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Month: March 2015 Page 1 of 4

City Publishes 2016 Requested Budget

City Budget

City Budget

The FY2016 requested budget is now available. Bound copies and CDs are available for resident pickup at City Hall and Davis Hall.

The 2016 requested budget can also be found here on City’s website:

I will give a more detailed highlights of the budget, but here are some quick notes: 1. No hike in tax is proposed 2. Revenue will remain almost the same compared to the current fiscal year 3. A small increase (about 2%) is proposed for the COLA – cost of living adjustments.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Today – Live Smart, Eat Local – Clarice Smith Director Martin Wollesen!

Our March Live Smart, Eat Local event with The Clarice Executive Director Martin Wollesen is today! Please see below for details
livesmart-march2015

MD State Approves Highway User Revenue Funds

Great news!
The representative of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) told us last Thursday that, the Maryland Senate voted unanimously to approve the State of Maryland Fiscal 2016 Budget (HB 70) which INCLUDES the $19 million set aside for MUNICIPAL transportation funding needs allocated through the HUR (Highway User Revenue) formula.
Cities and towns use the HUR funds to build and repair local roads and bridges. In recent years the funds have been reduced due to recession.
This is a $3 million increase over current year allocation. Since the Senate and House language in the budget bill  regarding the $19 million match, this item should NOT be in play during the upcoming Conference Committee discussions on the budget. This is VERY GOOD NEWS!

County Proposes 15% Property Tax Hike


The Prince George’s County Executive has recently proposed to raise property tax rates by 15% for the first time in 35 years and includes layoffs and furloughs, all to free up more funding for schools, public safety and economic development.

Above are links and a 28-page document on the proposed budget. The website address immediately below has a 30-minute video on the budget and the full budget documents.

The City has invited our County Council representatives to come and discuss the proposed tax hike at the April 7 worksession. I will let you know if it’s confirmed.

Annual Bulk Recycling Starts April 4

Got junk?

Got junk?

The Public Works Department is open the first 4 Saturdays in April ( April 4, 11, 18 and 25) from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for City residents to drop off trash and recycling.

This is the only time you may bring items to Public Works for disposal (other than used motor oil).

The following items will be accepted:

  • Bulk trash
  • Yard trim
  • Brush, branches, and stumps
  • Electronics
  • Styrofoam®: molded block foam only, no food/beverage containers or packing peanuts
  • Scrap metal
  • Community Forklift donations
  • American Rescue Worker donations
  • Document shredding: only available during one cleanup event per year. Please check below for the next shredding event.

There may be a charge for A/C units, heat pumps, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, and freezers. There is a $4 charge for each tire.

Household hazardous waste (including shingles and propane tanks) will NOT be accepted.

Proof of City residency is required.

College Park Woods Community Pool Gets Second Higher Water Bill

The problem came about when WSSC installed a new meter and all the readings are conducted at their central office. The Pool Board plans to meet with a WSSC advocate today to discuss the bills in question.

City to Host Complete Streets Workshop

street

North College Park Crime Map: March 15, 21, 2015

[mappress mapid=”216″] Breaking and Entering Residential

Event

Type

From

To

Location

[3/18/15]BREAKR18:2419:449700 Blk NARRAGANSETT PKY,


Theft from Auto

 

Event

Type

From

To

Location

[3/15/15]THEFTA11:1511:389600 Blk BALTIMORE AVE,
[3/19/15]THEFTA05:1406:319100 Blk RHODE ISLAND AVE,
[3/19/15]THEFT10:2010:599800 Blk RHODE ISLAND AVE,

The following citizen robbery occurred on February 25, 2015. There was an error  when the Crime stat was originally sent for Northern College Park. It was brought to my attention that the Crime Stats were reported inaccurately. However, the error has been corrected.

Citizen Robbery

Event

 

Type

From

To

Location

[2/24/15]
[2/24/15]ROBCIT19:3920:27LACKAWANNA ST/NARRAGANSETT PKY,

Gateway Park Development Hit with Delay

The Gateway Park development at the south east corner of  Edgewood Rd and Route 1 has been hit by an uncertainty with the State’s Program Open Space fund. Even though the City has the grant money, it needs State’s approval to spend.
the Board of Public Works made approximately $400 million in cuts to agencies’ general fund budgets for the remaining fiscal year. The Department of Budget and Management and the Governor stated that these reductions are necessary due to reductions in revenue estimates for this current FY 2015.
The total reduction statewide is $8.1 million, of which Prince George’s County will lose approximately $1.8 million.  Since College Park represents approximately 3.52 % of the total County population, the City’s portion of the cut will be $64,127.  Not including this anticipated cut (a budget reconciliation bill must be passed in the current session), and the City’s Program Open Space funds that are already encumbered, the City at the end of FY14 had approximately $2 million in total Program Open Space funding (for both acquisition and development).
I’ll keep you posted as I find more.
Update [3/27/2015]: We’ve got some update yesterday afternoon. Staff told us that the State is now accepting applications from municipalities to obligate the Program Open Space (POS) grant money. The City plans to submit application soon for the final approval so that it can obligate any unencumbered funds for the Hollywood Gateway Park. Staff will also work on the acquisition of the area at the entrance of the proposed park. The owner of the lot is cooperating so far.
The project has not been bid so we don’t know for sure if we have enough funds.  Allocating $76,000 in FY16 POS funds would certainly help .  The developer contribution from the Greenbelt Station project has been received and is available.
If everything goes well and we get all the funds, construction may start as early as this Fall.

In Pictures – 2015 College Park Book Festival

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