Riverdale Park State of the Town: managers highlight growth, persistent poverty and new budget priorities

Town staff delivered a detailed State of the Town presentation on March 25 that framed 10 years of change, recapped the last year and outlined budget and policy priorities for the coming year.

Town Manager opened the presentation with a decade-long view and said the town's median household income rose from about $61,000 in 2016 to $120,000, while the poverty rate has returned to roughly the same level (about 17%), indicating uneven gains across the community. The manager and department directors attributed the town's fiscal and programmatic gains to development in areas such as Riverdale Park Station, targeted grant programs and new organizational systems.

Department directors walked the council through achievements and incoming projects. The Office of Administrative Services highlighted bilingual communications, the 1 Riverdale Park outreach campaign and a newly expanded community food pantry network. Development Services said it has expanded public art sites, adjusted farmers-market assistance when federal supports faltered and will launch an online business directory. Finance staff reported seven consecutive GFOA budget recognitions, strengthened long-term planning and improved grant and accounts-payable management. Grants staff reported $900,000 awarded since July 2024 and roughly $3.6 million in pending applications.

Public safety and operations were prominent topics. The police chief reported 25 of 26 sworn positions filled, 15,579 calls for service last year with about 40% self-initiated, and an average priority-call response time of 2 minutes 41 seconds; the department also upgraded body-worn cameras and implemented mandatory wellness check-ins. The town described multiple training programs and community outreach events run by the department.

Public Works listed completed and planned capital projects—municipal center renovations nearing final permit, stormwater upgrades, installation of 26 crosswalks and 29 ADA curb ramps, several sidewalk projects and upcoming rain gardens and a bioretention pond at Bill Circle. Staff said they contracted a town-wide pavement and sidewalk assessment and purchased the town's first electric utility vehicle.

Looking ahead to the FY27 budget, the manager proposed no change to the tax rate, a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for staff and several new positions including an economic-development coordinator, a Maryland Main Street manager/events coordinator, a full-time project manager and a civilian support-services coordinator for police compliance work. The manager also proposed a $100,000 line of credit for the volunteer fire department to bridge reimbursement timing on a roughly $350,000 federal recruitment and retention grant; staff said the town's exposure would be limited and the grant officer would monitor eligibility and drawdowns.

Council members and attendees asked questions about privacy and data sharing: the police chief said license-plate-reader data are stored by the state and that only one inquiry was reported last year, and that neighborhood-camera feeds are monitored internally and not shared externally. Several council members and a former mayor urged the town to prioritize equitable development and economic development to broaden the commercial tax base and ease pressure on longtime homeowners and seniors facing rising property-tax burdens.

The manager closed by saying the town will pursue targeted investments to sustain growth and listed the immediate next step as a council work session scheduled for the following Monday.