Sheriff’s salary increase expected to become law, along with most other Carroll County bills

With only three weeks left in the Maryland General Assembly’s 90-day legislative session, several Carroll County delegation bills are inching closer to passage.

Monday marked the annual “crossover day” deadline at the State House, when bills must pass their original chamber to have a guarantee that they’ll be considered in the other during the final three weeks.

In December, Carroll County’s all-Republican delegation held a public hearing to gather requests from local organizations and county representatives on what they needed legislatively from the state. The delegation approved several of the requests and forwarded them to other state lawmakers for review.

The 90-day legislative session began Jan. 10 and ends April 8.

Mike Fowler, the Board of Carroll County Commissioners’ legislative liaison to the Maryland General Assembly, stated in an email that typically bills sponsored by the delegation on behalf of the county are successful.

“Generally speaking, bills sponsored by a county delegation are usually subject to the informal protocol of ‘local courtesy’ and passed without issue, but not always,” he said. “This year seems to be a good one for us in that respect.”

SB437/HB839 is a county contract and purchasing bill. Currently, commissioners can contract for any county work or improvements or purchase supplies and equipment without providing notice to the public if the cost does not exceed $25,000.

“If the cost of a project or a purchase of supplies or equipment exceeds $25,000, except in emergencies or when there is a sole source of supply, the Chief of the Bureau of Purchasing must provide public notice for at least one week, as specified,” the current law states. “The public notice must state the date, time and place of the opening of the bids.”

This bill raises the contract value threshold, from $25,000 to $50,000. The county would then be required to give advance public notice and use competitive bidding to purchase supplies and equipment or contract for a work or improvements.

“Raises the threshold which purchases of goods or services must be conducted through a formal competitive bid process,” Fowler said. “Each version of the bill passed through its respective chamber and crossed over to the opposite chamber in the same form. That essentially ensures final passage.”

SB693/HB796 is a public facilities bond bill. The commissioners are requesting permission to issue a public facilities bond to fund county-specific capital projects. The amount of funding requested is not more than $29.8 million. The funding will go toward construction, improvement or development of certain public facilities.

Fowler said since the bill passed both chambers, final passage is ensured.

SB963/HB1080 would give Carroll County the authority to stop issuing building permits to businesses that have not paid their county property taxes.

“Authorizes county to deny commercial permit issuance or renewal to a business with delinquent personal property taxes,” Fowler said. “This one is still in play.”

Fowler said the bill passed on the Senate floor and crossed over to the House, where it passed the House Environment and Transportation Committee, but did not make it to the House floor for final passage.

“The bill is still in play, however,” he said. “If the Environment and Transportation Committee takes up the Senate version there is a good chance they will pass it, since it matches HB1080, which they already passed.

“I will then be looking for it to get to and pass on the House floor, meaning it would be enacted,” Fowler said. “Again, no guarantees here but we’re still in play.”

SB965/HB1060 will raise the salary of the Carroll County sheriff starting in 2026.

This bill would increase the sheriff’s annual salary from the current $140,000 to $191,078.10 in 2026. In 2027, the sheriff’s salary would increase to $212,309.

“This bill passed both chambers and will be enacted,” Fowler said.

The first year, the increase from $140,000 to $191,078.10 will cost the county approximately $47,000 more in fiscal 2027, and $84,100 more annually thereafter, according to the legislative fiscal and policy document. This estimate includes benefits and accounts for the first increase taking effect in December 2026, when the next term of office begins.

SB1108/HB720 would require that every deputy clerk or deputy sheriff in Carroll County take and sign the oath or affirmation prescribed in the Maryland Constitution.

Currently, a deputy clerk or deputy sheriff in Carroll County is required to take the oath stated in the Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. Montgomery County and Washington County are the only local jurisdictions that require every deputy clerk or deputy sheriff to take and sign the oath and affirmation of office prescribed in the Maryland Constitution.

The oath or affirmation to the Maryland Constitution is to swear and affirm to support the U.S. Constitution and be faithful to the State of Maryland and support its constitution and laws, according to the legislative policy notes.

“Same as the sheriff’s salary bill, [this] passed both chambers and will be enacted,” Fowler said.

Finally, SB964 was introduced by Sen. Justin Ready, who represents the county in District 5, at the request of Carroll County’s Liquor Board Chairman David L. Brauning. The bill would require the holder of a Class B or Class D liquor license, or an individual who is in a supervisory position at a bar, restaurant or liquor store selling alcohol, to undergo alcohol awareness training.

The bill also establishes specified penalties that include a fine of $100 for the first offense and a fine up
to $500 and or suspension or revocation of the alcoholic beverages license for subsequent offenses.

“The bill passed on the Senate floor and was sent to House Economic Matters Committee,” Fowler said. “It is likely to pass there as well, ensuring enactment.”