Preston holds public hearing on budget

The Commissioners of Preston presented a draft FY26 budget during a public hearing on May 20. The budget will be considered for approval at the June 2, 2025, meeting.

The Commissioners did a first reading of the ordinance to adopt the budget, which includes level property tax of $0.36 per $100 assessed, which town manager Amber Korell notes has not changed in 34 years. The anticipated revenues in FY25 are $1,234,695.56, balanced against total expenditures of the same amount. The Commissioners also presented for consideration a resolution to amend the Town’s water and sewer rates by an increase of 6% over FY25 rates.

Increases in the Town’s fees and fines were considered in the first reading of a resolution to adopt. The fees are not increasing “substantially” according to Korell. Commissioner Dan Mulford noted that there was an increase in permitting fees for installing handicap ramps, and he expressed concern with increasing fees that may impact vulnerable populations. Korell noted that most of the increase in overall permitting and inspection fees were the results of increased contracted costs with Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) that provides building inspection services. Mulford asked her to review whether MDIA is proposing an increase specifically for handicap ramp installation, and if not, he suggested that the fee remains the same for FY26.

Korell explained that the cost of a new pickup truck, an asset needed for town operations, is spread over four categories to prevent any one budget category from having a significant increase. She will research and apply for grants to help offset the capital and maintenance cost of the vehicle.

Commissioner Hildebrand noted that the water and sewer fees are at a level to maintain the current system and speculated that future state and federal regulatory changes could have an impact on the fees. He also commented that if one or two of the larger users were not to be on the system in the future, total revenue will be impacted.

At the close of the public hearing, the Commissioners moved into the regular workshop, which included an update on the status of the wastewater treatment plant. Chris Derbyshire, Senior Vice President, GMB, the contracted engineering firm of record, went through a brief summary of the history of the plant to give context to the current status.

In 2022, ProStart, the treatment plant operator for the town, noted that there was an issue with settling of treated materials in the system’s basin, and implemented a temporary pilot system to try to relieve the issue. Throughout the last two and a half years, ProStart conducted tests under guidance from Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), but in January 2025, data showed that the “mix liquor” continued to settle at the bottom of the system’s basin.

Derbyshire reminded the Commissioners that as a part of the process, the Maryland States Attorney General’s office is expected to issue a Consent Decree on the issue of the Town of Preston’s treatment facility being out of environmental regulatory compliance because of the issue with settling of biologics. Commission President, Savannah Winston, said, “the Consent Decree is a collaborative effort,” and that the town will “work with the AGs office to make sure the agreement benefits the town.”

GMB is working on the design and pricing of components of the treatment plant to bring it into compliance and will work with MDE and the AGs office to help find funding opportunities to offset the capital costs and bring the town into compliance. The Consent Decree is a mechanism to help with grant funding.