County commissioners approve $555.5 million education budget; zoning, land use hearings ahead
The Charles County Board of County Commissioners approved a $555.5 million FY2027 budget for the Board of Education on July 7, the largest single dollar item in a week of county meetings. The 4-0 vote was one of several budget and policy actions taken by local boards between July 7 and July 13.
Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners voted 4-0 on a series of budget actions: FY2027 Budget Amendment Increase #6 ($200,000.00), FY2027 Budget Transfer Request #10 ($1,122,200.00), FY2026 Budget Transfer Request #864 ($67,000.00), and a FY2026 Board of Education Inter-Category Budget Transfer of $3.8 million.
The board also approved 4-0 a Letter of Support for White Plains Park Enhancements, a Fraternal Order of Police MOU agreement, a landmark designation for Hopewell Burial Ground, and a Federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 priority letter.
Commissioners scheduled a public hearing for July 21, 2026 on a land use plan map amendment (3-0). Bill 2026-04 regarding employee collective bargaining was introduced and set for a July 21 public hearing; the vote was 3-0 with one abstention on both actions.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission's July 7 agenda included a public hearing on Zoning Text Amendment #26-191, which would create a Mixed Residential Community Use in Medium- (RM) and High-Density (RH) Residential zones. Other items listed were the South Park West preliminary subdivision plan — 183 acres, 216 townhome lots, and commercial lots off Billingsley Road and US 301 in Waldorf — a Critical Area Intrafamily Transfer for Nikki Subdivision Lot 3, and briefings on the Forest Conservation Ordinance and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head capital improvement program. Minutes were not yet published.
Board of Appeals
The Board of Appeals was scheduled July 8 to hear a special exception request (Docket #1488) by John Pedro to operate a boardinghouse on a 0.33-acre property at 11890 Acton Park Place, Waldorf, in the High Density Suburban Residential (RH) Zone. The board was also set to hear an administrative appeal (Docket #1489) by White Oak, LLC of the Planning Commission's denial of a six-month extension for the Falcon Ridge preliminary plan (XPN #98-0004) on 117.30 acres off Mason Springs Road (MD-425), Indian Head, zoned Watershed Conservation District. Minutes were not yet published.
Liquor Board
The Board of License Commissioners approved multiple temporary licenses and premises expansions by unanimous vote on July 9, including one-day licenses for Butler's Enhancement, Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation, and Charles County Juneteenth Foundation. Premises or outdoor area expansions were approved for Invictus II Cigars, Cobb Island Public Market, The RAD House, Eggspectation Waldorf, and The Farmhouse Waldorf. License pickup extensions were approved for Eggspectation Waldorf (to Sept. 9, 2026), The Farmhouse Waldorf (to Dec. 9, 2026), The Bayou Kitchen and Bar (to July 9, 2026), Taqueria Y Rosticeria El Rey 2 (to Oct. 8, 2026), and Coast and Soul Connection (to July 9, 2026). A Class B/RB license transfer to The Creek Sports Bar, LLC was approved. The board fined Portside Liquors $5,750 for three violations.
Police Accountability Review Board
New members Esperita Garrison and Quantral Fletcher were sworn in July 13. The board approved minutes from October 23, 2024, and November 18, 2024. In a separate July 13 session, the board approved January 30, 2025 minutes and added review of new legislative proposals to its July 2025 agenda.
Board of Fire & Rescue
The July 13 agenda listed letters of information and intent from volunteer fire departments, including a request from La Plata VFD for architectural and engineering services for renovation and addition to Station 1, a Waldorf VFD request for roof replacement, a Tenth District VFD letter of intent to replace Vehicle 8, and Cobb Island VFD & EMS quarterly updates on Ambulance 68 and Fire/Rescue Boat 6. Minutes were not yet published.
Coming up
No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. The Board of County Commissioners previously scheduled a July 21, 2026 public hearing on the land use plan map amendment for Aviation Business Park and General Industrial Base Zones and on Bill 2026-04 regarding county employee collective bargaining; written comments were accepted through July 21, 2026.