Chesapeake Beach's Town Council on Oct. 16 approved a set of four ordinances to reconcile budget-year expenditures and adopted a sustainability resolution, then introduced FY25'26 waterpark budget language and scheduled public hearings.

The ordinances approved by the council amend the town's fiscal-year 2024'25 budgets to reconcile and ratify expenditures across several funds. The council took the votes as separate motions; all four were approved on voice votes with "the ayes have it" recorded in the minutes.

What the council approved

- Ordinance O-25-13: Amend the annual budget for the General Fund for FY07/01/2024'06/30/2025 to reconcile expenses and ratify over-expenditures. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Ordinance O-25-14: Amend the annual budget for the Utility Fund for FY07/01/2024'06/30/2025 to reconcile expenses and ratify over-expenditures. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Ordinance O-25-15: Amend the annual budget for the Water Reclamation/Treatment Plant Fund for FY07/01/2024'06/30/2025 to reconcile expenses and ratify over-expenditures. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Ordinance O-25-16: Amend the annual budget for the Water Park Fund for FY07/01/2024'06/30/2025 to reconcile expenses and ratify over-expenditures. Motion approved by voice vote.

The council also approved:

- Resolution R-25-1: A resolution supporting the Sustainable Maryland municipal certification program. Motion approved by voice vote.

Introductions and next steps

Council members then introduced two FY25'26 ordinances intended to fund design, construction and project management of the waterpark revitalization and to reallocate waterpark fund revenues, and set public hearings for Nov. 20, 2025:

- Ordinance O-25-17: Amending the General Fund budget for FY25'26 to pay for design, construction and project management of the waterpark; public hearing set for Nov. 20, 2025 at 6:15 p.m.
- Ordinance O-25-18: Amending the Water Park Fund budget for FY25'26 to reallocate revenue for bond bill funding and decrease capital project cost by $1.1 million to pay for waterpark construction; public hearing to follow O-25-17 on Nov. 20.

Why it matters

The approvals close out FY24'25 accounting adjustments and clear the way for dedicated FY25'26 budget discussion on the council's top agenda item, the waterpark revitalization project. The sustainability resolution signals municipal participation in an ongoing state program to track and improve local environmental and community sustainability practices.

Votes at a glance (summary of recorded motions)

- O-25-13 (General Fund budget amendment): approved (recorded voice vote).
- O-25-14 (Utility Fund budget amendment): approved (recorded voice vote).
- O-25-15 (Treatment Plant fund budget amendment): approved (recorded voice vote).
- O-25-16 (Water Park fund budget amendment): approved (recorded voice vote).
- R-25-1 (Sustainable Maryland resolution): approved (recorded voice vote).

Council procedural notes

During public hearings earlier in the meeting staff explained these budget amendment ordinances reconcile unanticipated expenditures and ratify over-expenditures to ensure compliance with the town charter. The town's finance staff said the amendments are routine end-of-year adjustments; the treasurer's report later noted partner credits to the wastewater treatment plant partners of about $942,000 arising from capital project timing.

Ending

Council members set two public hearings on Nov. 20 to take public comment on planned FY25'26 waterpark funding allocations; those hearings will inform the final contract award and funding decisions for the revitalization project.