Showing posts with label Westminster Finance Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Westminster Finance Budget. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Eight years ago Laura Russell stole the spotlight at the Westminster mayor and Common Council meeting on Sept. 28, 2009


Eight years ago Laura Russell stole the spotlight at the Westminster mayor and Common Council meeting on Sept. 28, 2009

Oct. 9, 2017 – Sept. 28, 2009

Our friend Laura Russell, stole the spotlight at the Westminster mayor and Common Council meeting on Sept. 28, 2009. In an article I wrote for the Baltimore Sun that was published October 5, 2009, I reported, “Budget woes dominate Westminster mayor and council meeting. Westminster City Hall - The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last Monday began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening.

The meeting began with a presentation by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Westminster as club vice president Lyndi McNulty unveiled plans for raising money to purchase an electric three-wheeled “T-3 Personal Mobility Vehicle” for the Westminster Police Department.” …

Alas, sadly, the link to the story no longer works. But it is just as well as Laura Russell and Lyndi McNulty stole the show anyway… Just saying….
 
Photo caption: Westminster City Hall Sept. 28,2009 - The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last on Sept. 28 began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening. By Kevin Dayhoff Posted on 10/05/09 Left to right: councilmember Dr. Robert Wack, councilmember Tony Chiavacci, council president Damian Halstad, councilmember Greg Pecoraro, councilmember Suzanne Albert.  (Photo by Kevin Dayhoff)

Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting

Westminster Common Council report By Kevin Dayhoff Posted 10/05/09

The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last on Sept. 28 began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening.

Mayor Kevin Utz conducted a public hearing on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan for Westminster.  Planning director Tom Beyard explained that the comprehensive plan was the culmination of two years of work and that it was due to be adopted by October 1, 2009 in order to conform with Maryland State law.

The development of the plan, which began in earnest in October 2007, was broken into three phases, Beyard said. The first phase was a citizen survey, followed by additional public outreach, followed by the drafting phase.

Beyard said the municipal growth footprint and the planned water and sewer service area had not changed since its boundaries were agreed upon with the county government two years ago. The plan did incorporate for the first time a water resource and municipal growth element.  Both are new mandates from the Maryland General Assembly.

The city was “probably one of the first (municipalities in the state) to submit the water resources element… many municipalities had asked for an extension,” said Beyard.

Council president Damian Halstad remarked, “… that the state found it to be an incredibly thorough plan… very detailed…”

Later the council voted to adopt the plan.

Under reports from the mayor and council members, there was much discussion about the success of the recent Fallfest community festival the previous weekend.

Utz and Councilmember Tony Chiavacci also noted how well the recent Westminster Police Department sobriety checkpoint exercise was planned and executed.

Police Chief Jeff Spaulding noted that although the checkpoint only resulted in taking one driver off the road for being allegedly driving while impaired by alcohol, “the whole point (of the checkpoint) is prevention…  The message will get out… (It’s) a public awareness tool.”

The mood of the council turned noticeably serious as the council president brought up “Budget Amendment No. 1” for adoption.

Utz explained “this reduction in the budget came as a direct result of the governor’s reduction in highway user revenues…”  Other council members noted that the state Board of Public Works recently voted to not send $818,000 in revenue due the city from taxes collected by the state designated for the city’s coffers – in order to balance the state budget.

A press release describing the budget amendment explained that the state reduced the Highway User Revenues from $747,580 to $74,758 and Police Aid from a budgeted $400,000 to $254,826.

Council finance committee chair Dr. Robert Wack described the state cut as “unexpected and unfortunate,” as he went on to further explain that “we will (probably) have to do this again.  We need citizen input as to what we can do without,” said Wack.

This is a “one time reduction,” said Wack of the budget amendment.  “This does not do anything about our structural budget deficit. There will be more reductions. The hole is just getting deeper.  (Increased) taxes are also on the table,” explained a clearly concerned Wack.

Wack and Councilman Greg Pecoraro gave an analysis of the steps the city has taken to address the city’s budget woes and what may lie in the future.  He also emphasized the need for public feedback.

“What is it the citizens want the city to do in the way of services?” asked Pecoraro as it was explained that in order to balance the budget in the future, a reduction in services offered by the city may need to be discussed.

Pecoraro lamented that if the city continues to provide all the services it currently maintains, the future budget challenges mean that “we are going to be able to do none of them well.”

