(3/21) The Burgess and Town Council met in March to review the Town’s General Fund expenditures, just as they did in February to review the Fund’s revenue sources. No official numbers were presented at the workshop because it was intended to be informational only for the newest Commissioners to begin understanding how the Town determines its annual budget. The General Fund is where day-to-day Town operating expenses such as office salaries, insurance and vehicle maintenance are found.
One expenditure the Town has is the dues for the Maryland Municipal League (MML). The League was founded in 1936 to represent all of Maryland’s 157 cities and towns to ensure elected officials can provide the highest level of service to their residents. MML is a voluntary, non-profit and nonpartisan association whose dues are based on the Town’s population. The Burgess and Commissioners can attend a yearly conference as well as available online trainings. They also attend quarterly County meetings where ideas can be bounced off of other municipalities regarding ordinances, plans and other small-town concerns.
The Town also provides donations to various community groups and organization via the General Fund, which are recorded as expenditures. These donations support various programs in Town including the Community Show, an annual donation to the Town’s Fire and Ambulance companies, the high school’s "Safe and Sound Committee", the library, a food program, and the Historical Society.
The yearly street sweeping service is an example of an service that is contracted out and listed as an expenditure. Commissioner Russ Winch asked if purchasing a street sweeper would be more cost effective than paying a contracted company to provide the service. "The Town has looked into the cost of a street sweeper and determined that it really is not worth it," replied Williams. He explained that the Town traditionally only uses a sweeper once a year, in the fall, when the most leaves are on the ground.
The Town’s mowing services are also contracted out. According to Williams, this year is the final year in a five-year contract with the current mowing company so next year the Town will need to look for new bids. He also said the recent purchase of the property by the bowling alley will cause the mowing cost to increase because the new property will need to be occasionally mowed.
Last year the Town approved a plan to include in the General Fund a line item for sidewalk renovations. Town Manager Sean Williams explained that the initial sidewalk monies were in the Capital Improvements Budget, however, the previous Council preferred a recurring fee instead of a one-time budget item. "If the goal is to continue annually to work on sidewalks and roadways it should be in our annual budget as a line item and not in the Capital Improvement budget," said Williams.
Trash and recycling collection in Town is considered a General Fund expenditure, however, Williams pointed out that the Town is traditionally reimbursed for the recycling fees.
Other expenditures include advertising for changes to ordinances and other important Town notices, subsidized senior citizen meals, Veterans Committee funding, which includes an annual bus trip and care packages, and the salaries of the two park rangers that open and close the Town's parks.
The General Fund expenditures also include the salaries for the Burgess & Commissioners, seven Public Works staff members and half of the Public Works Director's salary. The other half of the director’s salary comes from the Water Fund. Additionally, Public Works employees receive some funding toward necessary equipment such as safety boots, protective gear and reflective articles.
Next month, the Town will discuss the Water Fund’s expenditures and revenue sources. Actual budget numbers will come into play soon as well.
