Politics & Government

Bel Air Commissioners Approve Tentative 2014 Budget

The Bel Air Town Meeting is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Bel Air officials are expected to start discussions on the fiscal year 2014 budget during tonight's town meeting.

The proposed tentative budget totals about $15.1 million with tax rates of $0.50 per $100 of assessible real property and $1.16 per $100 of assessible personal property. You can find a copy of tentative budget here.

You can find live updates from the meeting below:

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

8:44 p.m.: The meeting is adjourned.

8:41 p.m.: Hopkins said there were about 20 families displaced by a fire at Hickory Hills Condominiums with no loss of loss aside from a single pet. He thanked Chief Matrangola for the actions of Bel Air officers in evacuation the building that day and helping to save lives. The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, Hopkins said.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

8:37 p.m.: Laurie Christeson 608 Linwood Avenue in Bel Air thanked Chief  Leo Matrangola, Commissioners Reier and Burdette for hosting St. Margaret’s students. “It’s a wonderful town and I love it and you do great things,” she said.

8:36 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:36 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier moves to adopt the tentative FY 2014 budget.

8:36 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:34 p.m.: Robert Reier asks if a resident has an issue with a lost bill, the town can refer them to a website where they can print the bill themselves, or town staff can pull it and email or mail it to them. Town staff will still be the contact for the community.

8:33 p.m. The estimated cost is about $2,000 for the real estate bills. The money saved in resources and staff time is expected to cover the cost of the contract.

8:30 p.m.: Moody said this fee is per mailed envelope which may include multiple bills per envelope. The cost includes return envelopes, printing, mailing, address verification, postage and any additional messaging the town may require. This will also allow the town to work with another vender to provide paperless billing.

8:29 p.m.: Commissioner David Carey moves to approve a 3-year contract for services of $0.64 per mailed envelope with Northern Data Systems for printing, folding and stuffing real estate and sewer bills.

8:28 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:26 p.m.: Staff recommends approval of the agreement with PNC.

8:24 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette moves to approve tax exempt financing with PNC Bank of $251,700 for a Maryland Environmental Services Contract and $300,000 for an Inflow and Infiltration prevention contract.

8:24 p.m.: The motion carries in unanimous vote.

8:23 p.m.: “This park is really coming along step by step,” Hopkins said. “I think this is going to be a go-to park for downtown.

8:22 p.m.: West Recreation did not provide the low bid, but the other bid did not meet the requirements set by the town. Town staff recommends approval of the contract.

8:21 p.m.: Director of planning Kevin Small explained this contract is part of a series of planned updates to the park. The funding is from a Community Parks and Playground grant.

8:21 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier moves to approve a contract for new playground equipment and installation at Plumtree Park.

8:20 p.m.: The motion carries with Commissioner David Carey abstaining.

8:20 p.m.: Director of Economic Development Trish Heidenreich explains the town was awarded a $50,000 community legacy grant. The town is reviewing applications from local businesses on a first come first-served basis. The loan amount is for a new steam boiler that both runs the cleaning and heats the building. The applicant is providing some of the funds and the loan would fund the rest.

8:17 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Preston moves to approve a loan agreement of $20,000 with AKB Inc. for Kroh’s Cleaners.

8:16 p.m.: De facto mayor Edward Hopkins calls for public comments. There are none. There are no additional comments from commissioners.

8:15 p.m.: The town is proposing to use $100,000 from the town’s unassigned fund as a match to town revitalization.

8:14 p.m.: Interest and fines revenues are expected to decrease in FY 2014.

8:13 p.m.: Harford County Tax Rebates are expected to show a decrease of about $30,000.

8:13 p.m.: License revenues are expected to increase about $10,000 in FY 2014.

8:11 p.m.: Police protection grant, income taxes and highway user revenues are slated to increase in due to state shared revenues.

8:10 p.m.: Town Finance Director Lisa Moody begins outlining expected revenues for FY 2014.

8:10 p.m.: The total general fund is about 11,741,000 down a about $100,000 from FY 2013.

8:09 p.m.: Parks and recreation, independence day, boys and girls club, Christmas Parade, Appearance and beautification, are all at the same projected cost for FY 2014 as FY 2013.

8:07 p.m.: A new capital project to replace brick and landscaping on Office Street is expected to cost $121,000. Another new project is Western Ally, which is slated to be updated at an estimated cost of $20,000.

8:03 p.m.: Public works expenses are up slightly from FY 2013.

8:02 p.m.: The police department expenses show a $68,000 decrease in large part due to retirement of several tenured officers. The town also plans to purchase four new rifles.

8:00 p.m.: A $10,000 contribution to the town’s historical commission project is among the increases in miscellaneous spending in the general fund.

8:00 p.m.: General insurance costs are expected to increase about $17,000 for FY 2014.

7:58 p.m.: There is no cost of living increase at this point in the budget and benefits and pension contributions are expected to remain much the same.

7:56 p.m.: The computer network system budget is expected to see a drop in expenses from $151,200 to $124,520 in capital and equipment upgrades.

7:56 pm.: There is a $100,000 increase in marketing in economic development for the coming fiscal year.

7:55 p.m.: The finance, legal services department, and planning and zoning do not show much in the way of change.

7:54 p.m.: The election is expected to cost the town about $3,514. There was no election in FY 2013.

7:53 p.m.: The human resources department includes a salary increase taking tht line item from $271,766 to $227,046. Additional expenses show a decrease from $74,000 to $52,806.

7:51 p.m.: The town buildings expenses show salaries decreasing from about $45,000 to $29,000 due to a retirement, capital improvements decreasing from $117,770 to $68,500.

7:50 p.m.: The administrator budget will remain essentially the same with an increase of $1,440 in community event costs.

7:49 p.m.: The Bel Air Reckord Armory salaries will remain the same at $41,719. The total expenses for the armory will increase from $108,986 to $111,204.  This figure includes maintenance and utilities.

7:47 p.m.: General Fund expenditures include debt service, benefits, committees, public works and public safety.

7:46 p.m.: The tax rates in the town will remain the same for FY 2014 and have not changed since the early 2000’s.

7:44 p.m.: The budget is made up of four funds: The general fund (11,741,269), the sewer fund (2,278,573), the parking fund and special revenue fund. The total FY 2014 budget is $15,075,295. The 2014 budget is about $122,000 less than the 2013 Fiscal Year budget, according to town administrator Chris Schlehr.

7:44 p.m.: The public hearing on the Town Administrator’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget begins.

7:38 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette makes a proclamation in recognition of Arbor Day.

7:33 p.m.: Donald Hess is called to the podium for recognition of his 18 years of service on the Harford County Liquor Control Board.

7:30 p.m.: Michael Green of St. Margaret School is called to the podium for recognition of his achievement as a student.

7:29 p.m.: The meeting has been called to order and the agenda approved.


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