Town Budget

Hampstead Mayor Clint Becker administered the oath of office last night to the three Town Council members elected last Tuesday.Councilwoman Jacqueline Hyatt was elected to another term. Also taking the oath of office were new council members Dwight W. Womer and Wayne Thomas."Guess it's time for us to sit in the audience," said outgoing Councilman Lewis O. Keyser Jr. to Councilman William S. Pearson Sr., who also finished his term last night.The council voted to retain Mr. Pearson as a consultant for the Hampstead water system.

Let's clear the air with regard to who is writing to you. I registered as a Republican while I was in serving in the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1972. I am politically to the right of Rush Limbaugh, admire Sean Hannity and think that the tea party folks are common-sense patriots. With that said, my income has declined by 65 percent since September '06. It is now getting back to where it was in 1994. It may take me a few more years to get back to my 2006 income level. In 1994, I had five children with a stay-at-home wife at home.

Although Sykesville residents will be paying more county property taxes, they can look forward to a reduction in the municipal property tax rate.The Town Council unanimously passed a budget last week that is based on a 79-cent rate per $100 of assessed value. The new tax is four cents lower than last year. The town budget for fiscal 1997, which begins July 1, is $1.1 million."There was a consensus on reducing the tax rate, but the question was how much," said Matthew H. Candland, town manager.

After a brief discussion, Sykesville Town Council appointed last night Russ Vreeland, an accountant who has worked on the town budget and economic development committees, to fill a vacancy on the six-member panel. "Russ Vreeland has volunteered for the town and has been actively involved," said Mayor Jonathan S. Herman. "He understands the issues and as a CPA, he certainly can help with our fiscal responsibilities." Vreeland, a Norris Avenue resident, was named to fill the seat vacated by Councilman William Hall, elected to his third four-year term last year.

Officials have changed the location of tonight's Town Council meeting on Main Street changes to accommodate the large number of residents expected to attend. The session begins at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 7538 Main St. First on the agenda is a discussion with State Highway Administration on Route 851, the town's major thoroughfare. The town is considering making the highway, which is both Main Street and Springfield Avenue, a municipal road. Officials are seeking public comment.

After a brief discussion, Sykesville Town Council appointed last night Russ Vreeland, an accountant who has worked on the town budget and economic development committees, to fill a vacancy on the six-member panel. "Russ Vreeland has volunteered for the town and has been actively involved," said Mayor Jonathan S. Herman. "He understands the issues and as a CPA, he certainly can help with our fiscal responsibilities." Vreeland, a Norris Avenue resident, was named to fill the seat vacated by Councilman William Hall, elected to his third four-year term last year.

Union Bridge Mayor Perry L. Jones Jr. and Town Clerk/Treasurer Kathleen D. Kreimer last night proposed to increase the town's tax rate from 68 cents to 72 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the tax residents were paying two years ago.Mr. Jones said this year that the tax rate likely would increase because of the costs associated with such projects as new municipal office construction and renovations to town utilities."We've got some work to do at the sewer plant and probably got some repairs to do to the water system, so this is the reason for the increase," Mr. Jones said.

Public hearing scheduled on Union Bridge budgetA public hearing to discuss Union Bridge's proposed town budget will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center.The hearing will be followed by the town's monthly council meeting, at which the proposal is expected to be approved.Officials said the town would take in and spend $494,500 next fiscal year, which is an increase of more than 38 percent over the current budget.Costs associated with such projects as municipal office construction and renovations to town utilities made it necessary to propose an increase in the town's tax rate from 68 cents to 72 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to Mayor Perry L. Jones Jr. and Town Clerk/Treasurer Kathleen D. Kreimer.

Manchester residents will have a chance tonight to express their opinions on the town budget, the local real-estate tax rate and water and sewer rates for the coming year in a public hearing after the regular council meeting.The hearing will start at 8 p.m. in the town hall, at 3208 York St.At 7:30 p.m., the council meeting will begin with an executive session. A brief business meeting will follow."We're not going to try to pass water and sewer rates" at the meeting, Town Manager Terry Short said yesterday.

Manchester residents are still waiting to hear how much they will pay for water and sewer service in fiscal 1994, while town officials disagree about how much money must be raised for the town's water and sewer funds.Mayor Earl A. J. "Tim" Warehime Jr. and Town Manager Terry L. Short have said that unless water rates go up, the town will not collect enough money to cover this year's budget.Councilman John A. Riley says some increase may be necessary, but he feels uncomfortable setting new water and sewer rates until he knows how much money is left in the water and sewer funds from last year.

