Politics & Government

Budget, Bonds and Green Buildings on the Council's Agenda

Increased use of the city seal is also up for discussion.

The city’s fiscal 2013 budget, a hearing on economic development bonds and discussions of a green building tax credit and the use of the city seal and logo, highlight Monday’s agenda for the Rockville City Council.

The council will meet at 7 p.m at . The meeting will be broadcast live on Rockville 11.

City staff will present the results of the budget preparation surveys completed by the council. The surveys are used by staff to develop the budget around priorities set by the council.

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Staff is proposing several “foundation” spending items based on survey questions in which council members answered that they “agree” or “strongly agree” with a proposed expenditure.

Based on the responses, staff is proposing:

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  • Keeping the real property tax rate at $0.292 per $100 and the personal property tax rate at $0.805 per $100 of assessed value.
  • A transfer of $3.5 million to $4 million from the city’s general fund to the capital budget, in order to cover a growing number of unfunded or under-funded construction projects without taking on more debt.
  • $376,600 in “operating cost impacts”—operating expenses tied to completed capital projects, such as the cost of additional staff and utility costs due to the expansion of the .
  • A 1 percent salary increase for city employees, while maintaining current benefit packages.
  • A 3.2 percent salary increase for the mayor (to $26,581) and council members (to $21,265), based on recommendations of the city’s Compensation Commission.
  • A 1 percent, or $7,220, increase in funding for caregiver and other outside agencies and a 1 percent, or $7,200, increase in funding for the

The council will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal on Jan. 30. Budget adoption is scheduled for May 21.

On Monday, the council will hold a hearing on what should go into a fiscal management policy for economic development revenue bonds. On Jan. 9, the on behalf of the & Village at Rockville, Inc., despite having no criteria in place regarding issuance of economic development bonds on behalf of nonprofits.

The council also will begin discussing a green building tax credit. The credit program would be piloted over five years, beginning in July with the fiscal 2013 budget. It would offer tax credits of up to $60,000 a year to commercial properties that make their buildings more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

The credit is a priority for .  The chamber worked with the city Environment Commission and city staff to develop the proposed credit program.

The council also will discuss how to increase use of the city seal. The council a year ago this week.


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