(6/1) The Town Council voted to adopt the municipal FY-2022 budget and tax rate at their May 25 meeting.

The general fund budget was approved in the amount of $4,480,309. The budget across-all-funds including utilities (water, sewer, electric) is $13,308,970, and includes the replacement of two vehicles, replacement of water lines, upgrading the wastewater treatment plant, and evaluation of the town’s information systems "as we adjust to living and working virtually," Mayor Kinnaird said.

Property tax will remain at .2992 per $100 of assessed value, and thus represents the third year that the tax rate has been held to that amount. However, property owners will be paying a higher property tax to the town, not as the result of the town raising the property tax rate, but rather, due to property value re-assessments that have taken place.

Chief Financial Officer Linda Joyce told the News-Journal, "While this is not an increase in the actual tax rate from last year, property owners will recognize a slight increase in their property tax bills as a result of the increases in assessments."

For example, she said, a property now assessed at $100,000 would see an increase of $4 in their next bill; a property now assessed at $350,000 would see an increase of $14 in their next bill.

Mayor Kinnaird said that the FY-2022 budget reflects the commissioners’ long-term objectives and aspirations for the Town of Thurmont, regarding finances and providing services.

The mayor stated, "It is difficult to describe the community impact of the past year. The effect of COVID-19 had been felt personally by every resident and every employee within our organization (and) we were faced with several budget factors that were beyond our control," adding, "One year ago we prioritized our FY-21 budget to focus on protecting health and safety."

He noted that, in preparing the FY-22 budget, the commissioners endeavored to address issues relating to "a post-pandemic Thurmont," including continuing to seek COVID-19-related funding aid "to Thurmont to assist the town through the economic disruption of the pandemic."

The mayor said that putting the budget together was "highly challenging" because it was assimilated "in the midst of a pandemic."