FY 2013 Budget Adopted at Greenbelt City Council Meeting

During the June 4 meeting of the Greenbelt County Council, the fiscal year 2013 budget was adopted by a vote of 6-0, with Rodney Roberts, Leta Mach, Konrad Herling, Mayor Judith "J" Davis,  Mayor Pro Tem-Emmett Jordan and Silke Pope voting in favor of it. Edward Putens was away on business and was not in attendance at the meeting.

The council also took action on three proposals - Heritage Area Wayfinding Signage, Signage at the Greenway Shopping Center CVS and Proposed Breezewood Drive Improvements Associated with New Greenbelt Middle School.

 

FY2013 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

Budget and Revenue Projection

• The adopted FY2013 expenditure budget is $24,961,600.

• The budget projects FY2013 revenues of $25,492,700.

Savings

• Debt Refinancing: The city refinanced its debt in 2012, reducing its debt payment by $460,000.

• Retirement and Pension: The city expects to save money on its retirement and pension payment. For FY2013, the Maryland State Retirement Agency has indicated the city’s premium will be approximately $1.5 million, about $400,000 lower than budgeted in FY2012.

• Staffing Transitions: As a result of retirements in the police department and other departments, some salary budgets are lower than prior years.  According to city manager Mike McLaughlin, the position of assistant director for community development, was eliminated at a savings of $108,000. The position has been vacant for a number of months and the department director felt it was not necessary to fill it.

New Sources of Revenue and Revenue Increases

• Speed Cameras: Placing speed cameras in school zones is expected to generate $400,000 in revenue to the city.

• Pass Fees at Aquatic Center: The new budget proposes to increase pass fees at the by 3 percent. There was no increase last year. McLaughlin projected the increase would generate $8,000 in revenue.
• An increase of $50,000 in the amount of funding the city expects to receive from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for recreation programs.

New Expenditure

• Employee Pay Adjustments: The budget includes a $200,000 set aside for pay adjustment increases for all employees.

• Fire Departments: A $5,000 contribution was budgeted for the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department; $88,000 for the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department and $5,000 to the Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department.
• Vocational and Educational Counselor: $12,000 was budgeted to expand this position to be able to provide GED and ESOL tutoring.
• Special flooring: $1,000 was budgeted for dance performances at the Greenbelt Arts Center.

 

Capital Projects Fund, 2001 Bond Fund & Building Capital Reserve Fund

• Capital Projects Fund: Projects totaling $1,219,600 are proposed for FY2013, some of this funding is coming from outside sources including federal, state and local. McLaughlin explained that $474,400 will come from the city through a transfer from the general fund and from the city's fund balance, including interest earned on the fund balance. In FY2012 the budget was adopted to include projects totaling $1,898,000, with $482,800 coming from the city, McLaughlin explained.

• 2001 Bond Fund: The FY2013 budget includes $800,000 for Phase I of the renovation, which involves work on the bathrooms and some systems. The systems to be renovated will not be determined until city staff has the chance to brief city council on the plans and options, McLaughlin stated. McLaughlin also explained that no bond funds were included in the FY2012 budget approved by the city.

• Building Capital Reserve Fund: This fund is used to set money aside to cover large ticket expenses to city facilities and to build reserves for future costs. The FY2013 budget proposes a $150,000 contribution. Proposed work to be done includes: replacing the gym floor at the Youth Center, an initial phase of HVAC improvements at the Community Center, and $10,000 for energy efficiency improvements. In FY2012, the budget included a $100,000 contribution to the fund.

Proposals

For the Heritage Area Wayfinding Signage, the council voted to approve the signage which would direct travelers to the Greenbelt Community Center.

CVS’s proposed LED signage at the Greenway Shopping Center garnered much discussion, with the council ultimately deciding to take a “no position” stand, and include comments with concerns regarding the sign being a distraction to drivers, the lack of bicycle parking and poor sidewalk access at the store and the hope that the sign could be used to help spread awareness of community issues and events.

After requesting further consideration of two specific aspects of the Breezewood Drive Improvements Associated with the new Greenbelt Middle School (the bicycle racks and type of concrete used underneath the rack) the council voted to approve.

Further details on the three proposals are available on the City of Greenbelt’s website.

 

Editor's Note: The story has been corrected. In the original piece the expenditure and budget figures were transposed.