Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Hagerstown staff present FY2026 general fund proposal; 5.5‑cent property tax increase proposed
Summary
City staff reviewed the FY2026 budget book and proposed a 5.5‑cent increase in the real estate tax rate to help cover rising expenses, including police and fire salary increases and capital transfers to infrastructure.
City staff presented the proposed fiscal 2026 general fund budget during the April 8 work session, highlighting spending priorities, reserves, and a recommended 5.5‑cent increase in the real estate tax rate.
Michelle (city finance staff) and budget team members walked the mayor and council through the budget book’s structure, the capital improvement program and financial projections. Staff cited growth in assessed values and other revenue changes from the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) and recommended a 5.5‑cent increase rather than reducing the tax rate to yield constant revenue.
Under the proposal, the FY2026 general fund budget would total about $71.4 million,…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
