(May 12, 2016) Berlin unveiled its $19.4 million fiscal year 2017 budget Monday night during a mayor and council meeting at Town Hall.
While the numbers were largely set, there were a few last-minute additions to the spending package, which is 13 percent more than the previous budget.
Even so, there were no increases to the property tax rate, and Berlin residents will not see increases in town fees for water, wastewater or stormwater.
Mayor Gee Williams, who read from a prepared statement on Monday, said a prior-year surplus pushed the general fund up 38 percent, to $8.3 million.
The big-ticket item in this year’s budget is the new $2.2 million Berlin Police headquarters. The town will pay for the station using its reserves and plans to replenish that fund over a 10-12 year period using casino revenue.
Many departments showed overall decreases in spending, including a one percent ($5.5 million) drop in the electric fund and five percent drops in water ($1 million) and wastewater ($2.5 million). The $2.2 million allocated for stormwater was just one percent higher than previous year spending.
Williams said town employees would see a three percent salary increase and would not see health insurance rates rise for the fifth consecutive year.
The mayor and council will also get pay hikes, which Williams said was the first “recommended increase” proposed during the last 25 years. He noted that two council members, Elroy Brittingham and Dean Burrell, have been on the council for two decades or more, and said the new levels were determined after comparing the salaries of elected officials in Berlin to those in other towns on the Eastern Shore that have similar populations and budgets sizes.
The mayoral salary will increase from $5,000 to $15,000, and councilmember salaries will jump from $2,000 to $7,500 per year with one caveat: none of the increases will take effect until the “respective offices have been up for election.”
“As had been the course over the past several years, I believe the overall goal of the fiscal 17 proposed town budget enables the Town of Berlin to maintain a financially stable and sturdy level of continued incremental improvements in municipal services, while allowing the town to continue to invest in infrastructure and property to provide permanent benefits to the community for several decades into the future,” William said in a statement.
He thanked the department heads for their work in preparing the budget, which included three public work sessions that date back to April 18.
Asked if there were any final recommendations, Councilmember Thom Gulyas suggested the town increase the police portion of the budget by $20,000 in order to purchase a pair of Chevy Tahoes. The budget had included $66,000 for two Ford Interceptors, replacing older cars in the police fleet.
Gulyas said the Tahoe was a “heck of a lot safer” vehicle, adding, “We want to make sure our officers are safe.” After a brief debate the council, and Police Chief Arnold Downing, agreed.
He also asked the council to include a three percent charge for credit card payments made to the town, which he said would offset the increase in police spending. By consensus, the council approved both additions to the budget.
A public hearing to officially pass the fiscal year 2017 plan will be held on Monday, June 13 during a mayor and council meeting at town hall, at 7 p.m.
While the numbers were largely set, there were a few last-minute additions to the spending package, which is 13 percent more than the previous budget.
Even so, there were no increases to the property tax rate, and Berlin residents will not see increases in town fees for water, wastewater or stormwater.
Mayor Gee Williams, who read from a prepared statement on Monday, said a prior-year surplus pushed the general fund up 38 percent, to $8.3 million.
The big-ticket item in this year’s budget is the new $2.2 million Berlin Police headquarters. The town will pay for the station using its reserves and plans to replenish that fund over a 10-12 year period using casino revenue.
Many departments showed overall decreases in spending, including a one percent ($5.5 million) drop in the electric fund and five percent drops in water ($1 million) and wastewater ($2.5 million). The $2.2 million allocated for stormwater was just one percent higher than previous year spending.
Williams said town employees would see a three percent salary increase and would not see health insurance rates rise for the fifth consecutive year.
The mayor and council will also get pay hikes, which Williams said was the first “recommended increase” proposed during the last 25 years. He noted that two council members, Elroy Brittingham and Dean Burrell, have been on the council for two decades or more, and said the new levels were determined after comparing the salaries of elected officials in Berlin to those in other towns on the Eastern Shore that have similar populations and budgets sizes.
The mayoral salary will increase from $5,000 to $15,000, and councilmember salaries will jump from $2,000 to $7,500 per year with one caveat: none of the increases will take effect until the “respective offices have been up for election.”
“As had been the course over the past several years, I believe the overall goal of the fiscal 17 proposed town budget enables the Town of Berlin to maintain a financially stable and sturdy level of continued incremental improvements in municipal services, while allowing the town to continue to invest in infrastructure and property to provide permanent benefits to the community for several decades into the future,” William said in a statement.
He thanked the department heads for their work in preparing the budget, which included three public work sessions that date back to April 18.
Asked if there were any final recommendations, Councilmember Thom Gulyas suggested the town increase the police portion of the budget by $20,000 in order to purchase a pair of Chevy Tahoes. The budget had included $66,000 for two Ford Interceptors, replacing older cars in the police fleet.
Gulyas said the Tahoe was a “heck of a lot safer” vehicle, adding, “We want to make sure our officers are safe.” After a brief debate the council, and Police Chief Arnold Downing, agreed.
He also asked the council to include a three percent charge for credit card payments made to the town, which he said would offset the increase in police spending. By consensus, the council approved both additions to the budget.
A public hearing to officially pass the fiscal year 2017 plan will be held on Monday, June 13 during a mayor and council meeting at town hall, at 7 p.m.