Prince George's County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Prince George's County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Open Meetings Act notice challenge
Ivey said she got notice of this special meeting less than an hour before it started and argued that violates the Open Meetings Act, since the auditor seat had been open a year and wasn't urgent.
County Auditor vacancy filled after a year
The auditor is the county's independent financial watchdog. The seat sat empty for about a year, and supporters argued filling it was an emergency for good governance and accountability.
FY 2027 Office of Ethics and Accountability budget
Ivey claimed Emerson is a friend of Council Member Burroughs and that the auditor shouldn't audit an organization connected to any council member. Other members demanded evidence and noted recusal rules apply; the accusation went unanswered because Burroughs wasn't present.
Child Care Improvement Workgroup State Legislative Recommendations
A briefing on how prepared county kids are for kindergarten and what childcare funding exists to close gaps. Childcare access and cost is a daily struggle for many working parents in the county.
Grant-making transparency and accountability
A new task force of outside experts will review how the council awards community grants and recommend ways to build public confidence in the use of taxpayer dollars.
National Harbor Tax Increment Financing
The Council is advancing bonds to fund the Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor and refinance 2022 bonds, aiming to replace tax revenue lost with Six Flags' closure. Amendments added labor peace and diversity commitments before final passage.
Property Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled Residents
Bills to expand property tax credits and deferrals for seniors and disabled homeowners were introduced with amendments — including a $1 million annual cap on deferrals and a fiscal-year reset on the credit queue — plus a homestead credit set at 104%. One tax cap bill was pulled as a compromise with the administration.
Senior and disabled property-tax relief package
Four bills (CB-94, CB-95, CB-98, CB-117) aim to ease property tax burdens for seniors and disabled homeowners, but the committee held them until September 24 pending solid cost estimates. There was a heated exchange over whether the administration slow-walked fiscal data, and Ivey floated funding relief through a carve-out of future revenue like sports wagering.
Distribution of state cannabis reinvestment funds
The council rewrote the process for the cannabis community reinvestment fund, adding staffing and a council approval step, and extended the board's deadline to April 1, 2027 — over board members' objections that their authority was being stripped and the timeline unrealistic.
State's Attorney's Office exempt employee compensation
Assistant state's attorneys have been locked out of county COLA increases since their 2024 salary restructure, making it hard to keep prosecutors. This resolution restores raises and allows retention bonuses for FY2025–2027.
Jones House District 8 programs and accountability
Council Member Burroughs announced that Jones House started an independent audit months ago and a fiscal partnership with the Center of Nonprofit Advancement, with both reviews to be presented publicly at the October 20 meeting.
FY 2028-2030 Local Impact Grant plan letter
The committee approved the $12.17 million local impact grant plan, a $28.7 million FY26 closeout reallocation, and capital transfers for the District VI police station and public safety upgrades.
Board of Education FY 2026 Transfer Request
The Council endorsed the school system's mid-year budget transfer with a letter to Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph.
National Harbor development project financial risk
Resident Margery Jones challenged the claimed $63 million-a-year tax benefit from a proposed National Harbor project, saying the real direct net is closer to $7.4 million after debt service, and asked for feasibility, attendance and surveillance-privacy studies.
FY 26 Project Charge Pilot Program funding controversy
Chair Oriadha said misinformation about Project Charge funding has become a distraction, and she and County Executive Braveboy are asking for the second distribution to be returned so it can be fully documented and redirected to District 7 services.
WSSC Water FY 2028 budget preview
The water utility gave an early look at its preliminary FY 2028 budget, an early signal of possible rate and spending decisions ahead.
Energy cost relief (HB 1532)
A resolution calling for a moratorium on utility price increases was on the agenda — a response to rising utility bills for county residents.
Local Impact Grant Funds spending plan (FY2028-FY2030)
CR-148-2026 would send the Local Impact Grant Funds Multiyear Plan to the full Council for review and approval, directing how grant funds are allocated over multiple years.
Government transparency and budget process concerns
The multi-year contracts list (CR-036-2026) reached the council just a day before the meeting, angering members who said the administration's lateness is making their oversight job harder. The fallout: budget adoption slips from May 21 to May 27 to allow proper public notice and a hearing.
FY 2027 Budget Allocations Briefing
Budget officials briefed the Council on state aid coming to the county, including K-12 education funding drivers like enrollment, poverty, and special education, plus state budget bills that could affect county finances.
Sphere Community Impact Fund (CB-132-2026)
A new bill would reserve 15% of county revenues from the Sphere venue for communities within six miles — half for community programs, half for infrastructure. It was just introduced and will get further committee review and a public hearing.
Permitting Fee Overhaul and Increases
Developers who want a waiver from universal design housing requirements would pay higher waiver, technology and administrative fees under this resolution.
FY2026 General Obligation and Stormwater Bond Authorization
CB-130-2026 would let the county borrow up to $788.6 million for capital projects and $161.5 million for stormwater projects, plus up to $950 million in bond anticipation notes — backed by the county's full faith, credit and taxing power.
General Obligation Bond Issuance (CB-130-2026)
The county is borrowing up to $751 million plus $152 million in stormwater bonds to pay for capital projects in the FY 2026 budget. The county's full faith, credit, and taxing power back the debt.
