City Manager Proposes 4.5% Spending Increase in Budget

Gaithersburg City Manager Tony Tomasello has proposed a fiscal year 2015 budget of $59.3 million, which is 4.5 percent higher than the FY14 budget, according to a news release.

This includes an operating budget of $49.6 million, a Capital Improvements Plan funded at $8.8 million, and a transfer of $910,000 to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund.

Fiscal year 2015 runs from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

“Despite relatively flat revenue, this budget allows us to continue our commitment to deliver the highest level of service possible to our residents by more accurately forecasting our annual spending, making use of some of our substantial reserve funds and thoughtfully and strategically allocating monies within the Capital Improvement Plan,” said Tomasello. “It is a time of renewed growth and optimism in Gaithersburg, and we encourage our residents to comment on the budget and continue their involvement as we collectively move this community forward.” 

The city manager’s introductory letter and the FY15 proposed budget will be available on the city’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov as of April 14.

Resident input on the proposed budget is welcome at these meetings:

• Monday, April 21 – 7:30 p.m. – Budget Public Hearing
• Monday, April 28 – 7:30 p.m. – Budget Work Session
• Tuesday, April 29 – 7:30 p.m. – Budget Work Session (only if necessary)
• Wednesday, May 14 – 5 p.m. – Record Closes
• Monday, June 2 – 7:30 p.m. – Budget Scheduled for Adoption

The public may comment for up to 3 minutes in person at the public hearing and work session. Pre-registration is not necessary. Written comment is welcome until the record closes at cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov, or by mail to City Hall, 31 S. Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. 

All mayor and council meetings and work sessions are aired live on GTV, Gaithersburg’s municipal cable channel, viewable on Comcast and RCN channel 13 or FiOS channel 25 within city limits. Meetings can also be viewed live via streaming video at www.gaithersburgmd.gov, or can be viewed online once the meeting is archived.