Residents, Council Talk Budget in Kensington

Kensington's Mayor and Council is taking resident feedback on the 2013 fiscal year budget presented

Town Manager Sanford W. Daily said the tax rate has been proposed to remain the same, but listed some of the proposed changes in the budget from 2012 to 2013:

• Added money to the Capital Improvement Plan
• Did propose to raise the utility rate some
• $500,000 dollars will remain in surplus.
• $15,000 was alloted to commercial revitalization
• $15,000 was alloted for non-departmental contingency funds
• There is a proposed increase for legal expenses by $20,000, an increase from $30,000 to $50,000.
• new bids for auditors for another three years.

Mayor Peter C. Fosselman wants to budget extra money for the Day of the Book event. Fosselman also asked for council member raises. They are each paid $625 per quarter.

Elisenda Sola-Sole, coordinator of Day of the Book, requested that money also be set aside for other annual events. Sola-Sole said that the Day of the Book was an idea that got support and funding in its first year that has lead to its success, so she would hope other residents could do the same.

Another resident asked that council allot some money to get a new sign at the Howard Avenue park.

The public record will remain open for resident feedback through May 11.