Frederick Mayor Vetoes Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

He says he disagrees with some cuts put approved by the City Council.Frederick Mayor Michael O’ConnorFrederick, Md (KM) After consultations with his staff, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor says he has decided on Tuesday  to veto the  proposed budget   passed last week, by the City Council. The Mayor says he’s not happy with the $3 million in cuts made by the Council. “I think there were some significant cuts that I was not willing to accept in terms of service delivery to the residents of the city of Frederick,” he said.The Council on Thursday approved the $235 million budget which contained almost $3 million in cuts, including some positions, such as a  community planning and urban design planner.. The vote was 3-2 with Council members Katie Nash,  Donna Kuzemchak and Ben MacShane in support, and  Kelly Russell and Derek Shackleford in opposition.  These cuts followed a decision by the Council to lower the property tax rate by 2.5 cents from 73.05 cents per $100 of assessed value to 70,55 cents per $100 of assessed value.Mayor O’Connor said one cut he not happy with would have set aside money for non-profits whose services  would be impacted by proposed federal funding reductions. “That came to the City Council back in the early spring to share what they believe the potential impacts from the Trump Administration might be on federal funding to them. We set aside funding to support those non-profit organizations through a grant process, ” he says.Another cut would impact the Police Department. “Roughly $225,000 cut to the Police Department’s professional services budget. The line item in the Police Department’s budget which includes our speed camera and automate enforcement; our school crossing guard program; our body worn camera program amongst a number of other areas; and just believe it was too much,”  says O’Connor.Funding was also cut for employee pay adjustments which Mayor O’Connor says would address disparities in salary based on tenure. “For the loyalty that they have given to us for many years. a ten-year based pay program that acknowledged that long service was worth supporting as well,” he says.The City Council could  decide to override the veto, but that vote would need to be unanimous. O’Connor says the Council has to have a budget adopted by June 20th, or the original budget proposed by the Mayor will take affect on July 1st, the first day of fiscal year 2026.Mayor O’Connor says he believes he made the right decision. “I’ve taken an action that I think is necessary to make sure that critical support and services for our residents continue to move forward. The ball, so to speak,  is in hands of the Council to determine next steps,” he says.By Kevin McManus