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Politics & Government

Few Challenge Greenbelt's FY 2012 Budget

City council fields input from three Greenbelt residents over fiscal year 2012 budget.

Last night’s city council meeting included a public hearing over the city’s fiscal year 2012 budget, netting input from all of three residents who questioned spending outlays amid a still-insecure economy.

The fiscal year 2012 budget amounts to some $25.4 million, representing a 2.1 percent increase over 2011. Since March, it has undergone five council work sessions, with another five planned through May.

While the city also anticipates some 25.7 million in revenues, longtime resident Martin Murray said the need to rein in spending is now, citing continued devaluations in the prices of homes in the city.

“Values are going down, and that’s going to affect your revenue,” he said. “And I don’t know how you’re going to make that up.”

According to budget documents, “The real estate tax base is expected to remain essentially flat in FY 2012.”

Yet Murray, whose home was assessed at $410,000 by the state in 2010, said his home this year was valued at $328,300.

"That's the reality," he warned.

Among other places, Murray said the Greenbelt Police Department is prime for cuts. “We have six officers making over a $100,000,” he said, citing public documents and making the case that the force is too “top heavy."

Mayor Judith Davis said such concerns would soon be addressed. “Quite a few of our police are going to age out (soon),” Davis said.

Councilman Edward Putens agreed, estimating that by 2014 some 20 officers will be eligible for retirement.

I wouldn’t count on it, said Murray. “I’m still working.”

Meanwhile, resident Molly Lester zeroed in on the budget’s two-percent — or $244,000 — increase in cost of living adjustments (COLA) for the city’s employees.

She also referenced a news article in which Greenbelt was singled out for compensating its employees more than any other jurisdiction in Prince George’s County.

According to that Maryland Gazette article, the average salary of a Greenbelt employee sits at $59,578 per year.

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“I have a concern there’s no cap on expenditures,” Lester said.

In stark contrast to Murray, the one area in which Lester said more spending makes sense is on the police department.

Quoting a Greenbelt Patch story, Lester made that case by recounting the narratives of several Greenbelt Middle School students.

‘“Our [Franklin Park] neighborhood — it’s like an episode of Cops,”’ Lester said, quoting the story.

Other items during the council meeting included the adoption of a resolution to negotiate the purchase of banking services from the Columbia Bank of Columbia, Md.

The council also quarreled over the $17,000 purchase of software aimed at tracking the city’s vehicle fleet.

While City Manager Michael McLaughlin has, in the past, said owning the software is “not critical,” he and others emphasized its long-term, cost-savings potential.

It will keep track of vehicles and parts more closely, said McLaughlin, as well as pinpoint users who may be abusing the vehicles.

But Councilman Rodney Roberts didn’t buy it, arguing that it doesn’t take software to manage a fleet of vehicles.

“Supervisors should know if vehicles are being abused,” he said.

Ultimately, the council voted 5-2 in favor of purchasing the software, with Roberts and Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan dissenting.

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