask Baltimore County residents to pay more taxes.
This situation must be faced head-on. It requires difficult but necessary decisions. We do not have the funding to invest in every initiative or provide for every needed project. We have been honest about these facts with our partners at Baltimore County Public Schools, in interviews with the press and at seven Budget Town Hall meetings. Baltimore County cannot deny these uncomfortable realities.
Baltimore County will not hide from the challenge on our doorstep.
Because, despite this challenge, Baltimore County is continuing to grow and improve. We have reversed three consecutive years of population decline and welcomed new neighbors. We have identified issues like the need to improve our permitting system and are beginning the work to make it more efficient with two new, dedicated positions to improve user experiences. We continue to provide funding for communities from the east side to the west side and from the north to the south, and everywhere in between. And for the 30th consecutive year, we maintained our coveted AAA bond rating, placing us in the top two percent of counties nationwide and enabling us to save millions of dollars for residents.
We’re doing all this and more by engaging the communities we serve.
A Budget for a Better Baltimore County
Our budget this year is a product of all these actions. It is a reflection of the values that make Baltimore County such a special place. It is a step forward for our County, and we go forward without raising taxes and without placing more burdens on our residents.
This budget would not be possible without our amazing partnerships. I’m grateful for my family who encourage me every day and enjoy this County as much as I do. To our friends on the County Council, thank you for your leadership and your commitment. And my deepest appreciation goes to our Baltimore County team who welcomed me, supported me and worked tirelessly to deliver this budget.
Thank you to County Administrative Officer D’Andrea Walker, Director of Budget and Finance Kevin Reed, our entire Budget and Finance office, our department directors, my administrative staff and our hardworking employees.
Our budget this year continues to invest in our General Government employees with a minimum midyear two percent Cost of Living Adjustment or their equivalent.
A Responsible Budget for our Students, Schools and Educators
As a former PTA President, mother to a Baltimore County Public Schools teacher, grandmother to four Baltimore County Public Schools students, and as County executive, I know firsthand how important education is.
For the fifth year in a row, Baltimore County has exceeded the required state minimum funding level, delivering record investments for our educators and amazing support staff. Because of this historic support, we’re proud to confirm that our starting salary for first-year teachers is the highest in the Baltimore region.
Our budget this year continues to build on this commitment, with more than $350 million to improve schools across the County. This funding moves us closer to constructing the long-awaited Towson and Dulaney High Schools that our communities deserve. In addition, we’re also proud to invest millions to make schools across the County safer and better for our students with new security vestibules, recreation spaces and improved air-conditioning systems.
We’re grateful to Baltimore County Public School Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers for her partnership and willingness to work together on education funding. We know that she will always be committed to our students and educators, and I appreciate her open and collaborative leadership.
For many students, higher education can be a path towards success and achievement. We have been proud to continue partnering with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and President Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis to ensure that residents can explore these opportunities and achieve success.
Our budget includes over $27 million in funding for higher education, including more than $8 million for the CCBC Essex campus and more than $9 million for the CCBC Catonsville Student Services Center. In addition, we have included $2 million for the new welding program at CCBC Dundalk which will train and prepare our workforce to rebuild the Key Bridge.
A Responsible Budget for Our Libraries
Investing in our students young and old encourages them to learn. But curiosity and a passion for knowledge never fades away and our public library system is an incredible resource for learners of all ages.
To ensure that residents can continue to learn, read and grow, our budget provides over $36 million for our library system including more than $31 million to move forward with the construction of our new Randallstown Library and Recreation Center. In addition, our recently-approved Equipment Financing Package contains over $1 million to improve our fleet of library vehicles, increase community engagement, and create more opportunities for children, senior and families to read.
Thanks to CEO Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, our libraries continue to benefit communities with high-quality technology, small business resources, computer literacy programs and much, much more.
A Responsible Budget for Public Safety
Across Baltimore County, we’re committed to ensuring that residents are safe and feel safe.
Our proposed budget provides over $25 million for a needed Essex Precinct replacement as well as $6 million to improve the Support Operations Division building. We’re also proud to provide $2 million to enhance security at police precincts across the County and protect our officers.
Thank you to Chief McCullough and all the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department for your hard work and dedication to our communities. We’re grateful for your service and we’re proud to continue supporting you.
Alongside our police officers, firefighters and emergency service professionals put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. In addition to a midyear three percent Cost of Living Adjustment, the 2025 Equipment Financing Package contains more than $28 million to replace important equipment and save lives. Our budget also invests in the fire stations our first responders depend on with $22 million for a new Sparrows Point Fire Station.
Thank you to Chief Dixon and all our firefighters and EMS personnel for the work you do every day.
In addition to these heroes, we’re also grateful for our volunteer fire companies who continue to go above and beyond to keep communities safe. Our proposed budget delivers $2 million in funding to continue the Volunteer Medic Unit Replacement Program. We’ve also added nearly $1 million to increase the Volunteer Incentive for Attendants Program from $35 to $50 an hour, for our brave volunteers.
