[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6058263,"mediaKeyId","3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469","parentId",3297577,"title","Bel Air proposes 2.9% sewer rate bump tied to CPI; county treatment charges remain uncertain","audioSeconds",1446,"startMs",2612000,"endMs",4058000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469&start=2612&end=4058","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469/thumbnail_2612000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058263/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Bel-Air-proposes-29-sewer-rate-bump-tied-to-CPI-county-treatment-charges-remain-uncertain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058263-71f7a1fa1eaafcc71567b0bf69831d5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=ad-ClWfxCGNDZwAdrobXBEV8ozE4E5HHnZg86ceZ2rLWnxK522IYW4ZRkWlsCmpvEiJ8x4yNklbySWTbR1s830XY7MQDycqX27ekC4F-xJUun9x~ig0byAWJQy5mPn4xIhDa3dLxAI0uDyHzw9-FNhxTa3LMOOkvZCyYrWOY~ZYBo1Ac3roRDYvJsMwT06mQ4vSXGWCXs5YJFkKqEIMBF-XnoH0f~K2NcmVN0Mmro5l6ElHMPwzEhxR2s7zx7~uQl6UEfv8Ns7BwCqT7CtG4rF339t06VTwjNWeqCgSRJcZ0y-Qytl2i0U4CxObz7olpIQZSve-vIfL4Kdq7RwfxjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-13T23:53:23Z","article","Town staff told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners during the May 13 budget work session that the sewer fund budget for FY2026 includes a sewer‑rate increase tied to the December 2024 Consumer Price Index.

“This would be effective 07/01/2025,” Lisa said and explained the mechanics: the town code contains a CPI provision that allows an automatic increase, and the proposed change is a 21¢ increase — from $7.29 to $7.50 per 1,000 gallons — a 2.9% adjustment tied to the December 2024 CPI figure.

Why it matters: sewer service charges are the largest revenue source for the sewer enterprise fund and fund operations, repairs and scheduled capital work. Staff projected sewer service charge revenue of about $3.05 million for FY2026 under the CPI adjustment.

Commissioners focused on one major uncertainty: Harford County’s wastewater treatment rate. The town pays the county to treat Bel Air sewage, and county charges typically arrive in November or December and are retroactive to July 1. Director Moody (staff) and Lisa told the board the town has limited ability to predict the county’s final rate at budget time and that a material county increase could force additional rate adjustments after the budget is adopted. Director Moody said staff prefers to wait for county figures before recommending further changes beyond the CPI adjustment.

Further discussion addressed expenditures: the sewer fund budgets two full‑time employees’ salaries, utilities for pump stations, routine sewer maintenance and occasional main and lateral repairs. Steve Klein, public‑works staff, noted an engineering line item of $160,000 for upgrades to the Kelly Avenue pump station; staff said that project is being placed on hold until the county’s rate is known because the town could defer that expense if revenue is insufficient.

Board members also reviewed other sewer‑fund items: connection and user‑benefit fees are pass‑throughs to Harford County, the fund reports about $434,000 in allocated general‑fund overhead and a final inflow‑and‑infiltration debt service payment that will mature on June 5, 2027.

