Mayor Michael O'Connor is proud to present his proposed budget for The City of Frederick's Fiscal Year 2022 today, April 1, 2021. This budget, which is now open for public feedback and discussion, is presented with COVID-19 still ever-present in our community and the acknowledgment that the last thirteen months have been difficult for every constituent in the City.
"For fiscal year 2022, public health and economic sustainability are our top priorities. The vision and goals for the City, achieved through many engagement and planning conversations, also continue to inform our initiatives and actions. The City strives to be flexible and responsive to the community's needs as our recovery continues and is ready to mobilize many of our planning efforts over the last year," shared Mayor O'Connor. "This budget showcases how our foundational work in sustainable urban planning, social well-being, safe and vibrant community, competitive employment, enhanced mobility, and civic engagement will move into action."
The FY 22 budget suggests a general fund budget is $112.1 Million. It is based on maintaining the current municipal property tax rate of $0.7305 per $100 of assessed value for the ninth year. It also further continues the 10-year phase-out of the business personal property tax. The general fund budget plus the budgets for water and sewer, stormwater, parking, the Weinberg Center for the Arts, airport, golf course, and reserves total $169.6 Million. The detailed allocations within the budget are focused on remaining flexible and responsive to the changing needs of our community.
Mayor O'Connor provides an overview of the budget's four significant commitments (being leaders in equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice; remaining proactive in pursuing social, economic, and environmental sustainability; enhancing housing and human services delivery by investing in the further restructuring of the Department of Housing and Human Services; and addressing broad mobility issues in the City, responding to the needs of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians) in the video below:
As the budget is finalized, there is also still time to provide your input. The City encourages and invites all in our community to participate in this budget process. Please review the full budget available at cityoffrederickmd.gov/fy22budget. You can submit comments in writing via the "feedback" button and participate in our upcoming budget discussions on April 7th, April 14th, April 26th, April 29th, and May 3rd.