Dorchester Question B — Charter Amendment: County Budget Preparation and Adoption Dates

What it does

Currently, the County Charter requires the County Council to prepare a proposed Budget for the ensuing fiscal year no later than May 1 and to adopt the Annual Budget no later than May 31, each year. A vote in favor of the question changes the proposed Budget deadline to May 15 each year and changes the Annual Budget adoption deadline to June 15, each year, to better align with revenue estimates. A vote against the question keeps the current deadlines in the County Charter for Budget preparation and Annual Budget adoption by the County Council.

A YES vote means

Dorchester's proposed budget deadline would move from May 1 to May 15, and the budget adoption deadline from May 31 to June 15.

A NO vote means

The deadlines would stay May 1 for the proposed budget and May 31 for adoption.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Dorchester County Council proposed this charter amendment by Resolution 689, according to the amendment text posted by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The amendment would move the deadline for the Council's proposed budget from May 1 to May 15, and the deadline to adopt the annual budget from May 31 to June 15. The ballot summary says the change would better align the budget with revenue estimates.

Put on the ballot by Dorchester County Council (Resolution 689).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Dorchester County ballots

• Dorchester Question A — Charter Amendment: Administrative Structure Review
• Dorchester Question C — Charter Amendment: County Manager Responsibilities
• Dorchester Question D — Charter Amendment: Governmental Transparency and Public Access

All Dorchester County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Dorchester Question B mean?

Dorchester's proposed budget deadline would move from May 1 to May 15, and the budget adoption deadline from May 31 to June 15.

What does a NO vote on Dorchester Question B mean?

The deadlines would stay May 1 for the proposed budget and May 31 for adoption.

How many votes does Dorchester Question B need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Dorchester Question B?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.