Ending: Staff recommended the CPI increase be applied July 1, 2025 and said they will return with any necessary rate changes after the county publishes its treatment rates later in the year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/13/2025 Board of Town Commissioners Budget Work Session Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Town staff told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners during the May 13 budget work session that the sewer fund budget for FY2026 includes a sewer‑rate increase tied to the December 2024 Consumer Price Index.","taxTitle","Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland","taxId",54308,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6058267,"Bel Air parking fund projected $140,000 gap; officials discuss leases, fees and long‑term fixes",3171,5389000,8560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469&start=5389&end=8560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469/thumbnail_5389000.jpg","/articles/6058267/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Bel-Air-parking-fund-projected-140000-gap-officials-discuss-leases-fees-and-longterm-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058267-ad06168d478883cb98adb7e2ae59324c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=kul6u0Ik9wINRG1WE-HQihSUHJA-ZcM4gPsvdAE8pJ-qgKnblqwG7zXlngMKhgTrEK0sVWv5d-vrXFHby5WxPu7vBJduKSiEWVBcN4CNHDK6ZZDQ3549qi-IaaIVaZIpo-xgRZJHDt7vqOkbFvQV8XHT0oqQ~O3Nj0qWOKKYCtTei5~H0TFov5XgW9H7AFcqWWNqU5hjEG9zJ2HRHmZbCEX9g7E~38nXGzbcs0fKhNNLjOclU5R2aAF3NS0gd2ryvkUxqOLJR2aNhQOfyxv8mr8W9SS6H9Ux1XaQXz0itR6uSL3t7vSTjy04kSqViw3bgieyJpL8JaiNjhc5qRcmZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lisa, a town finance staff member, told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on May 13 that the town’s parking enterprise fund is projected to run a shortfall in the coming fiscal year and recommended further study of policy changes to address the gap.

“We are anticipating again this year, expenses to exceed revenues by a hundred and $40,000,” Lisa said during the budget work session, summarizing the fund outlook and prompting a broad discussion of causes and possible responses.

Why it matters: the parking enterprise fund operates like a business under the town’s accounting rules; continuing deficits reduce retained earnings that the fund uses for operations and capital. Staff said the fund had about $1.7 million in retained earnings at the end of FY2024, but repeated annual losses are drawing that balance down and could limit the town’s ability to pay for future repairs to the garage and equipment.

Most of the board’s questions focused on two mechanics that drive the shortfall: (1) meter collections and leased spaces have declined from earlier years, and (2) the county reimburses Bel Air for 67.2% of parking‑garage operations and capital, a figure that moves with recorded expenses. Lisa described the county reimbursement as “tied to operations” and said the amount the town receives can vary with how much is spent running and maintaining the garage.

Board members and staff walked through the components of revenue and expense. Staff reported projected FY2026 revenues of roughly $125,000 from meters, $69,000 from leases and additional receipts from county reimbursements. Line items on the expense side include elevator maintenance, utilities for a 1,010‑space garage, insurance and depreciation; the town also budgets a $15,000 capital repairs reserve for the garage that is subject to the county reimbursement split.

Commissioners pressed staff for options to reduce the structural gap, suggesting several immediate and medium‑term changes: better marketing of available leased spaces, revising lease fees, evaluating charging patterns (for example, whether to charge after 5 p.m. or on weekends for busy events), and benchmarking other municipalities’ pricing and operational models. Commissioner Taylor suggested taking a “holistic” look at how the garage supports the downtown economy rather than simply treating it as a stand‑alone business.

Staff said they will research peer cities and bring back comparative data, a five‑year trend of leases and meter revenues, and options to increase occupancy and fee capture. Staff flagged one capital need that may arise soon — enclosing a stairwell on the Pennsylvania Avenue side — for which a late estimate approached $257,000; the county would pay two‑thirds if the work is approved.

No formal action was taken at the work session; commissioners directed staff to return with more detailed analysis and options for FY2027 decisions. The board agreed the issue warrants attention sooner than the next budget cycle.

