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Bethany Beach committee backs proposed 6% property tax hike, parking-permit changes for FY2027
Summary
The town's Budget & Finance Committee recommended a proposed 6% property tax increase (estimated $130,000 annually) and changes to residential and business parking permits as part of the FY2027 budget; council will consider final adoption in March.
The Budget & Finance Committee on Feb. 19 recommended the Town Council approve a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget that includes a 6% increase in the property tax rate, expected to yield about $130,000 annually, the committee reported.
Mrs. Keel, reporting for the committee, said the town is 83% through FY2026, has collected 94.7% of budgeted revenue year-to-date (versus 96.5% last year) and has expended 80.8% of its budgeted expenses. She told the council the proposed 6% rate would translate to an average annual increase of about $96 for homeowners in properties assessed under $800,000, and that most of the revenue increase is intended to support police-department funding.
The committee also recommended changes to residential and business parking permits included in the draft budget. Under the proposal residential property owners would continue to receive one free side-street permit; an option would allow purchase of a second side-street permit for $50 or a beach-lot permit for $200. Business permit categories would also increase, with a proposed rise in the Gold permit from $350 to $500 and Premier permits from $1,000 to $1,800, measures the committee said are meant to reflect long periods since those fees were last adjusted.
Townwide revenue is budgeted at $15.2 million in the draft, with operating costs of $13.8 million and $1.2 million for capital and debt. The committee recommended council consideration and formal action on the budget during the March council meeting; no final vote on the budget was taken at the Feb. 20 meeting.
Council members asked for clarifying edits to the draft parking ordinance language during first reading (see related article on parking ordinance first reading) and staff noted any permit-area changes would be adopted by resolution when the budget is finalized.
The Budget & Finance Committee report and the draft budget will be on the council agenda in March for public comment and a council vote.