City administrator Marge Wolf said that she expects the state to withhold an additional $329,000 from the city in January.

Among the cuts approved by the Common Council were cancellations of the paving contract, technology purchases and a police vehicle which totaled $267,950 in capital expenditures; diversion of the $100,000 contingency reserve to operating accounts.

Also, the city converted $215,000 of Union Street property proceeds to operating accounts; reduced departmental operating budgets by $155,086; revised the take home vehicle policy to institute a partial employee payback of costs by $15,768; and captured $65,000 in savings from reduced tipping fees.

Moving on to brighter topics, city parks and recreation director Ron Schroers talked about Fallfest in the final stages of the meeting.  He also described a series of state grants the city had already received to make some infrastructure improvements.

Public Works director Jeff Glass gave a brief presentation on ongoing efforts to work the Maryland Department of the Environment on future mandated upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The city’s roadway overlay and improvements program was also discussed.  As a result of the state cuts, the city had to withdrawal plans to re-surface certain streets in the city.

Wolf tried to put a bright face on a bleak picture at that by remarking that “this is not the best of times, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have good projects underway.”

As if on cue, Lori Graham, representing the business community, gave a report on the “Midnight Madness,” downtown business celebration held in conjunction with Fallfest.  She also gave an update on plans for the upcoming community ‘electric’ Christmas parade.

Also at the meeting, there was a presentation by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Westminster as club vice president Lyndi McNulty unveiled plans for raising money to purchase an electric three-wheeled “T-3 Personal Mobility Vehicle” for the Westminster Police Department.

This was followed by Historical Society of Carroll County presenting to the city with a copy of a new publication authored by Historical Society curator Cathy Baty entitled “Images in America: Westminster.”

The meeting ended on a positive note as Graham and others reminisced about “Fantastic Friday,” a new feature at Fallfest in which special needs children were treated to an afternoon of carnival rides.

“The community has its share of problems but we still come together to do good things,” said Graham.


More pictures and information: http://tinyurl.com/y95zket




http://twitpic.com/kkupu Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting http://tinyurl.com/ycvrd2q

http://twitpic.com/kkupu Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting http://tinyurl.com/ydgusz6


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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Monday, January 23, 2017

April 1994 Capital Improvement Program City of Westminster Carroll County MD



April 1994 Capital Improvement Program City of Westminster Carroll County MD
Introduction

In October 1991, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Westminster adopted an ordinance adding a new Chapter 20, entitled "Fiscal Matters" to the Westminster City Code. The ordinance provides that the fiscal year of the City shall commence July 1 of each year and end on June 30 in the following year. As part of the City's annual budget process, the Mayor in coordination with the Directors of the City's various Departments shall prepare a six-year program for capital improvements, which is to be approved by the Common Council on or about the date of budget approval. Following adoption of the Capital Improvements Program, no capital improvement project may be added to the program, unless a public hearing is held and, thereafter, a revised program is adopted by resolution of the Mayor and Common Council.

Statement of Objectives

The Capital Improvements Program is an important way of putting the City's comprehensive plan into action. It is the City's objective to coordinate the Capital Improvements Program with the City's comprehensive plan and development regulations such as zoning and subdivision ordinances. The type, scale, timing, and location of new development will affect the public costs of providing facilities and services. The Capital Improvements Program can save the City money by coordinating capital projects and through advance acquisition of land for future facilities. Public facilities also play an important role in determining when, where, and how much private sector development will occur.

The Capital Improvements Program can be thought of as the public sector's development plan, which will show

1) What capital projects and facilities will be built, repaired, replaced, or purchased;

2) Where these projects are located; and 3) when the projects are scheduled to take place.

Currently there is a growing awareness of the value of budgeting for public facilities. This is especially true since the end of federal revenue sharing in 1987 and the recent reductions in funding from the State of Maryland. The decline in intergovernmental transfers has placed greater fiscal pressure on the City of Westminster to fund capital improvements with local revenue. To the greatest extent possible, the City has tried to minimize debt financing in favor of pay-as-you-go funding of capital projects. If Westminster must borrow funds for capital improvements, bond-rating agencies have urged the City to adopt a Capital Improvements Program, which may lower finance charges paid by the City.

