Bel Air accepts Town Administrator's FY2026 budget package; no tax increase, raises proposed

BEL AIR, Md. — The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on April 7 voted unanimously to accept the Town Administrator’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, a filing that begins the public review and adoption process ahead of a May 19 adoption vote.

Town Administrator Hopkins presented the document as a balanced budget, telling commissioners, “Tonight, I present to you a balanced budget.” The board voted 5-0 to receive the proposal as Resolution 12-48-25.

The proposal includes several personnel and operating highlights: a recommended 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and merit step for all employees; a 3.9% adjustment to the general civilian pay schedule; a 1% adjustment for sworn police officers; a proposed addition of one full-time police officer; consolidation of two part-time police communications operators into one full-time position; funding in the town budget for a records/information coordinator previously partially grant-funded; and a 3% increase in retiree premium support.

On the capital and project side, the Town Administrator and department directors told commissioners the draft would use increased highway user funds and capital reserves to support work including an additional $95,000 for a street-resurfacing project, $60,000 for interior renovations to planning and public works offices, $12,000 to replace the Main Street town clock, and a proposed $226,000 installation of a CCTV camera system (roughly 12 cameras, vendor identified in discussion as similar to the Verkada platform) to provide real-time situational awareness for downtown dispatch and investigations. The package also asks the board to authorize $90,000 for improvements at Lisonbee Park, $60,000 in support for implementing a bike-pedestrian plan, and $25,000 to address town boundary mapping anomalies. The administrator said Burns Alley improvements were removed from the initial request, saving roughly $185,000.

Officials said vehicle and equipment purchases would be funded in part by transferring about $758,000 from the town’s capital reserve; planned replacements described in the presentation included four police cars, a planning vehicle, an IT vehicle, two public works vehicles, a trailer, and fuel pump/pedestal work.

Town staff emphasized that the budget as presented would not raise the town tax rate. Commissioners were also told the town expects a decrease in its workers’ compensation modification rate and stronger-than-expected highway user revenues, which helped balance the proposal.

The Town Administrator outlined the review timeline: six budget work sessions through May and a public hearing on the proposed budget on April 21; adoption is scheduled for May 19. The administrator said the full, detailed budget binder would be posted online in the coming days once scanning is complete.

Public comment during the meeting included a three-minute statement from John Stump, a member of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Bel Air Police Department, who urged the board to fund additional police staffing beyond the single new officer included in the proposal.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 12-48-25 (receipt of FY2026 Town Administrator's budget) — moved by Commissioner Chance, seconded by Commissioner Taylor; vote 5-0 to receive the filing. Formal adoption remains scheduled for May 19.

The board will review the proposal and department-level details during the scheduled work sessions before final action in May.