Snow, Ice Control and Transportation Contract Funding
CR-147-2026 would raise contract ceilings for snow and ice control services and boost funding for transportation service contracts to meet Fiscal Year 2027 needs.
Permanent Rent Stabilization fee schedule
The committee was scheduled to reconsider the fee schedule that makes the 2024 rent stabilization law workable — covering fair return applications, capital improvement surcharges, renovation exemptions and rent banking. The fees landlords and tenants deal with under the program depend on how this is resolved.
Fair Election Fund rules for uncontested races
Changes would let publicly financed candidates keep some unspent money for post-election expenses and adjust payouts when races go uncontested.
Rent Stabilization Program Fee Schedule (CR-073-2026)
The county needs to set fees to run its permanent rent stabilization program — covering fair return applications, a capital improvement surcharge, renovation exemptions, and rent banking. The committee couldn't agree on a recommendation, so the full council will decide.
Council transparency and access rules
Three rules changes would let the public participate virtually, hold monthly evening meetings, and require yearly listening tours. Virtual participation was held in committee; evening meetings passed 3-0 with two abstentions; listening tours passed 4-0.
Public Utility Rate Increases
A resolution calling for a moratorium on utility price increases was on the agenda — a response to rising utility bills for county residents.
Data transparency obligations and Open Data Refresh
A package of access reforms had mixed results: the transparency workgroup advanced, listening tours advanced 4-0-1, evening meetings passed 3-0-2, and the virtual participation requirement was held in committee.
Utility affordability and shutoff protections
With roughly 43% of county households financially strained, the committee backed a resolution asking the state Public Service Commission to block utility shutoffs during winter and summer months for vulnerable residents, and to study whether data centers are driving up rates.
Utility price increase moratorium
A resolution calling for a moratorium on utility price increases was on the agenda — a response to rising utility bills for county residents.
FY 2026 Public Safety Budget Review
The committee backed multi-year financing for emergency communication equipment and public safety vehicles, moved capital funds to the District VI Police Station, and added money for public safety infrastructure upgrades.
Health impact fees ballot question
Council Chair Oriadha highlighted a ballot question asking voters to allow health-based impact fees on industries like tobacco and liquor, which could create a dedicated fund for prevention and treatment programs.
State's Attorney pay plan resolution
Assistant State's Attorneys didn't get the COLA raises other county employees received in 2025 and 2026, and the office struggles to keep attorneys. This resolution gives them catch-up raises and possible retention bonuses. Better pay means better-staffed courtrooms and cases handled well.
Civil fine increases and state authority for higher penalties
Fisher urged tracking data on $5,000 fines because Annapolis won't grant the $10,000 repeat-offense authority without proof — a gap she says lets bad actors dump in Prince George's rather than DC.
M-NCPPC FY 2027 Project Charge Procedures
The council adopted a resolution clarifying how the Project Charge program works within the parks-planning commission's FY 2027 operating budget — a split 8-2 vote with Harrison and Ivey opposed.
Homestead Property Tax Credit Set at 104%
A new bill would set the county's homestead property tax credit at 104% for the tax year starting July 1, 2027 — capping how much assessed value increases can raise taxes for homeowners.
FY 2027 Property Tax Rates
A new bill would create a property tax credit capping taxes for eligible low-income seniors — potentially meaningful savings for older homeowners on fixed incomes.
Independent Inspector General proposed
A new bill would create an independent Office of the Inspector General with subpoena power and budget autonomy to root out fraud, waste and corruption in county government.
DPIE permitting fee increase
Two measures headed to the full council would consolidate all county permitting fees into one fee table and implement a 20% across-the-board fee increase plus a 10% technology fee at the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. Anyone pulling a permit — homeowners, builders, developers — could pay more.
Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board Methodology
About $12 million from cannabis tax revenue is sitting in a fund meant to reinvest in communities harmed by prohibition — and it can't be spent this fiscal year. The board is racing to set up its structure so grants can go out early in fiscal 2027.
Fiscal Impact of Growth Study
A county-commissioned study examined how projected growth affects county finances — which land uses pay their way, where infrastructure will be needed, and how TIF and PILOT subsidy tools should be evaluated.
FY 2026 supplementary appropriations
The Council moved extra money into the general fund and capital budget — covering unanticipated costs plus clean water, recreation facility and animal shelter projects.
$15.4 Million in Grant Appropriations for County Agencies
Over $15.3 million in federal, state and other grant funds were spread across eleven county agencies, from police and fire/EMS to health, social services and the environment.
Supplementary appropriation to FY 2026 General Fund
The county is adding revenue to the General Fund to pay for costs nobody anticipated when the FY 2026 budget was approved. It's a mid-year budget patch, moved to the full Council with unanimous committee support.
FY 2027 development surcharges
The Council set the school facilities surcharge and public safety/behavioral health surcharge for Fiscal Year 2027 — fees charged on new development to help fund schools and public safety services.
School facilities and public safety surcharge increases for FY 2027
Building permit surcharges for schools and public safety rise about 3.8% for FY 2027 — to $12,680-$21,769 for schools and $3,429-$10,279 for public safety — keeping pace with inflation.
Election Day administrative leave for county employees
Council Member Blegay's bill would make general election day an official county holiday, giving county government employees the day off to vote. The committee put off action, so the proposal will come back another day.