Mayor: Budget to Decrease Taxes, Increase Salaries

During his state of the city address on Monday, Mayor Michael E. Bennett announced that his new budget will increase employee salaries while also decreasing property taxes.

“While each mayor has chosen his or her own manner in which to do this, I prefer to tie this address into the annual budget adoption process,” Bennett said during Monday's City Council meeting. “After all, it is the budget that sets the priorities for the city over the next 12 to 18 months.”

Bennett proposed a nearly 1 cent decrease in property taxes in the budget year that begins July 1—from nearly 69 cents per $100 of assessed value to 68 cents. The water use rate for FY 2012 has been set at a minimum of $14.50 for the first 3,500 gallons or less and $4.38 per each additional 1,000 gallons. The sanitary sewer use rate is a minimum charge of $17.02 for the first 3,500 gallons or less of metered water and $4.85 per each additional 1,000 gallons. A public hearing will be held on May 9.

Bennett and City Manager Doug Miller worked until Monday afternoon to cut costs enough to lower taxes without sacrificing the issues that the mayor and City Council deem most important.

“Our finances continue to be strong—not as strong as I would like and our reserves are not as abundant as I would like, but we are in good shape generally,” Bennett said. “The past two fiscal years have been difficult, and the budget process has been painful. But, in a spirit of cooperation and teamwork, this council, the staff and I have brought this fiscal ship through some rough waters.”

Complete budget numbers will be released on the city’s website.

Despite financial challenges, the city has introduced the "Aberdeen Home of Opportunity" campaign that will promote the city.

"New banners, billboards and signs will grace the city, much of which has been paid for by our local business partners," Bennett said.

He also acknowledged in his speech the Carsins Run controversy.

“While all on this council wanted to see a continuing care facility for senior citizens built near Ripken Stadium, we were not willing to accept mandatory tax forgiveness for that project,” Bennett said. “In order to protect our other tax paying senior citizens, we had to oppose a bill in Annapolis mandating this tax forgiveness. That bill was withdrawn and the developer has abandoned the continuing care facility project.”

Bennett also announced a reorganization of the Aberdeen Police Department. And he praised the Aberdeen Planning Commission for completing the city’s comprehensive plan, which will be reviewed by City Council before adoption.

“Last, but certainly not least, let me say that I feel blessed to work with such a wonderful council,” Bennett said. “I am proud as to how well we work together and even though we many times agree to disagree, we conduct our professional relationships in the most civil and cordial way.”

In other business:

City Council voted to allow the Public Works Department to transfer $120,000 of the current year's budget from a fund to repair sidewalks to build a new salt shed.

Councilwoman Ruth Elliott cast the lone dissenting vote. She said that for 10 months of the fiscal year, sidewalks should have been fixed with that money.

“We put that in the budget at the beginning of the fiscal year as a priority over a salt shed,” Elliott said. “We were all believing that was a priority—getting the streets and sidewalks done.”