It’s a busy time at City Hall during budget season, and this meeting comes with a full agenda and several important highlights; so this is a long one today.

Ward 7 town hall – save the date!

First, a Save the Date for our next Ward 7 Town Hall: join me on Thursday, May 28th from 6–8 PM at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library. More details to follow, but mark your calendars now!

Joining virtually Monday

I want to flag that I will be joining Monday’s meeting virtually rather than in person. I will be in Kansas City, Missouri for the Community Streetcar Coalition Conference, where I am networking with other Cities that have streetcars, as well as with the companies that serve them, highlighting our Request for Proposals (RFP) for a feasibility study on reinstalling a streetcar system along West Street — an exciting sustainable mobility transit project pursued in partnership with Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland. As a reminder, this feasibility study came out of our delegation trips to Sweden and Netherlands where we learned about sustainable mobility, and builds off of our 2009 West Street study (also with the State and County) that called for such a long-term assessment of fixed rail options.

Budget hearing open

This is also the start of FY2027 Budget Season. The public hearing on the budget is open and I encourage you to share your input — testimony can be submitted online. I’m pleased to note that the Mayor’s proposed budget includes no property tax rate increase — the rate remains at $0.7380 per $100 of assessed value. While the Council's review is ongoing and I have not yet reached conclusions, I believe residents deserve a timely window into the questions being asked on their behalf — and an opportunity to weigh in before that window closes. To that end, see my comments in the next section.

Budget analysis

The City Council's Finance Committee is midway through its review of Mayor Littmann’s proposed FY27 budget. I want to share some preliminary observations — and some open questions — as residents consider whether to testify.

I want to be transparent: my review is not complete. Several departments have yet to present to the Council, and I have outstanding questions from those that have. I am not yet prepared to draw final conclusions. But the window to testify is limited, and I think residents deserve a frank early look at what I'm seeing.

The budget is structurally tight. The administration has acknowledged this directly. The General Fund sits exactly at the city's 15% reserve policy floor, with no margin for unexpected costs or emergencies. The administration itself described the budget as being "at policy minimums — no buffer for surprises." In a year of significant federal funding uncertainty, that is a meaningful vulnerability.

The Capital Reserve Fund is being drawn down without a clear replenishment path. In recent years, the city was able to make healthy transfers into the Capital Reserve thanks to strong fund balance growth. This year, with the General Fund at the floor, that mechanism is constrained. I have questions about the long-term sustainability of our capital funding approach that I intend to explore when the CIP is presented.

The Harbormaster's seasonal salary was cut by roughly 65% — not at the department's request. The proposed budget drops this line from approximately $199,000 to $68,000. The deputy harbormaster testified before the Finance Committee that this level of funding is insufficient to maintain current operations, including seven-days-a-week service from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The cut originated with the Mayor's office, not the department. If you use the harbor, care about on-water enforcement, or value waterfront access, this is worth knowing.

Public waterfront access investment in the capital budget appears to be reduced significantly. The Citywide Public Water Access Improvements project (40051) shows a reduction of $413,500 in Capital Reserve funding for FY27 compared to prior appropriations. I need to hear the CIP presentation before drawing conclusions, but the numbers in the capital budget warrant questions.

The Mayor's Office is proposed at its highest budget level in recent memory — $2.26 million — including $635,500 in contractual services. This includes a state lobbyist ($50,000), a communications consultant ($97,500), strategic consultants ($72,500), and a philanthropist consultant ($75,000) to pursue private gifts and donations to the city. I intend to ask hard questions about the value and necessity of this spending, particularly given the tight budget and competing unmet needs elsewhere.

The Mayor is proposing to add six new firefighter positions for a new peak-time medical unit — at a cost I have not yet confirmed but expect to be over $1 million annually. The Fire Department's performance metrics are genuinely excellent by national standards, and I will hear their presentation before forming a final view. But in a tight budget with competing unmet staffing needs across departments, I believe the Council must evaluate all new positions in that context.

Several departments that have already presented have identified unfilled or underfunded staffing needs. In ITS, a Cybersecurity Specialist position remains vacant and two analyst positions were requested but not funded. In the Harbormaster's Office, the seasonal staff cut described above threatens service levels. We have not yet heard from many departments, including Planning & Zoning, Police, Public Works, and others — and I expect additional staffing concerns will surface. The question of how we allocate limited resources across all of these needs is one the Council must answer holistically.

The budget for the Office of Community Services — which funds grants, rental assistance, and direct services to lower-income residents — is proposed at roughly $525,000, down from $705,000 in FY26. That's a reduction of about 25% on paper. Some of this reflects line items moving between categories rather than actual programmatic cuts, but OCS has not yet presented to the Council. I intend to ask pointed questions when they do.

Federal funding uncertainty is already showing up in the budget. The Office of Emergency Management explicitly flagged that federal grants that previously funded its Hazard Mitigation Plan, training, and emergency exercises are no longer reliable. The City is now absorbing those costs (around $400k) into the operating budget. This is a direct consequence of federal budget and program instability — and likely not the last place we will see it.

