At the Greenbelt City Council meeting on March 23, City Manager Josué Salmerón presented the proposed city budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, which runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
The balanced budget showed $41,748,149 in revenue in the General Fund (up 3.92 percent from FY 2026) with $41,741,246 in General Fund expenses (up 3.96 percent from FY 2026).
The majority of the city revenues come from real property taxes and income tax receipts. There are no property tax rate increases this year. The Recreation Program and Speed and Red-Light Camera Enforcement Programs are also important revenue sources.
Included in the General Fund budget are: 1) General Government; 2) Planning and Community Development; 3) Public Safety; 4) Public Works; 5) Greenbelt CARES; 6) Recreation and Parks; 7) Miscellaneous; 8) Non-Departmental; and 9) Fund Transfers.
Salmerón presented key influences on the budget. One was the broader fiscal condition that includes the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and reductions in federal jobs and contracts.
Another influence was increasing Greenbelt’s employee compensation based on the FY 2024 Compensation Study. A 2 percent Cost of Living Adjustment was given to all employees, both full and part-time. In addition, employees are eligible for up to a 3 percent merit increase. The total number of employee full-time equivalents (FTEs) increased by one to 235.5. This increase was due to ARPA funds ending so the city now must directly pay the crisis intervention supervisor.
A third influence cited by Salmerón was providing for capital projects and reserves. Much of the capital project funding will come from grants.
Some new initiatives in the FY 2027 budget mentioned by Salmerón were $10,000 in
financial assistance for families for Recreation programs, $10,000 in contractor costs for the Learn 2 Earn program, $5,000 for senior trips and enhanced recreation offerings including more spots in circus camps and field trips.
Salmerón also mentioned that some items could not be covered: stipends for Learn 2 Earn that were previously covered by ARPA funds and staffing for the Schrom Hills clubhouse.
Sections of the budget will be reviewed at worksessions over the next two months with the aim to approve the budget at the May 26 council meeting.
Other items were also addressed at the March 23 meeting. March was declared Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Ify Nwabukwu, executive director of the African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association, was present to accept the proclamation. March 31 was recognized as Transgender Day of Visibility. Council also authorized the city manager to approve a contract with VMP Construction Management for roadwork improvement at Cherrywood Lane.
