[RP TownTalk] Did You Know About the Town Budget?

[Ken Laureys]

The Town will have a budget review session at 7:30 pm tonight (Tuesday
5/31) prior to the work session.  This is another opportunity for the
public to ask questions and voice concerns about the FY17 budget prior to
its adoption (before July 1st when the fiscal year starts).  I’d like to
share some of my concerns that you may not have known about:
Did You Know About the Town Budget?

There’s been a 58% rise in the cost of General Government (Administration)
over the past five years:

FY12 $  693, 847

FY13 $  800,957

FY14 $  811,551

FY15 $  936,810

FY16 $1,092,741

FY17 $1,063,001

Much of this increase is due to increased Town Hall staffing, which
currently has 6 FTE positions.

47 Total town staff by department

 6 General Govt

31 Police

 9 Public Works

 1 Misc (Farmers Market Manager)


   -

   $68,000 is budgeted for legal counsel in FY17 vs. $50,000 budgeted in
   FY16.  But the actual spending projected for FY16 is $110,640, more than
   double what was budgeted.
   -

   In FY16, only $20,000 was spent of the $204,700 budgeted for economic
   development grants. The FY17 Budget reduces the amount further to $30,200.
   These funds target public-private projects that enhance the town’s economy.
   Jonathan Ebbler has posted concerns about the continuation of several of
   these projects he had in the pipeline.
   -

   New for FY17:  $6,500 for a Mayor & Council retreat, which is in
   addition to $13,500 for the annual Maryland Municipal League convention in
   Ocean City.
   -

   $26,000 more for the new Town Manager as compared to the current Town
   Administrator - this is at least twice the ‘modest’ 10% increase promoters
   had claimed. The executive search firm to be contracted will cost another
   $20,000.
   -

   $30,000 for the town’s continued accounting contract, despite the change
   to a Town Manager who is supposed take over more financial responsibilities
   (and paid more accordingly).
   -

   $638,536, which had been in the FY16 Capital improvement Plan (CIP) to
   build a new Youth and Community wing (essentially a 2nd floor onto Town
   Hall), has been zeroed out now that this was found to be structurally
   unfeasible.  This project has been shelved pending future review.
   -

   The FY17 CIP includes facility funding to install bullet proof windows
   in Town Hall between visitors and town staff.


Ken Laureys
301-661-6682
Laureys.Ken at Gmail.com
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