Frostburg council approves FY26 budget on first reading; opts for $1.70 service‑line protection fee

The City of Frostburg on April 15 approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget on first reading and moved forward with an ordinance to replace the city’s leak adjustment policy with a third‑party service‑line protection program billed at $1.70 per month for single‑family households unless customers opt out.

Finance Director Mrs. Jones presented the budget and told the council, “We have prepared this budget with the best information that's currently available to us.” The ordinance for the service‑line protection (Ordinance 2025‑02) was presented the same night and approved for first reading; a separate ordinance will finalize the program’s eligibility and administration at a future hearing.

Why it matters: The budget frames city operations for the year starting July 1 and sets fees that appear on monthly utility bills. The proposed service‑line protection would replace the city's existing leak adjustment policy for eligible single‑family residences and create a paid, opt‑out coverage that the municipality says is more generous than the current policy.

Key details - Budget…