City Manager Unveils $51.7M Budget Proposal

Gaithersburg City Manager Angel Jones has proposed increasing the city's budget by almost 8 percent for the upcoming fiscal year.

Jones released details about the $51.7 million proposal last week. Under the plan, the property tax rate, set at $0.262 per $100 of assessed value, would not change.

"This community is growing. With so many developments currently underway, thousands of new residents will be calling Gaithersburg 'home' in the very near future," Jones wrote in her official letter to the mayor and . "To maintain the quality of life for which we are known while continuing to adhere to a pay-as-you-go philosophy, it is imperative that we access all of the tools at our disposal to work smarter, not just harder."

Highlights of the budget proposal include:

• The proposed operating budget is $46,974,034, which is 12.8 percent higher than the adopted operating budget for fiscal year 2012.
• Adding three new positions to the police department.
• Bringing back the annual city employee picnic, an event eliminated during the recession.
• Adding special event programming staff to the parks, recreation and culture department.
• A 3.6 percent cost-of-living salary increase for employees. 

The city council will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7:30 p.m. April 30. A full copy of the budget proposal is available on the city's website. A pdf version is also attached to this article.