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Residents question rising utility bills and policing costs during Elkton budget hearing
Summary
Two Elkton residents raised questions during the FY27 budget public comment period about employee payments, the Police Department budget (more than $1 million), and rising utility and fee burdens; treasurer and police chief responded to specific budget questions.
Resident Gene Kite asked whether a $1,000 payment to each employee was included in the proposed FY27 budget; Town Manager Greg Lunsford confirmed the payment was included. Kite also asked whether the Police Department's budget exceeding $1 million included salaries; Chief of Police Mike King confirmed that salaries were included. Treasurer Donna Curry told Council she was not prepared at that moment to say whether any departments were currently exceeding their budgets as reports were still being compiled.
Another resident, Wayne Printz, said the town budget had increased from approximately $6.2 million to over $9 million and warned that rising fees were affecting residents and businesses. Printz acknowledged water and sewer improvements but urged the council to "avoid overextending the Town financially," citing general replacement-cost estimates and his own recent higher utility bills as context for his concerns.
