Politics & Government
Sykesville Mayor Proposes FY 2013 Budget
Mayor Miller said despite an increase in grants and bonds, the town still has operational budget shortfalls.
Sykesville Mayor Mike Miller says residents should look beyond what the numbers first say about the town in 2013, which is that things appear to be going well.
Total projected revenues are up from 2012, from $2.5 million to $2.8 million, in part because of a nearly 100 percent increase in miscellaneous revenue from a state community parks grant. The grant will fund a new playground and pavilion at South Branch Park, he said in an e-mail Wednesday.
"While I'm excited about the projects we can do with this money, this does not get me excited about the budget in general," Miller said.
Miller first proposed the budget at the Sykesville Town Council meeting Monday. He said he expects other proposals to call for more spending and a tax rate increase.
About $1.8 million of the budget will be spent on funding the city government itself, including administration, police, maintenance, and sanitation.
View the PDF on the right for a look at the proposal.
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Public safety would cost $442,000, down from about $459,000 in 2012, and public works would cost $402,000. The administration and employee benefits would cost about $296,000, and $433,000, respectively.
The budget also accounts operating the Gate House Museum, the Sykesville Schoolhouse, the visitor center, the post office, and various Main Street promotions.
Road costs, including street lights and snow removal, would be about $115,000.
The city itself is projected to have about $180,000 in debt.
Real estate tax revenue is projected to increase slightly, up almost $20,000, from $1.18 million in 2012 to $1.2 million.
"These grants and bonds do enable us to get projects done that the town would normally not be able to afford," Miller said. "But they do not alleviate operational budget shortfalls."
The next Sykesville Town Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Town House on 7547 Main St.
Public hearings on the budget will be held on April 23 and May 14 before a version is forwarded to the Budget Research Committee.