Actionable Solutions for a Stronger Washington County
Sustainable Housing Solutions
Prioritize diverse housing solutions to create a sustainable landscape throughout Washington County. Advocate for state and federal legislation that supports housing solutions.
✓ Mixed Use Development- Encourage projects blending residential, commercial, and recreational spaces with tax incentives for diverse housing
✓ Housing Trust Fund- Establish a fund to support developing and preserving varied housing solutions
✓ Land Use Policies- Revise policies for higher density housing near public transportation routes and promote accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
✓ Public-Private Partnerships- Collaborate with developers and non-profits to leverage investment in housing projects.
✓ Community Land Trusts- Support local groups in forming CLTs for long-term housing solutions
Economic Opportunity & Growth
Driving sustainable economic development to attract new businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy by ending the low-wage warehouse cycle and prioritizing quality, high-skill industries.
✓ Implement the $30 Hour Standard for Tax Breaks provided by the Job Creation Tax Credit (JCRP)- Only grant the highest tier of tax relief to businesses meeting this minimum living wage benchmark.
✓ Mandate Developer-Funded Traffic Solutions- A condition for approving new or expanded warehousing, developer must pay an upfront Traffic Mitigation Fee. Funds will be earmarked for local road, intersection, and infrastructure upgrades impacted by their development.
✓ Institute Performance Based Tax Claw-backs - All tax credits will be performance based. If a company fails to meet its promised local hiring and wage goals within the first three years, the County will have the authority to revoke and recoup the tax credit and lost revenue.
✓ Prioritize Local Hiring & Workforce Training- Any company seeking a tax incentive must enter a formal, annual partnership agreement with the Washington County American Job Center, Western Maryland Consortium, and/or Hagerstown Community College to ensure that local residents have the first opportunity and training necessary for the new, high-wage jobs we attract.
✓ Incentivize Advanced Manufacturing and R&D - Create targeted tax credits for developers who convert existing, large-scale warehouse properties into uses that offer higher-wage jobs, such as industrial flex space, R&D labs, or specialize manufacturing.
✓ Infrastructure Assessment for All of Washington County - Audit of all major county roads, bridges, water, and sewer systems. This will guide development decisions ensuring that new growth does not exceed current infrastructure capacity and avoid costly liabilities for taxpayers.
✓Economic Strategic Plan - Forward-looking plan to creatively evaluate past development decisions, identify new revenue streams, and ensure our budget priorities strategically utilize tax payer money to meet critical community needs.
Advancing Health, Mental Wellness, & Recovery
Work with municipalities to create an integrated approach by focusing on evidence-based practices, strategic funding, and efficient service coordination.
✓ Strategic Investment in Behavioral Health- Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, Prioritize Telehealth Infrastructure
✓ Integrated Crisis & Recovery Response- Expand use of Behavior Health Professionals working with Emergency Services
✓ Strong Local Action on Opioid Solutions- Support State Opioid Initiatives through Local Action, Develop a Housing First Strategy for Recovery
✓ Preventative Care for Youth & Families- School-Based Mental Wellness Coordination, Invest in Upstream Prevention Programs, Launch a Stigma-Reduction Campaign
✓ Closing Gaps in Rural & Underserved Care- Comprehensive System Gap Analysis
Safe & Vibrant Neighborhoods
Comprehensive strategy that prioritizes community policing, youth engagement, and the reliability of core county services- including Fire, EMS, and Water Infrastructure.
✓ Fully Fund Community Policing, Fire, & EMS Services- Strategic Budget Allocation, Volunteer Support & Recruitment through Matching Grant Program, Improve Communications Infrastructure, Water Quality & Resilience Infrastructure Investment, Water Availability Planning, Storm Water and Flood Control, Utility Coordination throughout county.
✓ Strengthening Ties Across Washington County- Community Policing, Create a Neighborhood Connection Fund to offer small grants for community building events and clean-up efforts, County-Wide Community Resource Hub
✓ Investing in Youth Mentorship & Jobs- Support local non-profits to expand after-school mentorship and job-readiness training programs for at-risk youth, Create a Youth Advisory Board & County Commissioner Internship Program
✓ Inter-Jurisdictional Preparedness Grants- Establish a County-Municipal Preparedness Grant to fund joint training exercises between agencies.
Public Transportation
Improving public transportation and infrastructure to remove transportation as a barrier for all of Washington County.
✓ Modernizing Washington County Transit (WCT) - Invest in new facilities & technology to replace outdated infrastructure and improve service efficiency, Provide Signs for all Bus Stops
✓ Expand Service to Underserved Areas- bring reliable bus routes to our rural communities to connect residents with jobs and essential services, Explore options to provide free public transportation
✓ Extend Hours & Accessibility- Implement longer services hours; especially on evenings & Sundays, Ensure infrastructure meets highest standard of accessibility for every resident
✓ Innovative, Cost-Effective Solutions - Explore smart, new transportation models to solve community needs efficiently including easily accessible routes and trip planning through app or website
Commitment to Education
Forging a new era of collaboration and respect with Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) while ensuring strategic, targeted investments reach the students and staff who need them most.
✓ Move Beyond the Minimum- Exceed the state mandated Maintenance of Effort (MOE) level with a strategic, dedicate percentage to address critical, unmet needs
✓ Targeted Student Support Fund - Create a County School Enhancement Fund (CSEF) explicitly earmarked to address the most pressing issues (ie: specialized training, behavioral supports, multilingual learners services, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion), subject to a joint oversight agreement between Commissioners & the Board of Education
✓ Restore Behavioral & Mental Health Supports - Support the hiring of school counselors, social workers, and substances abuse specialists to implement trauma-informed care training across schools
✓ Accountability & Outcomes- Any additional funding provided to WCPS will be contingent upon addressing identified goals, Annual public report through joint State of the County Schools Forum
✓ Transparent Collaboration - Work with County Administrator to establish transparent reporting on the education budget to make more informed decisions about resource allocation, Establish a formal Education Liaison Committee to communicate, problem-solve, and budget plan before each budget cycle begins