Capital Improvements Program Schedule

By January 15th of each year, the Mayor shall furnish the Planning and Zoning Commission a copy of the proposed six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and capital budget for its review and recommendation to the Common Council. After affording the public, an opportunity to express views on the proposed CIP, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall submit its recommendations to the Common Council on or before March 1st of each year.

On or before May 1st of each year, the Mayor and Common Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed capital budget and six-year CIP. The Common Council may increase or decrease any appropriation item in the capital budget. The capital budget, as amended, shall be approved and funds appropriated not later than May 30th of the year in which it is submitted. Prior to June 1st of each year, the Common Council shall make tax levies deemed necessary to finance the capital budget.

General Information

Historical Capital Outlays

Capital outlay appropriations for the last six years are shown in Table 1. The historical data indicate a fairly consistent spending pattern with the exception of the $4.1 million appropriation from the City's sewer fund in FY90-91. A notable increase is also evident in the appropriations for General Government, which increased from $9,000 in FY89-90 to $863,000 in FY91-92, and then nearly doubled again in FY92-93 to $1,693,000. This increase in FY92-93 is attributed towards municipal building renovations, particularly the renovations for the building to be used by the Westminster Police Department. Historical capital expenditures will be used as a guideline in determining the reasonableness of projected capital funding levels.
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

City of Westminster MD explains the need for a 19-cent tax increase

City of Westminster MD explains the need for a 19-cent tax increase  http://tinyurl.com/27w6zvw


Recently when I asked for additional information on the 19-cent tax increase that is being proposed for the FY 2011 municipal budget, I was provided the following information:

CITY OF WESTMINSTER

56 West Main Street Westminster, MD 21157Phone 410-848-9000 Fax 410-857-7476

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marge Wolf

April 13, 2010 Phone:410-848-9000

UPDATE ON FY 2011 BUDGET

Westminster Mayor and Common Council discuss FY2011 Budget

Westminster, MD - Mayor Kevin R. Utz presented a $12.6M balanced budget to the City of Westminster Common Council along with a proposal to add a levy to the property tax to enable the City to complete the numerous capital improvement projects that cannot be completed within the current revenue structure.

"Using the new automated financial system to analyze data over a ten year period, it was possible to identify a number of important trends in the City's finances that were previously not clear. These trends did not present an optimistic picture, in fact they show that the City's has struggled to keep current expenses paid by current revenues since 2001 and has relied on one-time only and special purpose funds to sustain the balanced budget. The current dismal national economic situation has only exacerbated this disparity between revenues and expenditures," stated Gary Ehlers, Acting Director of Finance.

Mayor Utz outlined the measures the City of Westminster has taken over the past three years to scale down the size of government including staff reductions, hiring freezes, elimination of merit increases for staff, modified employee benefit packages, delayed the purchase of cars, trucks and other equipment.

"In fact, staff prepared a balanced budget keeping all of these measures in place and only three Capital Projects already underway were included. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identified $3.5M in projects for 2011 alone that were not included in the balanced budget theypresented," commented Mayor Utz.

The FY2011 CIP projects not included were $210,500 of technology projects, $194,000 in replacement Police cars, $340,000 in public works vehicles, $156,000 in public works equipment, $1,568,244 in street work, $855,000 in storm drain repair and replacement and $175,000 in repairs to City owned buildings.

The proposed FY2011 budget is over $1M smaller than the FY2010 budget; the State of Maryland cut funding for police protection and highway user revenue in September, 2009.

FY2010 FY2011

General Government 2,048,239 2,040,686

Public Safety 5,871,685 5,855,686

Public Works 4,371,170 3,586,415

Community Support 152,124 100,743

Recreation and Parks 1,392,905 1,050,352

Total Operating Expense Budget 13,836,123 12,644,883

"The longer we delay in repairing our infrastructure, the more it costs. Delayed maintenance on storm drains can lead to major disasters like the Green Street sinkhole. This costs far more to repair that repairing the storm drain before it collapses. Some of our streets are in bad shape—if you have driven on Uniontown Road or Bond Street, you don't need me to point this out to you. Our parks, ball fields and trails are utilized from dawn to dusk and need constant maintenance to keep them in playing condition," continued Mayor Utz. "I realize that these are tough times for all of our residents—they are also tough times for governments having to maintain services as tax revenues are flat or decreasing and aid from other levels of government becomes more and more scarce. This levy is a small price to pay to insure that our streets are safe to drive on, our parks are preserved in playing condition, our storm drains prevent flooding, and our employees have the equipment they need to enforce the law, remove snow and cut grass."

