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Frostburg adopts FY2026–27 budget, approves 19% water-rate increase; resident urges redirecting opioid-settlement funds
Summary
Council approved the FY2026–27 budget (ordinance 2026-05, amended to remove a sprinkler rebate) and a water-only rate increase averaging 19%; public commenter Shawn Major urged the city to support redirecting opioid-restoration funds toward street-level recovery outreach instead of county corrections.
The Frostburg Mayor and City Council approved the fiscal year 2026–27 budget on its second reading after first voting to remove two sentences referring to a sprinkler rebate in the residential-permit-fees section. The amended ordinance 2026-05 was approved for final passage.
Finance staff said the budget is balanced while using approximately $102,577 of general-fund balance. The proposed tax rate will remain unchanged, but assessed-value increases will raise revenues. The council approved a 19% increase in water rates (water-only charges) to cover rising operating costs; finance staff presented sample-bill impacts showing increases of roughly $0.88 per month for low consumption (≈750 gallons), $4.72 per month for medium consumption (≈4,000 gallons), and about $17.70 per month for very high use (≈15,000 gallons). Staff cited increased chemical costs and an expected roughly $60,000 rise in the MES contract for treating water as primary drivers.
The budget also includes CSO project reimbursements and proceeds (discussed separately), an administration capital outlay item for a roundabout project, $95,000 for project-open-space work in parks, and increased meter and leak-detection funding in the water department.
During the budget public-comment period, resident Shawn Major urged the council to press the county to redirect opioid-restoration funds away from being used as a general-fund offset for corrections and instead commit restitution dollars to street-level, community-health-ambassador outreach (deploying CPRS and community health workers). Major said national settlement terms require those funds to be spent on abatement activities rather than operational or pension costs. Council members said the city would not absorb such funds into its general operating revenue and expressed interest in a partnership or a work-session briefing to hear more about the ambassador model.
The budget ordinance was amended and approved; staff will publish the final budget and proceed with implementation steps, including the water-rate change and planned capital projects.
Provenance: Budget details and sample-bill figures were presented in the finance report and during ordinance 2026-05 readings; Shawn Major's public comment was made during the budget public-comment period.
