Sykesville introduces FY 2026 budget; tax rate to remain 32¢, public hearing set for May 12

The Town of Sykesville Mayor and Town Council on April 28 introduced a fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget that totals “just over $6,800,000,” and set a public hearing and adoption vote for May 12, 2025. Mayor Stacy Lent and town staff said the property tax rate will remain at 32¢ per $100 of assessed value.

Joe, a town staff member, told the council that total revenues and expenditures are “just over $6,800,000,” and that the overall number represents roughly a 23% decrease from the current fiscal year, driven mainly by reduced capital spending rather than cuts to ordinary operations. The council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance and schedule the May 12 public hearing and adoption vote.

The proposed budget preserves a $1,000,000 stabilization reserve established in 2020 and uses $100,000 from the capital reserve for a stormwater infrastructure project on Norwood Avenue. Staff said the town will continue several grant-funded capital projects — engineering for the Sandusky Lot and Townhouse Lawn redevelopment, improvements to Miller Cooper Park, and planning for the BF Shrybery Cary Building at South Branch Park — totaling just over $800,000. Town staff said none of those capital projects are funded directly from local property tax revenue.

The town also plans to spend remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on pedestrian improvements at the south end of Main Street; staff estimated the remaining ARPA balance to be about $1,200,000, subject to change based on current-year spending. Staff noted ARPA funds must be fully expended by the end of calendar year 2026.

Staff told the council no new debt or additional full- or part-time positions are proposed in FY 2026. A roughly $200,000 professional services allocation was noted to support a zoning code rewrite and work on transportation planning connected to a $200,000 Safe Streets for All grant (about $160,000 of which is reimbursable). The budget also includes an increase in the town donation to the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Company from $10,000 to $20,000.

Town staff described several line-item adjustments: a $5,000 allocation to retain the SeeClickFix feature and website updates to improve ADA compliance; adjustments to public safety overtime because the department is currently fully staffed; and modest increases in utilities and maintenance costs. Staff said they do not budget annual health-insurance refunds because the amounts vary.

The council introduced the ordinance to adopt the budget and set the public hearing for May 12; staff said minor typographical corrections would be made before the final adoption vote.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes from the Apr. 14, 2025 meeting (consent agenda): motion to approve introduced by Councilman Keenan, seconded by Councilman Grama; Council President Carter abstained from the minutes vote; outcome: approved (recorded abstention). - Appointment of Andrew Miner to the Board of Zoning Appeals (three-year term expiring Aug. 2028): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Introduction of the FY 2026 budget ordinance (described in the meeting as “an ordinance to adopt and approve the annual budget and set tax rates for the Town of Sykesville, Maryland for fiscal year 2025-2026”): motion to introduce passed unanimously; public hearing and adoption scheduled for May 12, 2025. (The ordinance number is inconsistently recorded in the meeting transcript — referenced as “2025-O3” at introduction and later as “2025-O2” when the council moved to introduce; the transcript does not specify a single definitive ordinance number.)

The council’s next regular meeting is May 12, when the public hearing and adoption vote are scheduled. Town staff invited the public to review the budget book and accompanying capital plans posted with the meeting materials.