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Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is to enforce consumer protection laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business acts or practices to ensure a fair marketplace for consumers and businesses. Activities include complaint resolution, business registration, law enforcement, education, legislation, advocacy, and outreach to vulnerable consumers.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Office of Consumer Protection is $3,007,804, an increase of $168,255 or 5.93 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $2,839,549. Personnel Costs comprise 96.57 percent of the budget for 19 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 18.00 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 3.43 percent of the FY26 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

  • Effective, Sustainable Government
  • A Growing Economy
  • Thriving Youth and Families

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable). The FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

MeasureActual
FY23
Actual
FY24
Estimated
FY25
Target
FY26
Target
FY27
Number of business registrations received 1759666700780690
Number of complaint cases received1,1691,1191,1001,1701,200
Percent of consumer protection cases closed that are resolved by OCP62.1%59.7%60.0%60.0%60.0%
Average number of calendar days to issue a business license or certificate of registration (excluding new home builder registrations)6.14.95.0
Average number of workdays to investigate and close a written complaint (all complaints)38.137.536.0
Average OCP customer satisfaction rating - Outcome of the customer's case (5-point scale) based on customer satisfaction survey4.54.54.0
1  Actual FY24 amount includes registrations issued for new home builders, new home sellers, motor vehicle repair and towing operators, secondhand personal property dealers, and small electrical repair dealers.
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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • Established the Permit Review and Early Protection (PREP) program to proactively identify unregistered home sellers through permit reviews and provide education to ensure compliance and consumer protection.

  • Enhanced the Office's ability to resolve new home construction disputes, strengthen investigations, and ensure builder compliance.

  • Launched the Consumer Connection podcast to inform residents about scams, consumer rights, and smart purchases through expert discussions.
  • Established a Scams Workgroup to enhance consumer education and awareness of emerging fraud tactics. The initiative will equip residents with the knowledge and resources to recognize, prevent, and respond to scams effectively.
  • Conducted 22 in-person and virtual outreach and educational events in FY25 including related to home improvement, identify theft prevention, scam prevention, and more.

Program Descriptions

  Consumer Protection

The Consumer Protection program is a law enforcement function established in 1971 responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business acts to ensure fairness and integrity in the marketplace for consumers and businesses. The program is responsible for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints, educating consumers and...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Shaun Carew of the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3675 or Eva Acevedo of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2763 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY24
Budget
FY25
Estimate
FY25
Recommended
FY26
%Chg
Bud/Rec
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1957110.002148797.00 2019948.00 2271478.005.7
Employee Benefits501006.00560743.00 532006.00 633111.0012.9
County General Fund Personnel Costs2458116.002709540.00 2551954.00 2904589.007.2
Operating Expenses98247.00130009.00 130009.00 103215.00-20.6
County General Fund Expenditures2556363.002839549.00 2681963.00 3007804.005.9
PERSONNEL
Full-Time19.0019.00 19.00 19.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs18.0018.00 18.00 18.000.0
REVENUES
New Home Builder's License139505.00140000.00 140000.00 140000.000.0
Other Licenses/Permits54309.0051000.00 51000.00 51000.000.0
Other Fines/Forfeitures4000.003000.00 3000.00 3000.000.0
Miscellaneous Revenues50.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
County General Fund Revenues197864.00194000.00 194000.00 194000.000.0
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures2556363.002839549.00 2681963.00 3007804.005.9
Total Full-Time Positions19.0019.00 19.00 19.000.0
Total Part-Time Positions0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Total FTEs18.0018.00 18.00 18.000.0
Total Revenues197864.00194000.00 194000.00 194000.000.0
FY26 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION283954918.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment1348020.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases480100.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment111090.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment26120.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs11280.00
Decrease Cost: Printing and Mail Adjustment-85250.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Consumer Protection]-208810.00
FY26 RECOMMENDED300780418.00
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY25
Total$
FY25
FTES
FY26
Total$
FY26
FTES
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
Fire and Rescue ServiceFire1038351.00991401.00
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY26FY27FY28FY29FY30FY31
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Recommended3008.0000003008.0000003008.0000003008.0000003008.0000003008.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.00000020.00000020.00000020.00000020.00000020.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures3008.0000003028.0000003028.0000003028.0000003028.0000003028.000000