Dorchester Co. proposed budget ups income tax and teacher salaries

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – In Dorchester County, officials are diving into the 2020 proposed budget and they that it isn’t too far off from years past.

For now at least, they say that important departments will get the funding they need and will put education, public safety and infrastructure improvements first.

Officials say they will add over $1 million to each of those departments but in order to do that they will need to raise taxes.

“The county is going to raise its income tax rate to 3.2% from 2.62%. It’s a measure that was needed to address cuts to state highway user revenues from years ago,” explains Michael Spears, Dorchester County Finance Director.

Officials tell us that hike is actually a pretty standard income tax rate in the area, one that Caroline, Wicomico and Queen Anne’s county already have.

It’s something officials were reluctant to raise, but by doing so they were able to keep other rates the same, including property taxes while also funding schools, police and resurfacing roads.

The increase will give the Board of Education $1.7 million in new money and $500,000 will be going directly towards increasing teacher salaries.

“We’re trying to make sure that we have the best possible conditions. Pay and benefits for teachers is very important to have a great public education system,” explains Lenny Pfeffer, Dorchester Co. Councilman.

Those funds will be enough for Dorchester County to meet the Kirwin Commission Teacher Salary Challenge, increasing salaries by 3 percent.

The county is also setting aside money to buy new sheriff cruisers and a new ambulance along with other expenses. The county council is having a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. on May 7th and are encouraging the public to attend.