In a marathon session lasting almost four hours, Greenbelt City Council reviewed City Manager Nicole Ard’s budget for the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Safety section. Present to discuss their budget proposals were representatives of the police department, Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Greenbelt Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Community Emergency/Animal Response Team (CART). (See separate stories for the fire department and CERT/CART).
Funding the Greenbelt Police Department utilizes 99 percent of the public safety budget. The proposed expenditure increase budgeted for public safety is nearly six percent more than for the current year budget and 10 percent more than the current year’s estimated expenditures. This compares to a five percent increase for the total city proposed budget, both for current year budget and estimated expenses. The new budget does not change the number of public safety personnel authorized nor any job classes. Nor does the proposal increase the property tax rate. The budget increases being supported are primarily from anticipated increased property tax revenue due to increased property assessments and new construction near the Greenbelt Metro station.
For the second year, council held the worksession at the Springhill Lake Recreation Center.
The meeting was videotaped for playback on the city cable channel and website.
For more on this story, click here.