Carroll County Management and Budget Director Ted Zaleski warned Tuesday that massive cuts to federal agencies and employees could negatively affect basic human services, infrastructure and capital projects in the county in the upcoming fiscal year.

Federal funding for agencies, homeless shelters, bridges and roads could be significantly less than prior years, Zaleski warned county officials.

It’s a concern that weighs heavily on Zaleski’s mind as discussions started this week on the county’s proposed $558.5 million operating budget for fiscal 2026, which starts July 1.

“This can touch us in so many different ways,” Zaleski said. “Not all of them are obvious. Some are very obvious. Funding for the federal bridge program changes. That will impact us in a very direct way. Some things aren’t as easy to see. Like human services programs that run our shelter for us. They get federal housing and homeless funding. If things change for them, I’m not predicting this, but could they be in a position where they say, ‘We can’t run your shelters for you,’ and what are we going to do about that?”

Zaleski said the list of county services impacted is long.

“Dozens,” he said. “And, the other piece of this … we’re seeing some situations where the employees who administer money aren’t there. So, even if the money is available and there’s nobody to get it to us, in the end, that seems to have the same impact. It doesn’t matter if it could have gotten to us if it doesn’t.”

Zaleski warned earlier this month that funding from the state is also uncertain. The Maryland General Assembly is currently working to balance the state’s budget, which comes with a projected $3 billion deficit. The state budget process must be complete when the 90-day legislative session in Annapolis ends next month.

“There’s so much going on in Annapolis, so much uncertainty,” he said. “I think as the clock keeps ticking and they’re looking at ways to get the budget balanced. They’re all kinds of things they can look at that will effect your budget that might end up looking like easy solutions to the state.”

On Thursday, county agencies and departments will begin making funding requests above what is already allocated to them in the recommended budget. Work sessions begin March 27. The final budget adoption is scheduled for May 22.

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