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Garrett Park council introduces ordinance to amend FY2025 budget, citing delayed state reimbursements
Summary
The Garrett Park Town Council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance No. 2025-1, a FY2025 budget amendment that reduces total revenues by $287,066 and reassigns ARPA-funded project allocations after state reimbursements for two capital projects were delayed.
Garrett Park’s Town Council on Feb. 24 introduced Ordinance No. 2025-1, a proposal to amend the Town’s FY2025 budget after staff reported lower-than-expected reimbursements and several reclassifications of capital spending. Councilmember Phil Schulp moved to introduce the ordinance and Councilmember Lisa Max seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Town Manager Barb Matthews told the council the amendment would reduce total revenues by $287,066 and noted that the prior carryover (Account 1.0) exceeded the budgeted amount by $136,455. Matthews said real property tax revenues (Account 2.1.1) were increased by $20,000 in the amendment to reflect updated receipts.
Matthews said the largest single change was a $550,000 reduction in budgeted revenues from the State of Maryland (Account 3.1). She said the Town is not expected to receive $250,000 in state reimbursement for the Yeandle Park project and $300,000 for the Town Hall renovation within FY2025, based on current project schedules and reimbursement timelines.
The amendment also records an increase of $29,758 from Montgomery County (Account 3.2) described as a county tax-duplication payment for park maintenance obtained through County Councilmember Kate Stewart’s efforts. Investment revenues (Account 5.1) were projected to increase by $20,000, and Penn Place rents (Account 5.2.2) were projected to increase by $56,721 because of a new Black Market Bistro lease and rental of a small third-floor office.
On the expense side, Matthews reported approximately $24,000 of unanticipated Town Office renovation costs related to permitting; the amendment adds $19,000 to General Expenses (Account 11.2.1) to cover area rugs, acoustic panels and related items. The amendment would reduce Total to Capital Funds (Account 20.0) by $306,066 and transfer monies between ARPA-funded (35-series) projects to align funding with final ARPA obligations.
Specific capital-account adjustments in the amendment include adding $4,075 to Capital Account 25.0 (Equipment) to outfit a new pickup truck; reducing Town Hall capital (Account 27.2) by $300,000 and reducing Yeandle Park (Account 29.1.1) by $10,141 based on project timing. Matthews also described journal entries reallocating a portion of Clark I Azar charges to Account 32.6 (Capital Planning - Other) and moving other small items to appropriate facility or utilities accounts for reporting clarity.
After the presentation, the council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance No. 2025-1. The introduction is recorded in the minutes; the ordinance will return for subsequent formal consideration as the council proceeds through the budget process.
