Laurel reviews proposed FY 2027 budget; council votes 6-0 to hold closed session on personnel

At a Mayor & Council workshop on June 1, 2026, Mayor Carlos Oliveras and members of Laurel’s council heard a presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and later voted 6-0 to enter a closed session to discuss personnel matters.

Town Manager Jamie Smith summarized the proposed FY 2027 budget as representing a 13% increase to meet rising costs across departments while attempting to limit the tax burden on property owners. Smith said Sussex County’s recent property reassessments prompted the town to propose separate tax rates: $0.47 per $100 of assessed value for residential properties and $0.98 per $100 for commercial properties. She said the budget does not include four pad sites that remain in preliminary development stages.

The proposed budget also would raise several user fees and rates: a $0.50 increase to water and sewer usage per 1,000 gallons plus a $0.50 increase to each base rate; a rental license increase to $175; a flat business license fee of $225; residential plan review at $150 per hour; commercial plan review at 0.05% of total costs; and a $50 towing admin fee. Smith said the town proposes amending the budget to add $65,000 under the COPS Grant and expects increased utility and tax income from continued residential construction and commercial development.

Smith told the council the budget includes higher spending for consultant costs, demolition of derelict properties, infrastructure repairs, debt service, personnel compensation adjustments, insurance, and a planned Wastewater Treatment Plant capital improvement project. She also noted a federal mandate for lead-and-copper testing that will affect privately owned properties and reiterated that water and sewer operate as enterprise funds supported by system users rather than by general tax revenue.

Mayor Oliveras asked about the impact of the school district no longer funding the School Resource Officer; Smith said the Laurel School District previously paid the entire SRO salary and benefits—$110,000—which is no longer provided to the town.

Councilman George Lodato repeatedly pressed for clarity on the data behind projections and why budgeted versus actual comparisons were not available; Smith said department heads and the town’s Edmunds finance software are used to review actual expenditures and revenues when preparing projections. Resident commenters asked for audited numbers and copies of Budget Committee agendas and minutes; Smith said those items typically are not posted online and President of Council Chris Calio recommended consulting the town attorney about posting practices.

Resident Sharon Ardisana questioned the town’s projections for delinquent-tax revenue, noting that the town previously adopted $315,000 in delinquent taxes for FY2025 that the town did not realize. Town Manager Smith said timing differences and the schedule of property tax sales explained why the adopted amount was not realized in that fiscal year; she characterized the projection process as based on properties forwarded to the town attorney and penalties collected when taxpayers pay before sale.

Public Works Director James Foskey said the town submitted 13 projects for State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding, focused on improving state-maintained roads; Smith said much of the SRF funding includes principal forgiveness. Council members noted the police department accounts for a substantial share of the budget—about 43%—and Smith said that is within a typical 40%–50% range seen in other municipalities.

During the workshop, Councilwoman RogJenea Fisher moved to hold a closed session to discuss personnel matters; Councilman Donald Holden seconded the motion, which the council approved on a 6-0 vote with one vacancy. The meeting recessed for the closed session and reconvened; the council adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

The proposed FY 2027 budget was posted on the town’s website for public review; council members and residents requested additional budget-to-actual comparisons for past years and clarification about posting Budget Committee materials online as the budget process proceeds.