University Park council adopts FY26 amendment to accept Sustainable Action Grant and approves budget adjustments

The University Park Mayor and Common Council unanimously adopted Legislative Resolution 26-O-01 on March 23, 2026, amending the FY26 budget to add revenue and expenditure line items to accept a Sustainable Action Grant and include it in operating expenditures. Councilmember Casey Kelby moved the measure and Councilmember Mary Gathercole seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Town Treasurer Carrina Bucknor told the council that overall revenue is performing well and reported that a 2019 debt service loan payment will be made in March, with "approximately $150,000 paid during the current period." She also said workers’ compensation insurance costs decreased from 1.5% to 1.36%, a change that provides additional operating savings.

Council then approved a separate motion to adopt a set of FY26 budget adjustments as presented. Councilmember Mary Gathercole moved the adjustments and Councilmember Cynthia Mowery seconded; the motion carried unanimously. Council agreed to continue refining companion budget documents, including the Capital Improvement Program, during the budget timeline and subsequent meetings.

During the budget worksession that followed, Council discussed several implementation items linked to the operating and capital budget: whether stop sign camera installation costs and road restoration on recently paved roads (for example, Queen’s Chapel Road) would be the vendor’s or the town’s responsibility; a draft CIP framework and its submission timing; and a recommendation from Treasurer Bucknor to resume the established pay scale, which she said produced a net savings of about $8,000 when employee placements were corrected.

Public Works Director Michael Beall asked Council to restore a proposed $4,000 reduction to the Park Upkeep line item to replace damaged and insufficient trash and recycling receptacles at the playground. He also asked Council to reverse a proposed $10,000 reduction to the Street and Sidewalk Maintenance line and maintain that line at $30,000, citing about $12,000 in damage to College Heights Drive from heavy dump truck traffic tied to a construction project on 41st Avenue.

Council directed staff to continue refining the budget documents, to publish proposed stop sign camera locations for public input ahead of the Police, Traffic and Public Safety Committee meeting, and to bring requested details in writing from the vendor (Obvio) about hardwiring, payment responsibility, and road restoration before final decisions.

The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.