Bel Air commissioners receive tentative FY2026 budget; tax rates held steady

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on April 21 received the Town Administrator's tentative fiscal year 2026 budget and opened it for public comment before scheduling further review in upcoming work sessions.

Town staff presented a proposed General Fund budget of $18,803,284 for FY2026, about $180,000 higher than FY2025. The presentation said salaries and benefits would total slightly more than $12.7 million (about 66.1% of General Fund expenditures) and the budget includes funding for a merit increase, a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment, and a one-time adjustment of roughly $313,000 to the civilian pay scale plus a 1% increase to the sworn pay scale. The presentation also proposes adding a second part-time file clerk in administration, a full-time police communications officer (previously funded with grants), a lead executive officer funded without grant dollars, and one additional sworn police officer.

"Total General Fund expenditures for fiscal year 26 are proposed at $18,803,284 which is about 180,000 more than fiscal year 25," Ms. Moody said during the budget presentation. "Salaries and benefits do represent 66.1% of the total General Fund expenditures compared to 70.2% in fiscal year 25." (Ms. Moody, staff presenter)

The town outlined capital spending of $1,863,964 across departments, a decrease from the prior year largely attributed to one-time ARPA-funded items in FY2025. Major capital items described included three police-vehicle replacements plus one new police vehicle (about $220,000 from capital reserve), a Verkada security camera system for nine locations (about $226,000), street-construction and curb-ramp projects (combined figures listed on the budget pages), and building repairs such as roof replacement at the parks and recreation building.

On revenues, the budget document and presenter proposed keeping the real property tax rate unchanged at 54 cents per $100 of assessed value and holding the personal property tax rate at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value. Ms. Moody noted property taxes would remain the largest single revenue source, accounting for more than half of projected General Fund revenues. The presentation also identified state-shared taxes (mainly income tax) and a Harford County tax rebate among other revenue sources.

During the public-comment portion of the hearing, John Stumpf of 523 East Broadway urged the commissioners to add more police staffing, saying one new officer in the budget was not enough to ensure public safety. "One police officer is not enough," Stumpf said. (John Stumpf, resident)

Following the hearing the board voted to receive the tentative budget for further review during scheduled work sessions; no final budget adoption occurred that evening. Commissioners were reminded that the Town Administrator's budget is an early-stage proposal and that the board will hold additional work sessions and a second public hearing before a final vote.

Action: The board voted to receive the tentative FY2026 budget under proposed Resolution 12-50-25. The motion was moved by Commissioner Rutledge, seconded by Commissioner Chance, and the vote was recorded as Rutledge: Aye; Taylor: Aye; Chance: Aye; Chair Eddy: Aye. The resolution was received.

Why it matters: The budget affects staffing levels, service delivery and capital planning for the coming year; it proposes new permanent positions that would shift previously grant-funded roles to the town’s operating budget and keeps the town on a largely conservative debt path.

What comes next: Budget work sessions are scheduled for April 24 and April 29, with additional sessions and a second public hearing in May before the board adopts a final FY2026 budget.