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Taneytown staff outline budget amendments: PFAS settlement and police task-force costs drive offsetting changes
Summary
City staff described two budget amendments at the Aug. 6 workshop: fiscal 2025 amendment No. 3 (including a $216,000 PFAS settlement payment and increased utility interest) and a 2026 amendment reflecting higher income-tax projections and police costs tied to a drug task-force assignment.
City Manager Jim briefed the Taneytown City Council at the Aug. 6 workshop on two budget amendments: fiscal 2025 budget amendment No. 3 and an amendment to the 2026 budget.
Jim told the council the utility fund received more interest than projected and the city received the first installment from a PFAS class-action settlement, which together produced $216,000 in additional revenue for the utility fund. That meant the city will draw $216,000 less from fund balance for the utility fund than previously expected.
On the general fund for fiscal 2025, Jim said state income-tax receipts were higher than projected, increasing that revenue by about $250,000. The amendment also records a $236,000 use of fund balance to pay for street repairs that were not budgeted previously; those adjustments were presented as netting out in the amendments.
For the 2026 amendment, staff raised the projected state income-tax revenue by $85,000. The amendment also includes increased police expenditures related to assigning an officer to a regional drug task force; Jim said the bulk of a $772,009.90 increase was tied to those police expenses and related upfront costs. Jim additionally noted a $30,000 line for police vehicle upfitting in 2026.
Council members asked whether PFAS settlement funds would be tracked separately. Jim said the settlement proceeds are general fund receipts and are not automatically segregated but that staff will track the receipts and bring the treasurer's recommendation on whether to segregate the funds.
No formal vote was taken at the workshop; staff presented the amendments for council review and asked for any questions. Council asked staff to provide additional details and the treasurer's recommendation at the next meeting.
Ending
Staff requested council review and indicated they would return with more detailed documentation, treasurer guidance on PFAS receipts and a recommendation memo for the council meeting on Monday.