Ending: Commissioners said they want a transparent, data‑driven series of follow‑up reports before any decisions to change pricing or operations and asked staff to present benchmarks and a five‑year revenue/lease history at an upcoming meeting.","Lisa, a town finance staff member, told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on May 13 that the town’s parking enterprise fund is projected to run a shortfall in the coming fiscal year and recommended further study of policy changes to address the gap.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6058253,"Town awards street resurfacing bid; Plum Tree Park playground contract returned for small play area",240,283000,523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469&start=283&end=523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469/thumbnail_283000.jpg","/articles/6058253/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Town-awards-street-resurfacing-bid-Plum-Tree-Park-playground-contract-returned-for-small-play-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058253-8c4afae107efcf086adc13203822da93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=hU94MlUMsBVq6swTv-lFZ4yGOoDglWOyfKQJ2intaMYaD8E8XLwlZkNXK4VNjS1tt9GUsVfG0qSUW9XAJISiUu~Px8zKbnn~f~qwfeVqnlDR1kglgZXjdZ5H3xUUtscha8sqdXaDUfGFaRQ~TeYjO2NX3BlaWGToiVO8zcZ-WETigqfXCvK8W~iQ5470GbMdiisrrQ2HVPVjqGEtJqVVpvGHYswY8hNvDF4ZLDuYWfEteidYHL8ecrIJQsQpNfflSUFxVhpATAnuyGKq334SqK7ylSs3Zo7Yx6zNuBSwnvk1zAVBqbV8W0L4VMfb-ItEriS~RXoO6O7p-6s4FPxH4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public‑works staff presented two capital‑maintenance items to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on May 13: the town’s annual street resurfacing contract and a request to complete playground surfacing at Plum Tree Park.

Street resurfacing: Steve Klein, a town public‑works staff member, outlined the town’s annual paving program and said the FY2026 proposal includes a contract “not to exceed $410,000,” the amount budgeted for curb and gutter repairs, street resurfacing and curb ramp construction. Klein listed the streets included in the program: Ellendale Street (Rock Spring Ave to Franklin St), Rowland Avenue (Hall St to Howard St), Gordon Street (Bond St to William St), Atwood Road (Catherine St through Shamrock Rd), Broadway (Ardmore Way to Shamrock), South Shamrock Road (East Churchill to Leeway) and South Reed Street (Bolton St to Thomas St). The contract also covers repaving the Plum Tree Park parking lot and the park’s basketball court. Klein said six bids were received and the low bidder was American Asphalt Company of Baltimore.

Plum Tree Park playground resurfacing: Kevin, a town parks staff member, explained that the park’s larger playground for ages 6–12 had already received a new safety surface under a prior contract with Cunningham Recreation, but the smaller 2–5‑year‑old playground was not included in that scope. Kevin said the cost to finish the smaller playground is $29,467 and covers removal of the old surface, installation of geotextile fabric and engineered wood fiber. Staff said they were awaiting a revised quote showing adherence to a piggyback contract before the item could be placed on the consent agenda at the town meeting; Kevin confirmed the spending was included in the current budget but had been omitted from the original contractor scope.

Board members asked practical questions — whether utility work required by private utilities would trigger repaving obligations, how enforcement works when contractors dig and patch, and whether the town or the utility is responsible for full resurfacing. Klein said utilities typically finish with a patch and the town requires full resurfacing in some cases where extensive utility work occurred; he pledged to follow up about specific streets where residents have asked questions.

Ending: Commissioners accepted staff’s presentation and asked for the revised Cunningham Recreation quote to be circulated so the Plum Tree contract could be finalized at the next council meeting; the resurfacing contract low bidder (American Asphalt Company) was identified for the board’s consideration.","Public‑works staff presented two capital‑maintenance items to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on May 13: the town’s annual street resurfacing contract and a request to complete playground surfacing at Plum Tree Park.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6058258,"Bel Air commissioners debate allowing short‑term rentals in residential areas; owner‑on‑site, ADUs and enforcement are central",1421,825000,2246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469&start=825&end=2246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297577-66e7cb7418e222b16641f0576324f469/thumbnail_825000.jpg","/articles/6058258/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Bel-Air-commissioners-debate-allowing-shortterm-rentals-in-residential-areas-owneronsite-ADUs-and-enforcement-are-central","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058258-0d11092efaa2b2367f6de5a29a3dee17/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=dKgtZuYOlH9U7DsEX6-WnDLsg514fBQiyVqhshRYIifmSCH8xfVZTBYpMk7rcQl~kNnXSsTvrOPkah5gjjIymog5NogwQk0SxfUJMZvRviUlSijm~7o8Pjl~Vjc64e77u0V~TenT2sdXAQhySzOcLcmeAPPvu30zhh5lpnnXty-BOq0lB2rTbkJ6N8ttRDlShOkuxzzGU7GYLZLtiwbPIyXEOfFD0gE~~NXmqXTO36MIY6JBjkljggwBbVAPA~wHQpQ~X2CM5q72tguEimo~Xdxvk5wFTZx~ybpzXWF4WduPvgOlPngrD3fx6F-5VIdVjpqmVuca~Yog64bZdyrSoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Rutledge introduced a draft short‑term rental working paper at the May 13 work session and asked the board for feedback on allowing a narrowly limited STR presence in residential districts and a more permissive approach in business districts.

