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The Town of Preston started its FY2026 budget discussions during the Mar. 24, 2025, workshop meeting.
Town Manager Amber Korell submitted a draft budget for FY2026, and the Commissioners are reviewing. The draft includes an increase in the Schedule of Fees, as “we have not updated them since 2022 or 2023,” said Korell. Korell used the approved FY2025 budget numbers to create the new draft budget, which includes a surplus of $95,000. A budget hearing is scheduled for May.
One of the major decisions that Preston faces is whether to use a portion of the projected budget surplus to purchase a new dump truck or a heavy-duty pick-up truck. Korell received a $75,129 quote for a Ford F350 dump truck with a plow package. There is also an option to lease the dump truck for $27,186 for three years and then buy the dump truck outright for $1.
There was a discussion on whether a new dump truck was necessary, as Preston Public Works currently has a dump truck. However, it is an older model. “If a smaller truck would do the job that we need for the town, I figured that would be the most cost-efficient option. However, I feel like if we need dump truck – let's say we get another bad winter. We take this dump truck out and then it breaks down. Now we're talking about, ‘oh remember when we could have got that new dump truck’, you know,” said Commissioner Daniel Mulford.
Korell said she would work on getting more quotes for some heavy-duty pick-up truck options.
The Preston Lions Club had approached the town to erect a digital sign to advertise events and share information. While the Commissioners were willing to discuss the upgraded signage, especially considering Lions Club representatives had offered to help fund the project, concerns were raised over the logistics of the sign’s ownership and governance. “That plan needs to be mapped and discussed for sure,” said Commission President Savannah Winston.
At the direction of the Commission, the subject of Railroad Avenue was bridged at the workshop. The town paid $13,100 to have the road grated and chipped in June of 2020, “and since then [we] have kept it up with millings and gratings every couple months,” said Korell. The amount of millings needed to repair Railroad Avenue in its current state would cost $595. This is in comparison to the price estimate of $950,000 to completely pave the road. She has made attempts to contact the State Highway Administration about cost-sharing, but she notes, “They’re not going to give us any money to help.” Public Works will continue to work with local volunteers to fix up the road as best they can with millings until a more permanent solution can be found.
Korell shared that the town attorney looked over an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department and gave it the green light to be voted on at the next town meeting. She confirmed that the updated agreement continues to provide for the same police coverage and hours as the current agreement.