To fund these capital improvement projects would require an additional tax levy of 19 cents dedicated to these capital projects. For the owner of a property with a taxable assessment of $250,000, this means an increase of$475/year or $39/mo.

# # #

The City of Westminster Administration Department is located at 56 West Main Street. The department is responsible for overseeing the Planning, Zoning and Development, Finance, and Housing Departments. For more information, call 410-848-9000 or visit www.westminstermd.gov.


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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Budget problems continue for Maryland’s local governments




And it is only going to worse…

December 1, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff

I did this piece of art in September 1994. The more things change the more they stay the same. At some point, the entire manner in which local government in Maryland is funded needs to be changed so that all our tax revenue does not get lost in a black hole in Annapolis and gets re-directed to the government that is closest to the citizens. Woman with the Ones above Carroll County
http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2009/12/woman-with-ones-above-carroll-county.html)

Read: See Charles Schelle’s article on the press conference today when the employee layoffs were announced: 18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle Move to save estimated $3 million http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3672/layoffs/

See also: Carroll County Commissioners to hold news conference on budget http://tinyurl.com/yhcoklt - and - Carroll Co Budget, Carroll Co employees, MD State Budget

18 county government employees to lose jobs:

This is so sad. And at this time of the year; not that any time of the year is a good time to lose employees – or your job...

My heart and prayers go out to the employees who have lost their job – and to the folks who were forced to make theses difficult decisions.

I happen to agree with the Carroll County government press release today, Carroll Co MD Commissioners eliminate positions http://tinyurl.com/y9zyanu http://tinyurl.com/y9zyanu: “Carroll County already has one of the leanest staffs in Maryland. A survey by the Maryland Association of Counties ranks Carroll as the second-lowest number of employees per capita.”

The problem is certainly not with over-staffing on the part of Carroll County government.

The problem is the systematic irresponsible spending in Annapolis and now the state is balancing its books on the backs of local government.

Neither the current administration or the Maryland General Assembly has the stomach for raising taxes – especially after the fiasco from the Maryland Special Taxing Session from November 2007, which only made matters worse…

So instead of doing the correct thing and cutting-out systemic wasteful spending, they want to force local government to raise taxes.

Add this to the incredible amount of money that Maryland has lost to surrounding states in retail sales as a result of raising the retail sales tax. Remember there is barely any location in Maryland that is not within 40 miles of the state line…

And add to this the large number of high income Marylanders who have simply left the state as a result of the prohibitive tax increase that was levied against them…

The result is a net loss of a great deal of state revenue that is above and beyond the turndown in the economy – especially since, until the recent taxing initiatives had such a disastrous result, most economist and political pundits considered Maryland recession proof.

