At the start of last night's County Budget Hearing it was announced that the county will NO LONGER consider the Option 3 water and sewer rate proposal that would have required ALL ratepayers in ALL service areas to shoulder in equal parts the financial responsibility of debts incurred by just a few service areas.

This is good news for Ocean Pines Service Area ratepayers as well as ratepayers in other service areas that did not incur debt.

During his budget presentation at the top of last night's meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said that after considerable staff review, Option 3 was not feasible because it was contrary to county code and that bond counsel advised against transferring debt across service areas.

Now discussions can begin to work toward an equitable solution that is fair to ALL ratepayers and taxpayers in the service areas.

The Ocean Pines community as well as the Ocean Pines Board of Directors - Stuart Lakernick, Rick Farr, Elaine Brady, John Latham, Steve Jacobs, Jeff Heavner and Monica Rankowski - and OPA General Manager John Viola were instrumental in raising awareness of this issue. The Commissioners received hundreds and hundreds of letters opposing the plan that had been put forward - Option 3.

Also, there were many Ocean Pines residents who showed support by attending last night's public hearing.

We stood together as a community against a proposal that if implemented would have been unfair. THANK YOU!!

Over the next month, there will be discussion among the Commissioners and staff on how best to move forward in the FY 2026 budget cycle. Stay Tuned.