Bel Air staff outline $1.48 million FY2026 budget amendment; public hearing set

Town finance staff presented Resolution 1273-26 on June 1, which would amend fiscal year 2026 budget projections and appropriations to increase the general fund by $1,477,232. The board voted unanimously to receive the resolution for public hearing on June 22.

Miss Moody highlighted the amendment’s major revenue adjustments: a projected $118,000 decrease in income-tax revenue based on collections to date; an approximately $1.02 million transfer from capital reserve to fund a condo trash-and-recycle container program; an unexpected $140,000 boost from higher-than-anticipated investment interest; and several grant increases including about $79,266 from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention and $54,798 in miscellaneous grants tied to the Aliceanne Park project.

On the expense side, Moody said the amendment reflects nearly $69,000 in additional town-building maintenance, $164,000 net in the planning department (including survey and annexation work, and change orders on Thomas George Street), roughly $170,320 net in public safety largely driven by overtime and equipment purchases, and increases in public works budgets tied to vehicles and fuel.

Moody also reported the town received a $176,000 insurance dividend from Chesapeake Employers Insurance that arrived the same day; she said staff would include that amount in the formal public hearing materials and consider returning a comparable bonus to employees as has been done in prior years.

Commissioners asked for clarification on red-light camera revenues and ticket counts during the budget discussion; Chief Moore said staff review citations and that roughly 8,500 tickets were recorded at the town’s four camera locations in the past year, with some revenue attributable to prior-year payments.

The board voted 5–0 to receive Resolution 1273-26 and to hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026 at Town Hall.