Rockville’s Mayor and Council begin budget deliberations this month with a public hearing and work session focused on a Fiscal Year 2025 budget that outlines the city’s priorities.
The proposed budget will be available for review beginning Friday, March 1 at www.rockvillemd.gov/budget. Acting City Manager Craig L. Simoneau is scheduled to present the Mayor and Council with a FY 2025 budget proposal on Monday, March 4.
The budget, which covers the fiscal year that begins July 1, is scheduled for adoption by the Mayor and Council on Monday, May 6.
The proposed FY25 operating budget of $168.9 million is a 7.4% increase over the FY 2024 adopted budget. The general fund budget, which supports the largest portion of the operating budget, is $109.7 million, a 7.9% increase.
The city’s current real property tax rate of $0.292 per $100 of assessed valuation would remain the same for FY25. All residential and commercial property owners pay this tax. Rockville has not increased its property tax rate since 1995.
The proposed budget prioritizes the city’s continued commitment to capital investments, including several large capital projects. The proposed FY 2025-FY 2029 CIP, the five year plan for funding new construction and infrastructure maintenance, supports 47 projects during the fiscal year.
The proposal also funds Mayor and Council priorities, including:
- $3.7 million in new funding for capital projects that address the city’s Climate Action Plan.
- $10.7 million in new funding for capital projects that address the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan.
- One additional senior transportation engineer to address transportation related initiatives, including pedestrian safety efforts.
- Enhanced funding for sidewalk projects to promote walkability and pedestrian safety.
- Six additional police officers, funded by Montgomery County, to address critical community safety needs in response to service reductions from county police.
- Continued support for the police mental health specialist contract.
- A $1.4 million contribution to Rockville Economic Development, Inc., which provides funding to the Small Business Impact Fund, MOVE and Business Expansion Fund, and a life sciences branding project.
- One additional senior building plans examiner to improve economic development by enhancing the timeliness and dependability of the city’s permitting program.
- Expanded child care, camps and teen programming.
- One new program access supervisor to provide consistency in the city’s provision of program modifications for participants with disabilities.
- A new pilot Enforcement Assistance Program to assist eligible residents with bringing their property into compliance after receiving a citation for a code violation.