Council Considers Animal Shelter, Property Tax Rate and More in Budget Worksession

The real property tax rate in Bowie will remain the same and a proposed short-term animal shelter could be moved to the next fiscal year if the city council accepts the staff version the Fiscal Year 2014 Revenue Fund and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The FY2014 budget is characterized by a continuation of core services, according to city manager David Deutsch. 

"I don't expect it to be a contentious budget," Deutsch said. 

Here's a rundown of some of the proposed FY2014 Revenue Fund and CIP budget highlights. 

City-Run Short-Term Animal Shelter

City staff is also recommending moving the proposed short-term animal shelter to the Fiscal Year 2015 budget to give the city more time to determine if there is a real need for the city to take on the expense.

The city’s animal holding facility has been in operation for about nine months. Data released by the city’s animal control department shows that from June 2012 through the end of March 2013, 24 animals were brought to the city holding facility. Approximately half of those were retrieved by owners and half were sent to the county animal management facility.

Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare (CLAW) have offered to pay for the establishment of a short-term shelter in the city up to $150,000. However, city staff have determined that it would cost the city about $122,000 annually to operate the facility.

Other Recommended Expenditures

Other CIP recommended include a $1.5 million investment in street resurfacing; $1.4 million for Phase I of the construction of the Heritage Trail in old town Bowie; and funds to begin replacing the refrigeration and dasher board systems of the Bowie Ice Arena.

Real Property Tax Rate

If approved by council, Bowie's $0.40 per $100 real property tax rate would remain in place for a fourth year in a row. Property tax accounts for 60 percent of the city’s revenue.

Combined City Water and Sewer Rate Increase

City staff is recommending an increase to Bowie's combined city water and sewer rate to fund several infrastructure improvements. If approved, the rate would climb from $8.29 per thousand gallons to $9.12 per thousand gallons. Planned improvements include repainting the Belair Drive water tank, two new sewer pumps, and roof replacements on two wastewater plant buildings.  

A full copy of Bowie’s proposed FY2014 budget can be found online here. Tonight’s budget worksession, the first of five, will take place at the city hall at 8 p.m.