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Takoma Park council approves utility tax increase, approves grants and several budget reallocations
Summary
After a multi-hour budget reconciliation session, the council voted to raise the municipal utility tax (to $3.50), approved a $100,000 increase in community quality-of-life grants, shifted sidewalk and traffic-calming funding between the general and red-light camera funds, allocated $15,000 to Tree Tacoma and approved $25,000 for library programming; emergency assistance targeted at recent federal policy impacts failed.
The Takoma Park City Council completed a lengthy budget reconciliation session and approved a set of staff-recommended and council-proposed adjustments to the FY27 budget during the meeting.
On a 4–3 roll-call vote the council approved increasing the municipal utility tax to $3.50 (from $1.75). The motion advancing the $3.50 option was put forward by Council members Hansack and Weselek after the council considered alternative proposals to increase the rate to $2.00 or to $5.00. The roll call recorded aye votes from Council members Landman, Schlegel, Hansack and Weselek; nay votes from Council members Dybala, Gilbert and Mayor Searcy.
Council approved a $100,000 increase to the Community Quality of Life grant program, which staff and council members said would expand funding available for food security,…
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