This is a mess. And it is not a mess that will be solved anytime soon because nothing will hold the Maryland General Assembly accountable and the ruling party in Maryland is so arrogant they are completely inaccessible to any contrarian argument or debate, discussion or dialogue…

~~~~~

20091201 sdosmked Budget probs continue for MD local govt
[19940914 0758b Woman w Ones above CC]


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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

Move to save estimated $3 million Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3672/layoffs/ 12/01/09

WESTMINSTER MARYLAND — Moments before Carroll County Government readied to light its holiday tree tonight, officials announced that 18 county workers will lose their jobs as part of eliminating 62 positions.

County Commissioner Julia Gouge and Steven Powell, chief-of-staff for Carroll County Government made the announcement at a 5 p.m. news conference at the County Office Building, wrapping up in time to celebrate the holidays at a 6 p.m. ceremony.

"It has been the single most difficult day of my career in Carroll County, and I'm glad it's over," Powell said as his voice cracked and quivered. "I know that it has only just begun for 18 people."

Read Mr. Schelle’s entire article here: 18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

20091201 18 county govt emps to lose jobs by Schelle
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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Monday, October 26, 2009

Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting agenda

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

Mayor and Common Council Meeting of October 26, 2009

1. CALL TO ORDER

Recognition of Barbara Rodbell for service on Parks & Recreation Board
Appointment of Kevin Wagman to Historic District Commission
Re-appointment of Kristin McMasters to Historic District Commission
Community Media Center Presentation – Nancy Hernandez

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING September 24, 2009

3. CONSENT CALENDAR

Approval of Acting City Clerk
Update the City Code
September 2009 Departmental Operating Reports

4. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR

5. BIDS:

Bids for water meter replacement installation project – Jeff Glass

6. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS:

Resolution 09-9 – Revised Debt Management Policy to meet the requirements of the State of Maryland Chapter 693 of the Laws of 2009, to be filed with the State Treasurer – Gary Ehlers

7. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

a. None as of October 23, 2009

9. NEW BUSINESS

Presentation of the Tri-Street Six Month Status Report
Appointment of “Arts and Culture Task Force”

10. DEPARTMENT REPORTS

11. CITIZEN COMMENTS

12. ADJOURN

20091026 sdsom Westminster MCC Mtg agenda
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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Westminster Common Council Report: Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting


Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting
Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/kkupu
Westminster Common Council Report: http://explorecarroll.com/news/3493/budgetwoe/

By Kevin Dayhoff Posted 10/05/09

The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last on Sept. 28 began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening. By Kevin Dayhoff Posted on http://www.explorecarroll.com/ 10/05/09

Read the entire article here: http://explorecarroll.com/news/3493/budgetwoe/

More pictures and information: http://tinyurl.com/y95zket

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/Westminster%20Council%20Mtgs

Photo caption for [20090928 COWMCCMtg 2mccb]: Westminster City Hall Sept. 28,2009 - The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last on Sept. 28 began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening. By Kevin Dayhoff Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 10/05/09 VLeft to right: councilmember Dr. Robert Wack, councilmember Tony Chiavacci, council president Damian Halstad, councilmember Greg Pecoraro, councilmember Suzanne Albert. (Photo by Kevin Dayhoff)
Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/westminster-common-council-report.html http://tinyurl.com/ydgusz6

http://twitpic.com/kkupu Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting http://tinyurl.com/ycvrd2q

http://twitpic.com/kkupu Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting http://tinyurl.com/ydgusz6

Historical Society of Carroll Co, MD State Budget, People Chiavacci Tony, People Graham-Lori, Westminster Council Mtgs, Westminster Council Pres Halstad Damian, Westminster Finance Budget

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Monday, October 5, 2009

Budget woes dominate Westminster mayor and council meeting

To the left, please find an image of my news brief on the meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council on Monday, September 28, 2009. The news brief appeared in the Carroll Eagle on Sunday, October 4, 2009 on page 3.

Oct. 4, 2009 p3 Carroll Eagle Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/kcern Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/budget-woes-dominate-westminster-mayor.html http://tinyurl.com/ydumjah

http://twitpic.com/kcern Westminster Eagle News Brief: Budget woes dominate Westminster mayor and council meeting http://tinyurl.com/ydumjah

Below, please find the news brief as it was filed. The “long version” of my article on the meeting has not, as yet, been posted on
www.explorecarroll.com. Hopefully it will be posted on Monday, October 5, 2009… If not, I’ll post it here on the blog…

Westminster Eagle News Brief: Budget woes dominate Westminster mayor and council meeting

Westminster Eagle – http://www.explorecarroll.com/

September 28, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

Westminster City Hall - The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last Monday began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening.

