Fitzwater Highlights Schools, Childcare and Housing; Data Centers Go Unmentioned
In her fourth State of the County address, the county executive emphasized first-term initiatives while leaving out an industry featured in last year’s speech.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
Fitzwater emphasized school funding, childcare capacity, affordable housing and business assistance in her fourth State of the County address. She said education funding rose 40% over four years and highlighted $1 million in fiscal 2027 funding for modular childcare facilities. Data centers were absent from this year’s speech; a county spokesperson said Fitzwater has discussed the issue in other forums.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater used her fourth State of the County address Wednesday to highlight education spending, childcare initiatives, affordable housing and support for local businesses.
One major county issue did not appear in the speech: data centers.
The Frederick News-Post reported that Fitzwater discussed the industry’s economic and tax benefits and county regulations in last year’s address but did not mention it this year. County spokesperson Vivian Laxton told the newspaper that Fitzwater has been addressing data centers in other public forums.
Speaking at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company, Fitzwater described the county as strong and credited county employees and community partners for her administration’s progress. She opened by acknowledging first responders handling a fuel spill in downtown Brunswick.
The address came near the end of her first term as she seeks reelection against Republican William “Jeff” Holtzinger.
On education, Fitzwater said funding had increased 40% over four years and that this year’s budget fully funded the Board of Education’s request for the first time in more than 15 years. She also pointed to new school construction as a response to overcrowding.
Fitzwater cited Linganore Creek Elementary School’s construction timeline, saying it went from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting in one year. She said Oakdale Elementary, where she previously taught music, had been operating at 159% of state-rated capacity during the previous school year.
Childcare was another focus. Fitzwater said the fiscal 2027 budget includes $1 million to support modular childcare facilities on county-owned land. She said a training partnership had added 154 childcare slots and highlighted an expanded tax credit for providers.
She also described a new childcare scholarship for families earning between three and six times the federal poverty level.
On housing, Fitzwater cited a study identifying more than 20,000 county households burdened by housing costs. She pointed to a housing initiative fund supporting affordable construction and the planned affordable housing development on county-owned Himes Avenue land.
The address also covered tourism, biotechnology manufacturing and agricultural preservation. Fitzwater highlighted the small business navigator and planning and permitting ombudsman positions created during her first year to help applicants work through county processes.
A video featured the owners of New Market Italian ice business Sunset & Main, who credited county assistance with helping them get started.
Fitzwater announced a first-term report tracking more than 60 transition-team recommendations and said progress had been made on every one. Other portions of the address covered senior and immigrant services, transportation, healthcare, fire safety and support for the Deaf and LGBTQ+ communities.
WHAT IT MEANS
The address presents the administration’s account of its first term and the initiatives Fitzwater wants residents to weigh as she seeks reelection. The spending figures and progress claims were part of her presentation. The omission of data centers describes the scope of this speech and does not, by itself, establish a policy change.
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