ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — Longtime St. Mary’s County resident and former county commissioner Tom Jarboe recently sat down with Chris Hill for an extended conversation on “Get Real with Southern Maryland Politics,” discussing his background, the challenges facing the county, and why he is running for St. Mary’s County commissioner president.
Jarboe began the interview by emphasizing his deep roots in the community, noting that his family has lived in St. Mary’s County since 1646.
“If you’re not interested in a local, I’m not your guy, because I am definitely local,” he said. His career has spanned business, public service, and volunteer work. Jarboe holds a master’s degree in international trade and has owned four businesses in the county, including J4 Aviation, employing hundreds of local residents over the years. He also served in the Coast Guard, volunteered with local fire and rescue companies, and worked as a waterman in his youth, experiences he says gave him a strong understanding of the county’s diverse economy and culture.
Jarboe previously served as a St. Mary’s County District 1 commissioner, stating the experience provided lasting lessons about governing. One of the most important, he said, was recognizing the difference between running a private business and managing taxpayer money.
“When you’re running a business, you can take risks because it’s your money,” Jarboe explained. “But when you’re dealing with taxpayer funding, you have to be much more cautious.” He asserts the responsibility requires commissioners to carefully balance competing funding requests from agencies such as schools, public safety departments, and county services.
Jarboe noted that many residents underestimate the role the state plays in county finances. Taxes paid by residents are first collected by the state before portions are returned to counties, creating delays and limitations on how local governments manage their budgets. Because of those constraints, county leaders must be realistic about spending priorities.
“There’s always an endless desire for funding,” he said, referencing both the school system and law enforcement agencies. “Everyone believes they could do more with more money. But there’s a limited amount of funding coming in, and you have to decide how to allocate it.”
During the conversation, Jarboe addressed the often difficult decisions commissioners face when determining how to distribute those funds. While some critics focus on percentage increases or decreases in departmental budgets, Jarboe said those figures can sometimes be misleading. Smaller agencies may show large percentage increases while still receiving far less overall funding than larger departments. The key, he said, is evaluating the entire system and maintaining balance.
He also spoke about the broader continuum of public safety funding, explaining that law enforcement involves far more than just policing.
“There’s deterrence, arrest, incarceration, and rehabilitation,” Jarboe said. “If you fully fund the front end, but you ignore the back end, the system doesn’t work.” According to Jarboe, successful budgeting requires recognizing how each part of the system connects and ensuring resources are distributed effectively.
Looking toward the future, Jarboe said the county will soon face several major infrastructure challenges that cannot be delayed any longer. One of the largest is a long-discussed new headquarters for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, which has operated from temporary facilities for years. While previous estimates placed the project around $26 million, with an additional auxiliary building costing about $9 million, Jarboe questioned whether those numbers remain realistic as they were developed nearly a decade ago.
“Those cost estimates go back to around 2017,” he said. “Construction prices have changed dramatically since then.” He believes the county should reevaluate its cost calculations to avoid surprising taxpayers and setting officials up for criticism when bids ultimately come in higher.
Jarboe also highlighted an area he believes is often overlooked in discussions about the county’s future: aviation and technological innovation at St. Mary’s County Regional Airport. With his aviation business located in the airport’s terminal building, Jarboe said the facility is increasingly attracting cutting-edge research and development, including electric aircraft and autonomous aviation systems. He described efforts to bring an electric aircraft charging station to the airport through a private partnership that would not require taxpayer funding. According to Jarboe, electric aircraft are already being used in some parts of the country to transport organs for transplant between medical facilities.
The airport’s proximity to Naval Air Station Patuxent River also provides a unique advantage. The base is home to many flight test engineers and aviation specialists, many of whom live in the local community and are involved in emerging aerospace technologies. Jarboe believes that connection positions the airport as an ideal testing ground for future innovations such as electric aircraft and air taxis.
“You wouldn’t test this at a major airport like BWI,” he said. “A place like St. Mary’s Airport is perfect because of the open space and the aviation expertise already here.”
Throughout the interview, Jarboe emphasized that his approach to leadership would focus on balancing fiscal responsibility with forward-thinking investment. From infrastructure and public safety to aviation technology, he believes the county must plan carefully for the future while protecting the qualities that make St. Mary’s County unique.
“You have to keep things balanced,” Jarboe said. “We need to protect our rural character, support our community, and still be ready for the opportunities that are coming.”
Watch the full interview below:
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