March 29, 2024

County Seeks Public Input on Code Home Rule

code home rule

The final hearing on switching St. Mary’s County government to Code Home Rule will be held at 6:30 pm May 10 at the county commissioners’ meeting room inside the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge St. in Leonardtown.

A move to Code Home Rule would allow the county commissioners to exercise authority to enact local laws on a number of subjects without having to await action by the Maryland General Assembly. Under Code Home Rule, the commissioners could not enact any new taxes or regulatory fees.

Code Home Rule would give the commissioners legislative authority throughout the year. Public hearings on legislation would be held in Leonardtown, rather than in Annapolis during the winter. The public could demand a referendum on any new public local law, something which does not currently exist. St. Mary’s County is one of six counties in Maryland which has yet to adopt some form of home rule.

Commissioners will meet to decide whether to place a referendum on the November 2016 ballot in upcoming weeks. Voters in St. Mary’s County would have to approve the referendum to adopt Code Home Rule during the general election in November. If approved, the county would become a Code Home county on Dec. 8, 2016.

Additional information about Code Home Rule can be found at www.stmarysmd.com/pio/codehome.asp. Citizens may forward questions and comments to:  [email protected].

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