Mayor Kevin Utz conducted a public hearing on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan for Westminster. Later in the meeting the council voted to adopt the plan after more discussion of how proud the council and staff were to have received such good feedback from the state on how well the plan was developed and written.

Council president Damian Halstad brought up “Budget Amendment No. 1” for adoption. Utz explained “this reduction in the budget came as a direct result of the governor’s reduction in highway user revenues…”

Other council member joined-in as it was explained that the state Board of Public Works recently voted to not send $818,000 in revenue due the city from taxes collected by the state designated for the city’s coffers – in order to balance the state budget.

A press release describing the budget amendment explained, “The State of Maryland reduced the Highway User Revenues from $747,580 to $74,758 and Police Aid from a budgeted $400,000 to $254,826.”

City administrator Marge Wolf said that she expects the state to withhold an additional $329,000 from the city in January.

According to the press release: “Among the cuts approved by the Common Council were cancellations of the paving contract, technology purchases and a police vehicle which totaled $267,950 in capital expenditures; diversion of the $100,000 contingency reserve to operating accounts…

“… conversion of $215,000 of Union Street property proceeds to operating accounts; reduction of departmental operating budgets by $155,086; revision of the take home vehicle policy to institute a partial employee payback of costs by $15,768; and captured $65,000 in savings from reduced tipping fees.”

Wolf tried to put a bright face on a bleak picture at that by remarking that “this is not the best of times, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have good projects underway.”

As if on cue, Lori Graham, representing the business community, gave a report on the “Midnight Madness,” downtown business celebration held in conjunction with Fallfest. She also gave an update on plans for the upcoming community ‘electric’ Christmas parade.

“The community has its share of problems but we still come together to do good things,” said Graham.

Want to learn more about the recent meeting of the Westminster mayor and council meeting? For a longer version of this story go to http://www.explorecarroll.com/.

- 30 –

Dayhoff Media Westminster Eagle, MD State Budget, People Graham-Lori, Westminster Council Meeting Notes, Westminster Council Mtgs, Westminster Finance Budget, Westminster Mayor 2009 Utz Kevin
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Thursday, October 1, 2009

City Of Westminster Budget Amendment September 28, 2009

CITY OF WESTMINSTER
5 6 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157

Phone 410-848-9000
Fax 410-857-7476

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marge Wolf

September 28, 2009 Phone: 410-848-9000

CITY OF WESTMINSTER BUDGET AMENDMENT

Westminster, MD - "We have no choice but to reduce our current FY2010 budget," Mayor Kevin R. Utz explained as he presented an amendment to the City of Westminster budget that cut over $800,000 in projected state revenues.

"The State of Maryland reduced the Highway User Revenues from $747,580 to $74,758 and Police Aid from a budgeted $400,000 to $254,826."

Among the cuts approved by the Common Council were cancellations of the paving contract, technology purchases and a police vehicle which totaled $267,950 in capital expenditures; diversion of the $100,000 contingency reserve to operating accounts; conversion of $215,000 of Union Street property proceeds to operating accounts; reduction of departmental operating budgets by $155,086; revision of the take home vehicle policy to institute a partial employee payback of costs by $15,768; and captured $65,000 in savings from reduced tipping fees.

"These amendments, totaling $818,804 will balance our budget through June 30, 2010, unless there are additional cuts passed by the State," continued Mayor Utz, "The real crisis will come when we lose the remaining $329,676 in these state revenues which may come as early as January and certainly by July 1, 2010."

Dr. Robert Wack, Chairman of the Finance Committee, recapped the number of adjustments made by the Common Council to balance the budget over the past several years.

"These actions have included: Elimination of five positions, increase of employee contributions to health care benefits, revision of the Retiree Health Care Benefit program, elimination of merit increases for all staff, implementation of a health reimbursement agreement health care plan in lieu of the former preferred provider plan and rebate of the $3.5M bond secured to undertake a major pavement milling and overlay program. With the current hiring freeze and the actions outlined by the Mayor, we have managed to avoid painful furloughs, staff layoffs or elimination of services as well as property tax increases. It may not be possible to avoid those discussions if future revenue reductions are imposed by the State or occur because of the current economic recession. We need to be developing contingency plans to respond to those changes as they occur.”

# # #

The City of Westminster Administration Department is located at 56 West Main Street. This department oversees all of the departments in the General Government and is the central location for the City. For more information, call 410-848-9000 or visit wmv.westminstermd.gov.

20090928 cow bud amend 1

Here you can read about the City of Westminster in previous articles that have been published.

http://www.westgov.com/news/news_main.html

Nonprofits benefit from FallFest, Carroll County Times
FallFest to set aside time for children with special needs, Carroll County Times
September 20, 2009 Proclaimed National Neighborhood Day, Press Release
Westminster passes public decency acts, Carroll County Times
Maryland budget reductions mean 6% cuts to Westminster, Carroll County Times
Westminster City discusses budget cuts, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program a success, Carroll County Times
Water project earns stimulus grant money, Carroll County Times
