Bel Air adopts FY2026 budget after public hearing, funds police technology and staff pay adjustments

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners unanimously adopted the town's fiscal year 2026 final budget Monday, passing Resolution 12-52-25 after a public hearing and a period of commissioner debate.

The approved budget includes a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for town employees, targeted pay-scale increases and a nearly $250,000 investment in new police technology. The board also approved several line-item adjustments proposed during the meeting to balance the budget and fund specific programs and capital needs.

The tentative budget had been the subject of an earlier public hearing; staff reviewed enterprise and special revenue funds at Monday's meeting. Ms. Moody, a town staff member who presented the tentative budget, told the board the sewer fund shows about a $3.5 million reduction from FY2025 primarily because federal ARPA dollars were included in FY2025 but not in FY2026. Ms. Moody said the proposed sewer service charge would increase from $7.29 to $7.50 per 1,000 gallons effective July 1, 2025. She also outlined major sewer fund components: roughly $476,406 for routine operations, just over $1.9 million for Harford County sewage transport and treatment, about $435,000 reimbursing the general fund for pro rata overhead, roughly $160,000 to design Kelly Avenue pump station upgrades and roughly $1,700 for interest-only bond payments.

The parking enterprise fund was presented as largely unchanged from FY2025, with revenues including ParkMobile receipts (about $125,000), parking fees (about $105,000) and lease income (about $69,000). The parking fund's budgeted expenses equal revenue at $587,757. The town's special revenue fund declined roughly $96,000 year over year; staff noted that special revenue balances fluctuate with grants. Notable grant-related amounts presented were a $27,000 Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention submission for Explorer Scouts, $32,000 expected in a seized property federal treasury account tied to a task force partnership, $30,392 anticipated from Department of Justice forfeiture-sharing with the DEA, and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allotment of $52,354 carried from FY2024–25 for an approved paving project.

During the public hearing and public comment period, resident John Stump urged the commissioners to fund more police officers than the budget proposed and warned of future staffing shortfalls if the town does not add officers. Stump said, “One police officer in the budget is not enough,” and asked commissioners to consider increased staffing to match population growth and visitor traffic.

Commissioners defended the budget as fiscally responsible and supportive of public safety. Commissioner Taylor said the budget “funds the Bel Air Police Department at really a historic rate” and praised Chief Moore’s request. Commissioners noted the budget fully funds the police department’s request, funds COLA and pay adjustments across departments, and does so without a tax increase. Several commissioners described the approved camera project for the police department as a “force multiplier” that will aid enforcement and deter retail theft.

A motion to adopt the final FY2026 budget was moved on the floor and carried unanimously. The motion adopting Resolution 12-52-25 included several itemized amendments proposed during the meeting (see Actions and Clarifying Details). Mr. Krantz recorded the vote: Commissioners Rutledge, Chismar, Taylor and Chance and Chair Eddington all voted aye; the resolution passed.

The board and staff said they expect continuing budget work and oversight through the fiscal year and noted some funds—such as highway user revenue and specified grants—are restricted to particular uses. No tax rate increase was adopted as part of the FY2026 budget.

Commissioners and staff thanked residents who attended the hearing and staff who worked on the budget process.