Officials have changed the location of tonight's Town Council meeting on Main Street changes to accommodate the large number of residents expected to attend. The session begins at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 7538 Main St. First on the agenda is a discussion with State Highway Administration on Route 851, the town's major thoroughfare. The town is considering making the highway, which is both Main Street and Springfield Avenue, a municipal road. Officials are seeking public comment.

The Mount Airy Town Council has passed a $2 million budget for fiscal 2001, which maintains the current tax rate. The property tax rate is 56 cents per $100 of assessed value and will yield an additional $37,452, said Robert Wilson of Wilson & Linder in Towson, the town accountant. Projected income balances proposed expenditures at $2,099,900 for the fiscal year 2000-2001, which begins July 1, he said. No one spoke at a public hearing that preceded passage of the spending plan Monday night.

An increase in revenue from county and state sources and from town impact fees has generated a budget surplus of nearly $300,000 for the town of Sykesville.An independent audit of town finances identified the surplus, which is about 25 percent of the town's $1.2 million budget and comes in the same year that Sykesville has reduced its property tax rate by 4 cents per $100 of assessed value.The surplus could mean another tax reduction next year."I know there will be a lot of sentiment to lower taxes again, but we have to see about putting this money to the best possible use," Mayor Jonathan S. Herman said.

Although Sykesville residents will be paying more county property taxes, they can look forward to a reduction in the municipal property tax rate.The Town Council unanimously passed a budget last week that is based on a 79-cent rate per $100 of assessed value. The new tax is four cents lower than last year. The town budget for fiscal 1997, which begins July 1, is $1.1 million."There was a consensus on reducing the tax rate, but the question was how much," said Matthew H. Candland, town manager.

If you run into an elected official in the next few weeks, don't be surprised if he or she is in a foul mood.This is the time of year when county and town officials are preoccupied with money. They will be putting the final touches on government budgets for the next fiscal year.Reconciling a county or town budget is the day of reckoning for politicians because it is when rhetoric runs headlong into reality.This is the time when elected officials who pledged to maintain services, build roads and schools, collect the trash, clean the streets and protect the public find they don't have enough money to deliver on those promises.

Sykesville residents have accepted a tax increase, but they may not tolerate a corresponding decrease in trash pickup.Several attended the Town Council meeting last week to voice opposition to a proposed reduction from twice-weekly pickup to once-a-week collection.Betty Jean Maus has lived in the town for 42 years and has seen her tax bill quadruple."I might agree with less pickups in the winter months, but not in hot weather," she said. "You are talking about odors and bad conditions for the crews."

The impasse on Manchester's town council over the selection of a fifth member is becoming a bad joke that must end. With less than six weeks in which to pass a new budget, the escalating war between the council's two factions may ultimately do irreparable damage to the town.Ever since councilman Robert C. Kolodziejski announced a month ago that he would resign, the council has been deadlocked on picking his successor and just about all other business.After three different votes, the council is no closer to selecting a fifth member.

If you run into an elected official in the next few weeks, don't be surprised if he or she is in a foul mood.This is the time of year when county and town officials are preoccupied with money. They will be putting the final touches on government budgets for the next fiscal year.Reconciling a county or town budget is the day of reckoning for politicians because it is when rhetoric runs headlong into reality.This is the time when elected officials who pledged to maintain services, build roads and schools, collect the trash, clean the streets and protect the public find they don't have enough money to deliver on those promises.

The impasse on Manchester's town council over the selection of a fifth member is becoming a bad joke that must end. With less than six weeks in which to pass a new budget, the escalating war between the council's two factions may ultimately do irreparable damage to the town.Ever since councilman Robert C. Kolodziejski announced a month ago that he would resign, the council has been deadlocked on picking his successor and just about all other business.After three different votes, the council is no closer to selecting a fifth member.

Manchester residents are still waiting to hear how much they will pay for water and sewer service in fiscal 1994, while town officials disagree about how much money must be raised for the town's water and sewer funds.Mayor Earl A. J. "Tim" Warehime Jr. and Town Manager Terry L. Short have said that unless water rates go up, the town will not collect enough money to cover this year's budget.Councilman John A. Riley says some increase may be necessary, but he feels uncomfortable setting new water and sewer rates until he knows how much money is left in the water and sewer funds from last year.