Laurel council approves budget amendment to prepay debt and provide short‑term rent relief for Selborne House residents

The Mayor and City Council of Laurel on June 22 approved Ordinance 2056, a budget amendment that increases the FY26 budget by $1,521,696 (to a $53,727,770 total) by adding identified revenues and savings and applying them to two purposes: prepaying city debt and funding a rental‑assistance program to help Selborne House residents facing a 7.5% rent increase.

Director Michelle Sailor presented the ordinance and explained the amendment would add $151,800 of ARPA interest to create a corresponding expenditure for a rental‑assistance program aimed at Selborne House residents impacted by a change in ownership and a 7.5% rent increase. Sailor also listed revenue and savings sources being used to balance the amendment: $500,000 in real estate tax revenue, $209,020 in police account receipts (speed‑camera net revenue), $660,876 from the unassigned fund balance, $20,000 from snow removal, $170,000 from interest earnings on undrawn loan proceeds, and $75,000 from property insurance savings; the amendment also included paying off principal on outstanding loans (the packet cited a $1,634,896 principal figure as part of the financing plan).

Councilwoman Clark urged an approach that would directly use the city’s Budget and Personnel Services (BAPS) to remit payments to the developer on behalf of each eligible resident and proposed two specific options for relief: Option 1 would fully cover the 7.5% increase for all 126 residents for 12 months (totaling $130,410); Option 2 would cover 4% of the increase for 24 months (totaling $139,104) to phase the increase and include a small pilot resident grant program ($15,000 for 100 one‑time $150 grants). Several councilmembers objected that the draft ordinance did not define eligibility, award amounts or the administrator of the grant program.

Councilman Simmons and others proposed including the program details in the ordinance; the mayor and city solicitor advised the council that, under the city charter, the council was voting to approve a transfer of funds and that the administration would subsequently set up the grant program and contracts. The solicitor said the council could approve or deny the transfer but that attaching substantive conditions to the transfer may be procedurally inappropriate under the charter provision in question.

A motion to adopt Ordinance 2056 was moved by Councilman Mills and seconded by Councilman Cole. Roll‑call votes recorded: Councilman Mills — yes; Councilman Cole — yes; Councilwoman Clark — no; Councilman Simmons — no; President Smith — yes; Mayor Sid Noor — yes. The motion carried and the ordinance was approved.