More News

Frederick city's finance department suggested this week ways to patch up a $3.7 million hole in the city's $79.2 million operating budget by delaying patchwork to the city's roads and streets.

The recommendation to Mayor Randy McClement (R) and the Board of Aldermen will come from the city's budget director, who for weeks has been combing the city's operating and capital improvement budgets to see where to cut big-ticket projects that are not in progress, essential or cause a disruption to city services.

"The first avenues that we're going to pursue is looking at capital projects and see what can be delayed until future years," said budget director Katie Barkdoll. "I'm extremely optimistic that we can close this year's deficit just by pushing off projects."

McClement and the aldermen were scheduled to have their first public vetting of the city's budget woes during a workshop that took place after The Gazette's press time. For coverage of the discussion, go to www.gazette.net.

The projects recommended for delay are not high profile, such as improvements to Monocacy Boulevard, Barkdoll said, but ones that could go through phases of maintenance, such as annual street resurfacings, miscellaneous side-street upgrades, park projects and a transportation master plan.

Combined, those projects total about $2.5 million, Barkdoll said. She said that with the potential delay of these projects and about 27 others from which city officials have to choose, she was optimistic that the current deficit could be closed.

"Because they are projects that haven't started yet, we don't see it as a disruption in service," she said. "Of course these projects ... need to be completed, but it seemed like the best option to continue city services."

McClement said that his thoughts going into Wednesday's discussion was that nothing is off the table. After a review of the capital improvements budget, he agreed with the finance department's recommendations. "If it's something that we absolutely don't have to have, then let's look at cutting it; if it is something that we have to have, then let's find the money for it," he said.

McClement said he doesn't know if he will stamp his approval on closing the deficit by only delaying capital projects, but was looking forward to hearing recommendations that will get it closed as soon as possible.

"If that doesn't close the 2010 budget, we have to find more," he said. "If that does close the budget, then we have to go to 2011 budget."

The current fiscal year ends on June 30, and budget planning for next fiscal year, which begins on July 1, begins in January. An estimated $6 million deficit already awaits.

E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net.