Funkstown mayor and Town Council to talk trash, yard waste

Monday meeting is last scheduled budget workshop before hearing

June 01, 2010|By JULIE E. GREENE

FUNKSTOWN -- Funkstown's mayor and Town Council are expected to discuss trash and yard waste collection, and the deputy program during a budget workshop Monday night at Town Hall, Town Clerk/Treasurer Brenda L. Haynes said.

Monday's meeting is the last scheduled budget workshop before a June 14 public hearing on the town's proposed budget.

The proposed budget includes a 6-cent property tax rate increase that would be the town's first property tax hike in 21 years, according to Herald-Mail archives and the Washington County Treasurer's Office.

The proposed budget also includes a 4.5 percent water rate hike for Funkstown water customers.

The budget workshop will be June 7 at 6 p.m.

The hearing will be June 14 at 7 p.m., before the start of the regular monthly Town Council meeting, Haynes said. The council is expected to vote on the budget following the hearing.

The budget is for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Town Council voted in May to include a property tax rate increase in the proposed budget to help the town deal with declining state highway user revenue, expected drops in income tax revenue and decreases in the assessed value of properties in town.

Assistant Mayor Sharon Chirgott and Town Council members John Phillips III, Kim Ramer, Richard Nigh, Richard Gaver and Robert Rodgers Jr. voted 6-0 to include the proposed property tax hike in the proposed budget, Haynes said.

The town's current property tax rate is 22 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The proposed water rate hike is to help absorb increases in the rate the town pays its water provider, the City of Hagerstown. Hagerstown has planned five years of rate increases. Funkstown absorbed the first one with a 3.6 percent water rate hike for its water customers that took effect last December.

Funkstown water customers within town limits now pay a fixed quarterly rate of $37.06 for up to 6,000 gallons of water. The rate for each additional 1,000 gallons is $4.87.

Funkstown water customers who live outside town limits now pay a fixed quarterly rate of $49.48. The rate for each additional 1,000 gallons is $6.51.

If you go ...

What: Funkstown budget workshop

When: June 7, 6 p.m.

Where: Funkstown Town Hall

What: Public hearing on Funkstown's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010-11

When: June 14, 7 p.m.

Where: Funkstown Town Hall

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