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Friendship Heights council adopts FY27 budgets, approves 3% staff pay increase
Summary
The village approved its FY27 operating and capital budgets and a 3% base pay increase (plus a 1% discretionary merit pool) for employees excluding the village manager; council also noted rising costs and a need for further review of pedestrian safety options.
The Friendship Heights Village Council on Thursday approved the FY27 operating and capital budgets and a personnel pay action, saying the village must plan for rising costs while moving several capital projects forward.
Treasurer John Conlow told the council revenues through May totaled about $2.8 million while expenditures were roughly $2.4 million, producing an operating surplus of about $355,000 so far this fiscal year. "Revenues are down slightly from the same period last year. Expenditures are up close to 6%," Conlow said during his report as he outlined budget pressures heading into FY28.
The council voted to increase base salaries for all village employees (excluding the village manager) by 3% effective July 1, 2026, and to create a discretionary merit pool equal to 1% of the aggregate base salaries; the motion passed unanimously. Council members emphasized the action was intended as an inflation adjustment and noted that police pay requests would be considered separately after staff provides eligibility and cost details.
The FY27 operating budget was presented as approximately $2.95 million in expenditures and about $2.97 million in estimated revenues, producing a modest estimated surplus of roughly $15,000. The proposed capital budget totaled $825,000, including $450,000 for Paige Park (of which $190,000 pays a prior contractor), roughly $200,000 for the Village Center and Humphrey Park work, and funds for pedestrian-safety improvements. Officials said pedestrian-safety cost estimates had recently increased during late-stage review, and that the capital budget may be revised after further evaluation of options such as concrete curb bump-outs versus heavy-duty planters.
Council members described the budget as a near-term plan and urged development of multi-year operating projections. The council approved the operating and capital budgets as presented, noting that specific pedestrian-safety alternatives and cost refinements would return for further review.
The next procedural step is publication of the adopted budget and follow-up committee work to refine pedestrian-safety options and to consider police-compensation proposals.
