What is the one essential you bring with you when you’re retiring after a 25-year career and you’re attending your last-ever St. Mary’s County commissioners’ meeting?
A box of tissues.
Chief Financial Officer Jeannett Cudmore brought just that with her on Tuesday and used it plenty while being feted by coworkers on her last day of work.
When asked the secret to being a good CFO, Cudmore said, “hair dye,” and then shared a laugh with follicly-challenged Commissioner President Randy Guy (R).
Guy recalled when he and Cudmore met with a former senator, who asked if she was qualified.
“She just said ‘yes’ and then listed everything she does,” Guy recalled.
County Administrator David Weiskopf said Cudmore made everything sound easy, and referenced “The Office” episode in which Oscar Nuñez’s character said a budget was like running a lemonade stand, while Commissioner Scott Ostrow (R) said he had Cudmore on speed dial.
“It’s a bittersweet day because we said goodbye to Jeannett,” Commissioner Eric Colvin (R) said later during the meeting. “She has done a lot of great work for us, and I know we’ll all miss her. I know I will.”
Cudmore was presented with a St. Mary’s County print and a gift bag, but first she had to end her tenure by helping adopt the next budget, which required nine budget work sessions since November.
“You’re almost retired,” Guy said. “Just a little more duty.”
The fiscal 2025 general fund budget totals $330.1 million, which is $11.9 million or 3.7% more than the current budget.
The St. Mary’s County Board of Education will receive 42% of the budget while county departments and elected officials account for 24.7%. The sheriff’s office comprises 20.6% toward the budget.
The commissioners voted on nine items, including a fire tax increase of 5.6 cents for the Leonardtown, Mechanicsville and Ridge volunteer fire departments, fee increases and to increase the income tax rate to 3.2% of net taxable income, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R) voted against seven of the items, including the fee increases and income tax hike.
“We passed the budget this morning and even though it wasn’t unanimous, every single commissioner up here spent time working on this budget and had input in this budget,” Colvin said. “And from here we move on and keep moving forward.”
“The bottom line is it’s always a process,” Hewitt said. “I didn’t vote for this one. It doesn’t mean I don’t support everything in it, there’s just a few things I made known that I don’t support, like taxes.”
With the last vote completed, Cudmore rose from her seat at 12:03 p.m. and received a standing ovation while she went to her husband for a hug. She is moving to Mooresville, N.C., for retirement.
“Thank you Jeannett for all you’ve done,” Guy said. “We really appreciate it.”
Commissioner Administrative Assistant Sharon Ferris is also nearing the end of her tenure.
“She’s been my right-hand person for years now,” Guy said of Ferris, “and lets me know what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong.”
Remembering those who servedDuring his commissioners’ time, Mike Alderson Jr. (R) reminded those what Memorial Day is about and read a quote from former President Barack Obama that stated: “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.”
Alderson said he’d like people to “take a few moments Monday to think about the men and women who took up the flag and did not return from their battles.”
Guy, who served in Vietnam at the age of 19 clearing battlefields of fatalities and prepping them for flights home, added, “For some of us it really hits close to home and I think of all those really young guys who died over there.”
The commissioners also approved and accepted the additional Program Open Space funding for the Nicolet and Chaptico Parks Skate Park projects and approved the Waterway Improvement Fund grant award in the amount of $10,000 for the repairs needed at the Piney Point Lighthouse Park Pier.
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