The Berlin Bulletin
The Town's Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Budget process is well underway. We had our first Budget Work Session Monday night and the Mayor recommended increasing real estate property taxes from 68 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 88 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Real estate property taxes go into the Town's General Fund and are used to pay for a wide variety of activities including police, fire, emergency medical services (EMS), economic and community development, planning, parks, curbside garbage and recycling pick up, and capital projects, such as the Police Department building.
Town departments funded by the General Fund presented their budgets to the Mayor and Council on Monday night. For the FY 20 Budget which starts on July 1st, staff has reduced their expenses by approximately 18%. Some of these were one-time items, such as the purchase of a garbage truck, and others were recurring costs, such as the distribution service we use to promote Town events.
The next Budget Work Session is scheduled for Monday, April 15th at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 10 William St. The focus of that night's work will be on the Town's utility budgets - electric, water, wastewater (sewer) and stormwater. The Mayor and Council will discuss raising the water and wastewater rates for the coming fiscal year, which starts on July 1st.
For residents and property owners in the area of Graham Avenue, Grice Street and Nelson Street - we are holding a meeting on April 11th at 6 pm at the Berlin Activities Depot to discuss a stormwater project on Town property located between Graham Avenue and Old Ocean City Boulevard. This project is expected to reduce flooding in your neighborhood. The Town received a grant to complete this project in partnership with Maryland Coastal Bays. More details about the meeting are listed below.
We hope to see you there.
Thank you for your interest in the
Berlin Bulletin
,
Laura Allen
Town Administrator