A Responsible Budget for Transportation
“Moving Baltimore County Forward” is more than a metaphor. For hundreds of thousands of residents, our roadways are a connection to familiar places, new opportunities and the people we care about.
The budget we propose includes nearly $38 million for needed resurfacing, curb, gutter and sidewalk projects across the County.
A Responsible Budget for Sustainability
As we continue to maintain our County’s roadways, we’re also charting a path towards a greener and more sustainable future. That starts with our ongoing support for new recycling programs, thousands of urban street trees, midge mitigation and more.
We’re delivering over $26 million in County funds for our Waterway Improvement Program which includes nearly $8 million for County stream restoration projects, over $2 million for needed dredging projects, $4 million for shoreline restoration efforts and $1 million for reforestation and forest maintenance.
This year’s budget also delivers nearly $1 million to continue our bulk trash initiative, as well as hundreds of thousands in funding for our Community Clean-Up Program and Dumpster Days.
A Responsible Budget for Parks, Open Spaces and Recreational Opportunities
Open, accessible and healthy greenspaces are resources that everyone should be able to enjoy. Baltimore County is home to tens of thousands of acres of agricultural and open land where residents can walk, bike, kayak, play, and explore our scenic and historic beauty.
In just the last year, we’ve opened six new parks and recreation centers to serve communities like Rosedale, Pikesville, Sparrows Point, Milford Mill, Perry Hall and Essex. We’ve also continued to acquire new land to expand and improve on these opportunities—highlighted by our $10 million purchase of an 84-acre waterfront park site at the former C.P. Crane power plant on Carroll Island. Our budget builds on this work with nearly $2 million to continue acquiring new spaces and improving existing parks for everyone to enjoy.
To ensure that these opportunities are available for years to come, we’re continuing to renovate and improve playgrounds and athletic fields so residents can stay engaged and connected with one another. Our budget invests more than $6 million to continue delivering these opportunities and improve playgrounds, baseball diamonds, trails and pickleball courts, Countywide.
We’re proud that our budget also delivers more than $3 million in new funding for the redevelopment of the Pikesville Armory. To date, Baltimore County has invested nearly $9 million to support this unique property which will serve as a community hub for seniors, families and children, with recreational and arts opportunities for all.
We’re also making it easier for residents to engage with the arts by delivering over $3 million to arts organizations across Baltimore County and our region.
A Responsible Budget for Seniors
Nearly one in four County residents is an older adult. We’re committed to ensuring that seniors in every community have the care they deserve, programs that keep them active, and opportunities to stay connected with their families and neighbors.
That’s why our budget this year includes $60 million in County funds to complete construction of the North County and Jacksonville Senior Centers. We’re also proud to have proposed additional funding to complete the long-awaited Cockeysville Senior Center parking lot project.
A Responsible Budget for Housing Opportunities
We’re blessed to call Baltimore County our home and we want to ensure that every resident has the same opportunity.
For anyone who dreams of owning a home and joining a community, we’re working to make that dream more attainable and more secure. Our proposed budget invests more than $3 million for the Housing Opportunities Fund so we can continue our commitment to affordable housing.
A Responsible Budget for The West Baltimore County Redevelopment Authority
We’re also doing the work to revitalize communities and attract new residents and businesses to Baltimore County. Earlier this year, the West Baltimore County Redevelopment Authority held its first meeting to begin shaping and transforming our County’s west side.
Support for this redevelopment authority totals $750,000 in County and state funding this year—bringing the total investment in this group to $2 million.
Looking to the Future
In the midst of challenges—many of them sudden and unexpected—I am deeply proud of our team’s efforts to move this budget forward. There have been moments in our County’s history when we had a surplus to invest in our communities, and I applaud the work of my predecessors who laid the foundations that lifted our County to this point.
Our budget today builds on these foundations, invests in the projects that will move our County forward and shows—unequivocally—that we are prepared to not only meet today’s challenges but overcome them.
Some may view a government budget as just numbers on a page, but I feel differently. I shop at my local grocery store and I watch every penny I spend. I know all too well that every dollar in our budget comes from our residents.
This is your money. We are neighbors and our local government will not be frivolous with your money.
Since the day I submitted my name to serve as County Executive, I have been open and honest about the fact that I do not intend to run in two years.
My service to this County is exactly that—an act of service and an opportunity to lead Baltimore County through this difficult time and towards a better, safer and fiscally sound future. That mission is shared by our entire government team and I am grateful for their expertise and commitment.
The budget we present to you today represents not just a path forward, but also an unwavering belief that, together, we can overcome any challenge.
In collaboration with our County Council, the school system, state leaders, community stakeholders and the public, we will continue to move beyond these uncertainties and prepare Baltimore County for many years of sustained success.
Thank you. God bless Baltimore County, the state of Maryland, and God bless America.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine A. Klausmeier
Baltimore County Executive