“The limitation on square feet coincides directly with the, the owner being on‑site,” Rutledge said, explaining the draft’s proposed 500‑square‑foot cap for rented space. The intent, she said, is to make owner presence verifiable and reduce the risk that an entire house would be used as a commercial rental while the owner is absent.

Why it matters: the board is weighing whether to allow some STRs in residential (R) districts and how to write performance standards so that the use remains compatible with neighborhood character. Commissioners stressed the town’s limited enforcement tools and the need to define licensing, revocation criteria and acceptable safety reviews before any ordinance is adopted.

Key issues raised

- Owner on site vs. primary residence. Commissioners discussed language requiring the owner to be “on‑site while the short term rental is occupied” and debated whether the ordinance should require the property to be the owner’s primary residence (driver’s license, voter registration) or simply require the owner to be physically present during rentals. Rutledge said she preferred the clearer, on‑site language to avoid loopholes.

- Square‑foot cap and ADUs. Rutledge explained the draft’s 500‑square‑foot limit as a practical measure tied to the on‑site requirement. Commissioners asked whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — which the town’s code limits to extended‑family or caregiver uses — could be used as STRs. Staff noted that ADUs in current code are designed for family‑related occupancy and might be revised to explicitly prohibit STR use; the board discussed using the special‑exception process to review each STR and catch efforts to segregate an ADU for commercial use.

- Enforcement and licensing. Commissioners and staff agreed enforcement is difficult. Staff said the town can inspect properties when a building permit or other improvement triggers an inspection, and they track complaints (for example, neighbors noticing many cars at a residence). The board asked for a written revocation procedure: what standards, how many violations before revocation, and how to ensure due process. Staff said they would provide draft license‑revocation guidelines and show how those standards align with existing licensing due‑process rules in the code.

- Registration and data collection. Commissioners discussed whether STRs should follow Chapter 252 registration rules used for hotels and boarding houses — for example, collecting occupant names and addresses or requiring identification at check‑in — and whether commercial platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) already collect enough information to meet safety needs.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to refine language — including adding a clear “owner on‑site while use is in operation” phrase — and to circulate license revocation procedures, a list of registration requirements (Chapter 252) and examples from other towns. The board also agreed to solicit feedback from the planning commission and the town’s Economic & Community Development Commission (ECDC) before advancing legislation to public hearing.

Ending: No ordinance was adopted; staff will return with revised draft language, a licensing and revocation framework and input from the planning commission and ECDC.","The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners discussed a draft short‑term rental (STR) ordinance that would allow tightly regulated STRs in some districts. Commissioners focused on square‑foot limits, owner‑on‑site requirements, whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could be used for STRs, and enforcement and license revocation procedures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bel Air proposes 2.9% sewer rate bump tied to CPI; county treatment charges remain uncertain

Bel Air parking fund projected $140,000 gap; officials discuss leases, fees and long‑term fixes

Town awards street resurfacing bid; Plum Tree Park playground contract returned for small play area

Bel Air commissioners debate allowing short‑term rentals in residential areas; owner‑on‑site, ADUs and enforcement are central