Ocean City council adopts $125 million 2026 municipal budget, plans immediate grant amendments

Ocean City adopted its 2026 municipal budget during the June 11 council meeting after the state completed its review and cleared the document for adoption.

Frank, the city staff member who presented the budget, told the council the same $125 million package introduced in March remained under consideration and noted, “we're still at the same 1.38 cent tax increase” as proposed in the mayor’s version. He said the state notified the city earlier that day that the review was complete and the budget could be adopted that night.

Frank told the council the adopted budget will be amended immediately to add two grants on the agenda: a community development block grant and funds for a Celebrate 250 program. He also explained the town remains compliant with the statutory spending cap and tax levy cap that govern local adoption.

Council members moved, seconded, and adopted the resolution to approve the budget after a public hearing in which no members of the public spoke. The roll call reflected affirmative votes from attending council members.

The presenter read appropriation and tax figures from the document as recorded in the meeting transcript; the transcript includes a numerical line that appears garbled (read as "76,881,52163"). The budget presentation otherwise referenced a separate $8,348,942 minimum library tax and the staff note that formal amendments to add grant revenues will be processed promptly.

The council also heard that auditors and city staff would be available after the meeting to answer follow-up questions on statutory procedures, and that the city intends to post or distribute final documentation tied to the amendments once they are filed.