Taxes Rise, Teachers + Police Officers Get Pay Raises In Anne Arundel Budget

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Taxes and fees rose under the new Anne Arundel County budget, which the County Council adopted with a divided vote on Friday.

The hike will fund pay raises for teachers and police officers among other county employees. The police officer starting salary will jump from $62,160 to $70,000, which the county said is the highest in Maryland. Existing officers will benefit from a $5 million pay package to bolster retention.

The budget funds positions for eight more teachers and 70 new firefighters. It also allocates $1.5 million to the Anne Arundel County food bank.

Related: New Village Academy Delayed, AACPS Money Shuffled To Pay Teachers

The Council approved the $2.31 billion budget in a 4-3 vote along party lines. Every Democrat voted for the budget. Every Republican opposed it. This year's budget is about 8.2 percent larger than last year's $2.14 billion budget, The Baltimore Banner reported.

"What has impressed me most about this year’s budget is the process," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a press release. "All seven members of the County Council have different priorities, and sometimes they disagree with one another or with my administration, but we've established a process that respects all voices."

Pittman said these are the taxes and fees that will change:

• Updating permit fees for the first time in 21 years, linking fees to cost.
• Raising the fee residents pay each month for 911 service from $0.75 to the state average of $1.
• Increasing the income tax rate from 2.81 percent to 2.94 percent on income between $75,000 and $480,000.

Pitman said about 3.6 percent of Marylanders have lower income tax rates than Anne Arundel County's.

Amanda Fiedler, a District 5 Republican representing Arnold and Severna Park, was frustrated with the hikes.

"There is a way to create a budget that doesn't increase the burden on citizens," Fiedler said, according to the Severna Park Voice. "The will is what is lacking. It's a fundamental difference of opinion on how to bake the budget from the very beginning."

District 6 Council Member Lisa Rodvien, an Annapolis Democrat, defended the increases and called them "very modest."

"For a couple making $150,000 a year, the increase is $8 a month," Rodvien said, according to the Voice. "For an individual earning $60,000, the increase is $1.08 a month. The real estate (tax) costs even less. For a house worth $500,000, it will cost an additional $15 a year."

This Anne Arundel County budget is for fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1. More information is posted at aacounty.org/fy25budget.

Pittman's press release said these were some of the other budget highlights:

Protecting Our Communities

County Executive Pittman’s FY25 budget reinforces the county's dedication to public safety by raising the starting salary for police officers to the highest level in Maryland today and offering a substantial pay package to retain current officers. The budget also allocates funds to train 70 new firefighter recruits and provides hiring bonuses for detention officers to help reduce vacancies. Additionally, it finances an innovative program to ensure a Sheriff’s Deputy is present in every courtroom.

Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders

To invest in our future leaders, the budget prioritizes education by fully funding Dr. Bedell’s compensation request with a step increase, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment. This year’s budget meets all the current year Maryland Blueprint for Education requirements, solidifying the county’s commitment to a strong school system. It also includes critical funding for the Anne Arundel County Public Library system, increases funding for Anne Arundel Community College, supports pre-K provider programs, starts a new middle school Athletics Program, and implements a virtual tutoring and homework after-school program.

Improving Quality of Life

The budget bolsters the well-being of county communities by maintaining investments in successful pandemic-era programs. It allocates $1.5 million to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and funds the Department of Social Services’ SNAP program, benefiting over 36,000 children across the county. Additionally, the budget supports the Mental Health Agency’s Crisis Response Team and adds a position in the Department of Health to oversee the Cure Violence program.

Safeguarding Our Environment

County Executive Pittman recently announced the formation of the county’s first environmental subcabinet to spearhead sustainability efforts and further the administration’s progress in protecting natural resources. This year’s budget includes funding for staff at the soon-to-open Jug Bay Emory Waters Nature Preserve and expands the popular River Days Festival series to five locations, offering free public water access for families.

Critical Services/Fiscal Responsibility

This year, Anne Arundel County upheld its Triple-A bond rating from all three major rating agencies for the second consecutive year. The agencies acknowledged the county’s robust economic indicators and fiscally responsible enhancements to governmental institutions that serve residents. The budget includes nearly a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for both union and non-represented employees and allocates funds to cover rising information technology expenses for the new Police Real Time Information Center, the Land Use Navigator, and other tools aimed at improving operations and enhancing security protocols.

While the budget remained largely unchanged from introduction, the County Council reallocated funding from the delayed New Village Academy opening to other priorities, including elementary school classroom teaching positions, support for teacher planning time, and Pre-Kindergarten programs. County Executive Pittman also added funding for several capital budget programs and an additional position for the library system at the County Council’s request.