MORE CUTS? City plans to make
BOARD WALKIN’: Annual
drastic reductions in skate park service due to insurance fears, putting skaters and employees in jeopardy PAGE 5A
humane society fundraiser draws dogs of all shapes and sizes to Ocean City’s Boardwalk for a morning stroll PAGE 1B
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . 42A CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . . 1C ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 5B LEGALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3C
LIFESTYLE . . . . . . . . . . . 1B OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . 20A OUT&ABOUT . . . . . . . . 19B SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . 35A
COUNTYWIDE DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM OFFERED SATURDAY…PAGE 28A
Ocean City Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
APRIL 26, 2013
FREE OCEAN CITY BUDGET
Heavy seas Overnight bus service will be eliminated in OC off-season ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer
value – a 2.79 cent increase over last year’s rate and a 2.44 cent increase over the tax rate that would be necessary this year to generate the same income as last year, known as the constant yield level. However, the council engaged in a hot debate this time last year over whether to reduce the 2012-2013 budget year’s tax rate by a cent and instead take the money out of the city’s standing cash reserve. The move was eventually approved by the council’s then-
(April 26, 2013) In a continuing effort to cut expenses, the City Council last week voted to eliminate late night and early morning bus service during the resort’s off-season. Pending approval by the Maryland Transit Authority, city bus service will now be shut down from midnight to 6 a.m. during the Public Works Department’s “winter” schedule block, which runs from late October or early November to late March or early April. “It typically takes 160 days to get approval from the MTA on something like this,” Public Works Director Hal Adkins said. “They have to, by law, hold public hearings and reviews.” The city would, however, have the flexibility to reinstate late-night service for holiday weekends and events that may require it. Given that it is a majority financial partner in the city’s transportation system, the state could refuse or modify the service change. However, Adkins said that the MTA did not seem to have any serious objections when the topic was broached at its quarterly meeting with city Transportation Superintendent George Thornes.
See EXCESS on Page 5A
See WHEELS on Page 6A
PHOTO COURTESY MATT LANDON
Heavy waves hit the inlet rocks Tuesday evening, during a snap of cold and cloudy spring weather in the resort. More sun, and temperatures in the 60s, are expected in the week ahead.
CITYSTILLHAS$300KTOCUT To keep fund balance above 15 percent, city will bond out roof replacements OCEAN CITY BUDGET ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (April 26, 2013) Hearkening back to last year’s budget controversies, the Town of Ocean City will likely be looking to compensate in the coming weeks for another $300,000 in budget deficit in order to meet what has become the City
Council’s apparent goal of raising the tax rate by only 1 cent, while maintaining its operating reserve at 15 percent of the year’s general expenses. According to city Budget Manager Jennie Knapp, the city will still need to cut a further $300,000 in expenses – or gain $300,000 in revenues – in order to avoid raising its tax rate more than 1 cent beyond the constant yield rate.
“So the $20 that we gave back last year, we’re basically saying, ‘You had it for a year, now we need it back.’” COUNCIL SECRETARY MARY KNIGHT The city’s preliminary budget, as prepared by Knapp and City Manager David Recor, featured a tax rate of 48.64 cents per $100 of assessed property