Resident warns of steep Bowie property tax increase as council schedules early budget work sessions

A Bowie resident told the City Council on July 30 that his September 2026 property tax bill rose by $900 — an increase he described as 52% compared with 2025 — and urged the council to review services and restore fiscal transparency.

"I was truly shocked to discover that the City of Bowie tax levy went up $900, an increase of 52% compared to the 2025 payment," resident David Love said during public comment. He said the city had been operating with a structural deficit, had been drawing down emergency funds, and that residents were not adequately informed about the budget pressures.

Love listed specific service concerns, saying trash crews often rush routes and damage cans, field maintenance at Buckingham Park is excessive relative to usage, some streetlights have been out for about a year, and there have been recurring issues with discolored water following pipe work. He estimated that if roughly 22,000 Bowie homeowners each saw a $900 increase, that would represent more than $20 million in added property tax revenue.

Mayor Michael Esteve thanked Love and suggested the speaker look for openings on the city's finance committee as a way to get involved. "I recommend going to the city's finance committee website to see if we have any openings on our finance committee," the mayor said.

Councilmember Dennis Brady pushed the council to begin budget work earlier this year to avoid the difficulties of the prior cycle. Brady asked staff to provide guidance and requested a briefing on program accounting so council could provide clearer direction to staff early in the process. "We need to provide them better guidance, so that we don't get into the difficult situation we saw last year," Brady said, urging an initial meeting during the week of July 27.

Councilmember Wanda Rogers said the council is serious about addressing the structural deficit and rebuilding reserves so homeowners will not face similar surprises during the current council terms. The mayor proposed separating two work sessions — one with the city's lobbyist and a separate economic development session in August — while scheduling the budget kickoff the week of July 27 and offering a virtual option for members who cannot attend in person.

The council did not take a formal budget vote at the July 30 meeting; members moved instead to schedule targeted work sessions and asked staff for early briefings on program-accounting options and potential efficiency measures. The July 27 work session was announced as the first opportunity for an extended budget discussion.

What happens next: Councilmembers and staff will convene the budget kickoff work session the week of July 27, and the council asked staff to prepare a program-accounting briefing and other materials to inform that session.