Aloi Wants City Looking at Bigger Picture

George Wenschhof

City of Frederick alderman Shelley Aloi (R) would like the see the city look more at the "bigger picture than the day-to-day."

When we sat down to discuss Mayor Randy McClement's (R) recently released proposed budget, she expressed disappointment in the size of the debt service and lack of action to reduce it.

She pointed to the failure of the city to secure the federal $13.6 million grant for the airport, as well as, the lack of movement on pension reform and other post employee benefit program (OPEB) over the two and one-half years since they have been in office.

In addition, Aloi was concerned the Carroll Creek development was being funded by debt service and the unfunded mandate by the state for waste water treatment plant upgrades were weighing down the city budget.

Shelley felt the mayor was using the $10 million fund balance as a "Christmas for everybody" by "providing something for everyone in the proposed budget."

She noted the increase in expenditures from the current year is 22% and the overall increase was 9%.

Aloi would like to use the $10 million fund balance to increase the budget for road repair from the proposed $1.4 million to $2.9 million and to pay for some of the $8.5 million Carroll Creek development, instead of 100% funding by debt service.

The alderman also felt the city needed to use a professional in some negotiations, pointing out the failure of city negotiations to bring the airport leases in line with what was required to secure the $13.6 million federal grant, will result in another one year delay, costing the city millions.

Another expenditure bothering Aloi, is the $1.5 million annual "ready to serve" water charge the city is paying to the county for the privilege of being able to use, when the city is not using it. This was an agreement reached by former Republican mayor Jeff Holtzinger.

City public meetings on the budget have started and the schedule follows below. Plan to attend or watch on local channel 99. They are also streamed online at www.cityoffrederick.com

April 4th - 7:00 p.m.
• Department of Public Works

April 11th – 7:00 p.m.
• Police Department April 18th – 7:00 p.m.
• Airport
• Economic Development,
• Weinberg Center,
• Parking,
• Facilities
• Community Action Agency

April 25th – 7:00 p.m.
• Engineering
• Planning
• Parks & Recreation

May 2nd – 7:00 p.m.
• Finance/Budget & Purchasing/Human Resources
• Legal
• Mayor’s Office

May 9th – 7:00 p.m.
• Open agenda

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below.