EDITORIAL: St. Mary’s County Commissioners Hewitt, Ostrow, and the Taxpayer Betrayal

St. Mary’s County Commissioners
Hewitt, Ostrow, and the Taxpayer Betrayal

BY JOHN E. O’CONNOR
Executive Editor
THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY

St. Mary’s County residents are fed up. As the proposed tax hike looms, outrage grows over years of reckless spending and unchecked leadership. At the center of it all are Hewitt, the dealmaker who talks tough but cuts backroom deals, and Ostrow, the rubber stamp who has never met a spending proposal he disapproved of.

Hewitt loves to position himself as a champion of the taxpayers, railing against weak leadership and fiscal irresponsibility. In April 2024, during a public hearing on the proposed FY2025 budget, Hewitt called it “the largest tax increase in the county’s history,” pointing to a 5.5% increase set for July 1, 2024. However, his actions tell a different story. While bloviating about the tax hike, Hewitt didn’t cut a single massive project to ease the burden on taxpayers. Instead, he and the Commissioners approved another $15 million for a YMCA project, a controversial expenditure many see as unnecessary during financial strain.

Meeting minutes from August 27, 2024, further highlight Hewitt’s complicity. During this session, he and Commissioner Ostrow approved spending for the Adult Recovery Court Program, the Family Recovery Court Program, and infrastructure projects like Phase 3B of FDR Boulevard. While these initiatives have their merits, critics argue that the cumulative effect of such expenditures is unsustainable.

Meanwhile, Ostrow has played the role of enabler, approving every bloated project without question. Whether it’s funding for oversized projects or questionable administrative expenses, Ostrow’s track record shows a consistent willingness to rubber-stamp spending without regard for the long-term financial impact on residents.

The proposed tax hike isn’t just about balancing the books—it’s about leadership failure. Taxpayers see the FY2025 budget as the latest chapter in a pattern of overspending and poor prioritization with its proposed fire tax rate increases and funding adjustments across departments. Residents have voiced their concerns through letters to local media, criticizing the tax hike and the financial strain it represents.

The tax hike symbolizes the growing divide between the county’s leadership and its residents. While politicians like Hewitt and Ostrow rubber-stamp spending and point fingers, the taxpayers wonder who is genuinely looking out for them. The cracks in the county’s leadership have never been more apparent, and the burden is becoming harder to bear.