Rising Sun adopts FY2023 budget; keeps tax rate, funds police hires and water projects

Rising Sun's mayor and commissioners adopted the town's fiscal year 2023 operating budget on a voice vote, approving Resolution 2022-12 and maintaining the tax rate as written in the resolution. Town Administrator Calvin A. Boddenberger Jr. summarized budget priorities that include funding two additional police officers, purchasing three police vehicles, buying two portable speed-tracking signs, completing water-line replacements and the Pearl Street paving project, and continued funding for community events.

"The tax rate for the town is being maintained the way it's been for the last couple of years," Boddenberger said, and added the budget includes new hires and equipment aimed at improving public safety and traffic enforcement. He told commissioners the speed-tracking signs will collect data on the number of speeders, average speed and time of day to help the chief allocate officers more efficiently.

Boddenberger also warned of a looming, largely unfunded stormwater mandate tied to MS4 permitting and Chesapeake Bay nutrient-reduction targets. "By 2025, December of 2025, the town of Rising Sun is looking at roughly a $1,700,000 bill that we're gonna have to spend to take the necessary steps to reduce the footprint," he said. The administrator said the town is pursuing a grant application with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management that, if fully funded, could cover that work along with other capital needs cited in his presentation, including a proposed new public works building (estimated $700,000), lagoon decommissioning (about $1.5 million) and a belt filter press (about $1.5 million).

On the water and sewer finances, Boddenberger presented the town's fund projections: the water fund showed projected revenues of $1,134,872.13 and projected expenses of $1,517,267.77 (the administrator explained this appears positive after removing noncash depreciation in his presentation); the sewer fund projection showed $1,054,232.82 in revenue against $1,721,648.54 in expenses, a shortfall the administrator said could require drawing on reserves if unexpected costs arise. He also recommended adding a backup pump to the wastewater plant (estimated at about $40,000) and noted the town budgets approximately $180,000 for a third-party operator to run the treatment plant.

Commissioners moved and seconded Resolution 2022-12; one commissioner noted a typographical error in the resolution title that staff said would be corrected. The commission approved the budget by voice vote. Boddenberger closed by noting one prospective development could generate approximately $2.2 million in impact fees for the town, which, he said, would help stabilize tax and utility rates over time.

The commission also discussed several smaller matters in staff and commissioner reports, including Police Accountability Board readiness, vehicle procurement challenges due to supply-chain issues, upcoming stop-sign installations and local traffic enforcement.