(7/2023) Council Passes FY-24 Budget
At its June meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved the town’s FY-24 operating budget.
Unlike last year, where the Town opted to reduce the town’s property tax rate to keep the revenue for the town in line with the prior year, this year the Town Council opted to retain the current property tax rate of 13 cents/$100 of assessed value. Which given the rise in property values, will result in an increase of $7,819 in property tax revenue for the Town.
Total revenue for the general fund is expected to be $638,450, an increase of $26,730 over last year. Nearly half of the town’s revenue comes from property taxes and income taxes. A quarter of the town’s income is reimbursement payment from the County for services the Town provides that are the County’s responsibility.
Top expenditures in the general fund include: new town hall expenses - $65,000, trash collection - $45,000, land fill fees - $32,000, and insurance - $35,000.
Revenue for the water and sewer system for next year is estimated to be $526,604, an increase of $21,745 over last year. Top expenditures related to the water and sewer systems are: electrical costs - $116,750, debt payments - $81,934, salaries - $75,000, and sludge disposal - $30,000.
"We keep a very tight budget, there is not a lot of revenue or expenditures and not a lot of wiggle room," Burgess Barnes said. The Town is immensely proud of the fact they have not had to raise taxes.
Woodsboro had the second lowest municipal tax rate in Frederick Country, according to Barnes. "And we plan to stay that way," he said.
Town Issues Annual Water Report
On page 19 of this edition, residents will find the annual Woodsboro Town Water Report. During the June 13 Town Council meeting, Burgess Barnes pointed out that for those who read it, they will find six notices of violation. Two listed as relating to the failure to test for nitrates over a four month period and four related to the failure to test for Coliform for a month long period.
Following each notice of violation, Barnes noted, the State has inserted "Because of this failure we cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during this time period."
Barnes said that the notices of violation were not a result of the Town not taking the required sample, which they do every day, but a failure of the contractor that the Town uses to sample the water to send the results of the sample to the State in a timely manner.
"The contractor," Barnes said, "sent the samples in late, and even though they got to the State, and the State acknowledges they got them, the State refused to remove the notices of violation in the water report."
"Let me be very clear," Barnes said, "the required sampling was done, and the results were all within specs. Our water plant staff samples the water every day. Our water is safe to drink."
Barnes said the Town had ceased using the contractor and hired a new contractor to handle sending samples to the State. "They’ve been great to work with, and the problem has been resolved."
New Town Hall Update
Barnes told the Council that he had been notified by the Town Hall Contractor that they had forwarded over all the required permits to the County and the County has begun their official review of the proposed design.
Barnes was unsure how long it would take for the permit review, but he told the Council that during the Town’s Memorial day celebration, he had a conversation with County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and reminded her that the Town was sitting on a bond issued by the old Hogan administration that would expire in 2025, and that anything she could do to speed the work of the County would be appreciated.
"We’ve got a lot of work in front of us, but in the end I’m confident we’ll end up with a town hall that everyone will be proud of," Barnes said.
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