'Most Challenging Budget of My Administration': HdG Mayor Presents Budget Proposal

Times are tough due to a slowdown in development, according to Havre de Grace Mayor Wayne Dougherty, who said that his most recent budget proposal is a reflection of that.

"Fiscal 2015 represents, by far, the most challenging budget of my administration," Dougherty wrote in his introduction to the budget. He has been mayor since 2007.

"Continued lagging commercial and residential development has created an economic environment where I am forced to defer many needed capital replacements, cut operational spending where practical and raise service fees for enterprise activities," Dougherty wrote.

Here are some highlights:

• Spending is proposed to be $15.4 million, a decrease of $835,000.
• A hiring freeze will be in effect for fiscal year 2015.
• A 20 percent increase in water and sewer rate is proposed.
• Top three expenditures: $5.1 million is allocated for public safety, $3.4 million is for public works, $1.4 million is for the administration and $1.7 million is for capital equipment.