Ocean City Seeks Larger County Grant Share

Worcester County leaders question if funds should go to less affluent areas instead.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Ocean City officials are urging Worcester County to reinstate a funding formula that would increase the resort town's share of unrestricted grants. However, county leaders are questioning whether the money should instead go to less affluent areas, as Ocean City already has the lowest tax rate in the county.

Why it matters

The dispute over grant funding highlights the ongoing tension between Ocean City, a major tourist destination, and the surrounding Worcester County. As the county's largest municipality, Ocean City's demands for a larger share of grants could come at the expense of smaller, less wealthy communities in the region.

The details

Ocean City officials argued this week that the county should reinstate a previous funding formula that would boost the resort town's share of unrestricted grants. However, county leaders pushed back, questioning whether the money should instead go to less affluent areas, as Ocean City already has the lowest tax rate in the county.

  • The dispute took place this week during a county meeting.

The players

Ocean City

A major tourist destination and the largest municipality in Worcester County, Maryland.

Worcester County

The county in which Ocean City is located, and the entity that controls the distribution of unrestricted grants.

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What’s next

The county leaders are expected to further discuss the grant funding formula at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

The dispute over grant funding highlights the ongoing tensions between Ocean City, a major tourist destination, and the surrounding Worcester County, as the county considers whether to direct more resources to less affluent areas.