Bowie council introduces FY 2026 budget, hears plea to restore Railroad Museum funding

The Bowie City Council on April 14 introduced the fiscal year 2026 budget ordinance (O-4-25) and capital improvements program resolution (R-18-25) and heard a public comment urging the council to retain funding for the Old Bowie Railroad Museum.

Finance Director H. Byron Matthews presented the proposed FY 2026 general fund revenues and the capital projects fund, saying the administration expects total general fund revenue of $91,727,400 and that appropriated fund balance of $19,711,800 will be used to balance the budget.

"The first box represents the property, real and personal property tax, which is the largest revenue source for the city," Matthews said during his presentation. He also described an estimated assessed-value increase of about 13.5 percent and said state-shared and mandated revenue streams inform many of the numbers staff is using.

The presentation emphasized several capital projects and constraints. Matthews and the city manager highlighted a series of stormwater and Chesapeake Bay-related projects required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the city's MS4 permit. Staff said Gateway Storm Water Management improvements to meet EPA/Chesapeake Bay requirements are budgeted at $1,300,000 in FY 2026, and that existing reserve balances for pond dredging (listed as $348,730 for one special taxing district) are not sufficient to cover the new mandated work.

On capital projects, staff said they plan to use $7.2 million of appropriated fund balance and a $5.7 million general-fund transfer toward a $16,322,600 capital projects program. Notable projects discussed included a planned synthetic-turf replacement at White Marsh Park (budgeted in the CIP planning materials at roughly $775,000), an Allen Pond amphitheater procurement and construction (moved to FY 2027 in the presentation), and an ice arena project that staff said is out to bid and would return to council for contract award and financing decisions.

During the budget public hearing, Bob Rapaczynski, identified himself as a resident of Old Bowie and president of the Huntington Heritage Society, and urged the council not to redirect funds away from the Old Bowie Railroad Museum improvement project. "The Huntington Heritage Society ... would ask that council consider keeping the funding and the budget," Rapaczynski said, noting the railroad museum is central to the Old Bowie revitalization plan.

Council members asked staff detailed questions about several revenue and expense lines, including special taxing districts, the treatment of park and athletic-field fees after new county facilities opened, federal and HUD entitlement grants (stated by staff to be approximately $170,000 annually), and whether some capital projects could be accelerated or deferred. Staff noted some federal and state grant lines are entitlement-driven or formula-based and that HUD community development funds are expected regardless of local application work.

The council formally moved and seconded the introduction of the ordinance and resolution for the FY 2026 budget and CIP; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Looking ahead, staff said the council will consider contract awards for the ice arena when bids are received, will continue outreach and written notice to businesses affected by the Gateway stormwater work, and will return with detailed cost and financing information before any borrowing for major projects is authorized.