Greenbelt council adopts FY 2026 budget after last-minute grant and contribution votes

Greenbelt — The City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget on a 6–1 roll-call vote, approving a $40,000,001 (approx.) spending plan that councilmembers described as the result of a prolonged budget process and targeted last-minute adjustments to grants and professional services.

Councilmember and staff discussions before the final vote produced several specific changes: an additional $10,000 in professional services (funded by a $6,800 reduction in general legal services and removal of a $3,200 public officers association line), an approximately $15,900 reduction in a CARES salary line, and multiple revisions within the grants, advisory boards and contributions section that collectively decreased and reallocated portions of that line. The council approved the ordinance on second reading with Councilmember Roberts casting the lone no vote.

Why it matters: The budget sets Greenbelt’s tax and spending levels for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 and preserves the city’s service levels while leaving a modest surplus and reserves the council said it hopes will protect the city in an uncertain fiscal environment.

The budget process began with the proposed FY 2026 document presented to council on March 25 and included 12 public work sessions plus public hearings held April 22 and May 29. Finance staff prepared a “changes” memo dated May 28 listing modifications discussed at the final work session; council voted on those changes during the meeting before passing the ordinance to appropriate funds. Finance Director Bertha Gaiman and City Manager Mr. Summeron walked council through department-by-department spreadsheet changes, and staff confirmed the net result left a small positive balance in the final adopted document.

Notable funding decisions within the grants and contributions section included restoring a larger award for an arts and community space (“The Space”) from the committee-recommended $24,000 back to the full $30,000 request after several council members argued the nonprofit provides services the city cannot. The council also increased funding to the Reparations Commission to $25,000 and reinstated $5,000 for the Greenbelt Refugee Aid Committee, actions taken as discrete votes during the budget items. Other small project grants — including a $3,000 award to a local arts café and $3,300 to a gate-related community project — were approved as requested.

Council debate also focused on the city’s membership in the Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA). Councilmembers discussed whether to budget the usual dues while withholding payment pending governance and financial transparency reforms at that association; staff noted dues are normally paid in October and recommended maintaining a line in the budget with the option to delay payment until members see bylaw and financial fixes.

Formal actions: Council approved the FY 2026 budget ordinance (first-reading suspension and second-reading/adoption) by roll call; the record shows a majority in favor and one dissent (Mr. Roberts). Council also approved the specific line-item adjustments summarized above and ratified the changes to grants and contributions following separate votes on individual organizations’ awards.

What’s next: Staff will implement the FY 2026 budget starting July 1 and will return with routine monitoring and any required ordinance language to enact fee changes. Several councilmembers said they want to monitor the performance of certain outside associations closely before making fall payments or continuing membership.