Politics & Government

On the Agenda: Budget Preview, Increasing Scrutiny on Town Center Development, More

A vote on whether to approve the creation of a fiscal advisory board is also on the agenda.

A second preview of the fiscal year 2014 city budget, a vote that could establish a fiscal advisory board, and a proposal to change the way site plan applications are processed within Town Center highlight the Rockville City Council’s agenda for Monday.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting will be broadcast live on Rockville 11.

More Scrutiny on Town Center Development

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A council decision is expected on a proposal that would place more scrutiny on development in Rockville’s Town Center.

The proposal— Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment TXT2013-00235—would require all site development plans under consideration in the Town Center Performance District be Level 2 plans, which require Planning Commission approval or a project plan, which requires the council’s approval.

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For Town Center redevelopment, the proposal would eliminate “Level 1” plans that are smaller in scope and only need approval by the city’s planning chief.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 12 in favor of the proposed changes.

Commissioners questioned why the increased scrutiny of development plans would be reserved only for Town Center, The Gazette reported.

LINKS: City Report | Draft ordinance

Fiscal advisory board

The council is expected to vote on whether to approve the creation of a fiscal advisory board, which is intended to increase citizen input on the city’s budget and finances.

LINKS:  City Report | Proposal to Establish a Fiscal Advisory Board

2014 budget preview

The city’s finance department will offer another glimpse of the budget for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1.

City staff said in December that property assessments would be a “major factor” in determining the budget outlook. Staff said the city faced an estimated $2.6 million gap between expenditures and general fund revenues if the property tax rate were not increased in fiscal year 2014, according to The Gazette. 

But a recent city report projected $36 million in total tax revenue for fiscal year 2014, which includes an unexpected 3 percent increase in property tax assessments. 

The city’s approved general fund budget for fiscal year 2013 is $65.3 million.

The budget will be formally introduced March 18. The council is expected to adopt the budget in May.

LINKS: 2013 City Budget | Budget preview


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