Westminster buildings to undergo energy audits, Carroll County Times
City linking to crime website, Carroll County Times
Electronics recycling program set to launch, Carroll County Times
Red-light cameras awaiting final OK, Carroll County Times
Recreation and Parks News, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program, Press Release
Westminster Comprehensive Plan maps out water future, Carroll County Times
Westminster housing variety highlighted, Carroll County Times
Westminster OKs Streetscape bid, Carroll County Times
Plan takes look at future of Westminster water woes, Advocate
Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant, Westminster Eagle
Shop with a Cop, Carroll County Times
Building to undergo reconstruction, Advocate
Westminster Clock Tower restoration, Carroll County Times
Westminster: City likes what it sees in Carroll County's Comprehensive Plan, Carroll County Times
City promoting water conservation through grants, Advocate
Upgrade could be done by winter, Carroll County Times
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts

Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts – September 18, 2009

CITY OF WESTMINSTER
56 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21158
Phone 410-848-9000
Fax 410-857-7476

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 18, 2009
http://www.westgov.com/news/documents/CityofWestminsterpressrelease--BudgetCuts.pdf

Contact: Marge Wolf
Phone: 410-848-9000

WESTMINSTER CITY DISCUSSES BUDGET CUTS

Westminster, MD -“These are challenging financial times for municipal governments,” stated city of Westminster mayor, Kevin Utz. “We are two months into the 2009 fiscal year and are now faced with a reduction of over $800,000 in our state revenue projections. A bad financial picture just got worse.”

The State Board of Public Works approved a package of budget cuts last week that included a 90% reduction in Highway User Revenues to local jurisdictions. The City had budgeted $747,850 and will instead be receiving $74,785. In addition, they reduced the State Aid to Police funding from $392,040 to $254,826, a reduction of 35%.

“In a General Fund with $13Million in total revenues, this is a 6% cut. With a cut of this magnitude we are looking at a variety of options to bring our budget into balance,” continued Mayor Utz, “including eliminating services or programs, cancelling capital projects and equipment purchases, examining the take home vehicle program, freezing employee salaries and benefits—everything is on the table for discussion.

A hiring freeze has already been implemented and we do not expect to fill any vacant positions. No new projects or programs beyond those already funded will be implemented.

Unfortunately, we expect that further cuts will be needed after the revenues are projected again in December and FY2011 looks to be even bleaker. I will be working with state, county, and municipal government partners, as well as the Maryland Municipal League to seek solutions to this problem.”

For the past two fiscal years, the financial picture has been deteriorating for local governments, with reductions in revenues from the housing sector, transportation, and property tax assessments to substantial increases in utility costs, gasoline costs, and health care. Unfortunately, at the municipal level, government provides basic quality of life services—and when these services are reduced, citizens suffer.

To cope with the reduced revenues and increased costs, the City of Westminster instituted staff lay-offs, postponed the street repaving project and increased the employee share of health benefits in FY2009. Merit increases and cost of living adjustments were eliminated and a new health care plan and provider were implemented in the FY2010 budget. City of Westminster

Page 2

We will continue to provide information on possible reductions as the Mayor and Council discuss the options and develop a plan to balance the budget. Updates will also be provided on the website
www.westminstermd.gov.

###

The City of Westminster Administration Department is located at 56 West Main Street. This department oversees all of the departments in the General Government and is the central location for the City. For more information, call 410-848-9000 or visit www.westminstermd.gov.

20090918 Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts

Here you can read about the City of Westminster in previous articles that have been published.

http://www.westgov.com/news/news_main.html

Nonprofits benefit from FallFest, Carroll County Times
FallFest to set aside time for children with special needs, Carroll County Times
September 20, 2009 Proclaimed National Neighborhood Day, Press Release
Westminster passes public decency acts, Carroll County Times
Maryland budget reductions mean 6% cuts to Westminster, Carroll County Times
Westminster City discusses budget cuts, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program a success, Carroll County Times
Water project earns stimulus grant money, Carroll County Times
Westminster buildings to undergo energy audits, Carroll County Times
City linking to crime website, Carroll County Times
Electronics recycling program set to launch, Carroll County Times
Red-light cameras awaiting final OK, Carroll County Times
Recreation and Parks News, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program, Press Release
Westminster Comprehensive Plan maps out water future, Carroll County Times
Westminster housing variety highlighted, Carroll County Times
Westminster OKs Streetscape bid, Carroll County Times
Plan takes look at future of Westminster water woes, Advocate
Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant, Westminster Eagle
Shop with a Cop, Carroll County Times
Building to undergo reconstruction, Advocate
Westminster Clock Tower restoration, Carroll County Times
Westminster: City likes what it sees in Carroll County's Comprehensive Plan, Carroll County Times
City promoting water conservation through grants, Advocate
Upgrade could be done by winter, Carroll County Times
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/