One-time use funds appropriated; Every Dollar Now Requires a Choice. In recent years, the administration's introduced budget has left a portion of one-time funds unallocated, giving the Council flexibility during the amendment process to address Ward-specific priorities that may not have been included in the Mayor's proposal. This year, for the first time in recent memory, the proposed budget appropriates the full $1.9 million available in one-time funds. That means that if the Council wishes to fund any priority not already in the Mayor's budget — whether restoring the Harbormaster's seasonal staffing, paying for studies, creating grant programs, or anything else — we will need to identify offsetting reductions elsewhere. That is a harder conversation, and more contentious than I'd hope for, but it is the one we are now required to have.

I have not made up my mind on the overall budget. I am committed to completing the review rigorously before doing so. But these are the questions I am carrying into the remaining work sessions, and I think residents who care about any of these issues — harbor access, emergency services, community programs, capital investment in waterfront infrastructure, or how the Mayor's office is staffed and resourced — should consider making their voices heard before the comment period closes.

Legislation that passed at the last meeting

• O-1-26 - Property Tax - Child Care Centers, Family Child Care Homes, and Large Family Child Care Homes
• O-3-26 - Annapolis Harbor Lines at Hawkins Cove

I vote “Aye” on both of these.

As always, the full agenda details and my current thinking are laid out below. The meeting begins with a closed session at 6 PM, followed by the regular meeting at 7 PM. Public testimony can be submitted at annapolis.gov/testimony.

Stay healthy and safe,

Rob

Next Council meeting – 4/27/26 (agenda)

This meeting starts at 7pm and will be televised on local cable, YouTube, Facebook, and the City website.  You can submit public testimony at http://www.annapolis.gov/testimony. This will be an in-person meeting.

NOTE: There will be a closed session at 6pm to discuss a personnel matter.

Public Hearings

This meeting opens the public hearing period on the FY2027 budget. These hearings will remain open through Second Reader. You may submit written testimony here.

• O-8-26 - Annual Budget and Appropriation and Property Tax Levy - This is the core FY2027 budget ordinance, introduced by Mayor Littmann. It appropriates funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, covering the General Fund ($125.2 million), Capital Budget, and Capital Improvement Program through FY2032. Importantly, the proposed property tax rate remains unchanged at $0.7380 per $100 of assessed real property value.
• R-10-26 - FY 2027 Annual Fees Schedule - This resolution, also introduced by Mayor Littmann and referred to the Finance Committee and Financial Advisory Commission, sets the fees charged for City services in FY2027. The proposed fees schedule includes several increases. The most broadly applicable:
  • Residential trash collection: up from $431.34 to $463.72/year (~$32 increase)
  • Water rates: fixed quarterly charges and tiered usage rates up approximately 5% across the board
  • Sewer rates: similarly up approximately 5%
  • Stormwater/watershed restoration fee: up approximately 15% — single-family residential goes from $34.53 to $39.71/quarter
  • Short-term rental licenses (e.g., Airbnb-type): up from $400 to $650
  • Truxtun Boat Launch: per-launch fee up from $10 to $15

The utility rate increases are informed by associated rate studies that examine infrastructure investment needs — studies that will be taken up at a future Finance Committee meeting. I'll share more context as that process unfolds, but the short version is that the drivers are typically capital infrastructure needs, and I'll be reviewing them carefully before casting my vote.

• R-11-26 - FY 2027 Fines Schedule - This resolution specifies the fines for municipal infractions in FY2027, updating the schedule pursuant to Title 1, Chapter 1.20 of the City Code. Changes to the fines schedule are minimal this cycle. The two notable updates are a doubled fine for house barge violations ($500 → $1,000) and an increased repeat-offense fine for noise violations ($100 → $200). Most other fines remain unchanged.
• R-12-26 - FY 2027 Position Classifications and Pay Plan - This resolution approves the City’s annual position classification structure and pay plan for FY2027, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Legislation being introduced on first reader

• R-16-26 - Fees Related to Street Cafes, a Type of Outdoor Dining - This resolution updates the fee structure for Street Cafes, a type of outdoor dining concession in Annapolis. It sets separate fees depending on whether the cafe is located inside or outside the Premium Parking concession area. This is being introduced on First Reader at this meeting and referred to committee.

Legislation up for Second Reader (i.e final vote)

• O-2-26 - Mooring Requirements in City Waters - This ordinance would clarify rules around mooring distances and ownership of transient mooring balls in City waters, including Back Creek, Spa Creek, and Weems Creek. However, this ordinance will be withdrawn by its sponsor, as it requires significant reworking. I support that decision. The issues it attempts to address are real and deserve careful attention, but the legislation needs further development before it is ready for a final vote.
• R-8-26 - Fee Waivers for City Supported Special Events in Fiscal Year 2027 - Introduced by Alderman Huntley, this resolution designates 16 annual community events as City-Supported Special Events for FY2027, waiving certain City fees for them. The list includes beloved Annapolis traditions: the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, Annapolis Pride, Juneteenth Parade, Lights Parade, Annapolis Film Festival, Independence Day Parade, and more. An amendment from Alderman Thorp to add the Eastport-a-rockin festival has been recommended favorably by the Finance Committee. I am inclined to support this resolution, pending any input from you.

Community & Political updates

City Website Redesign – Share Your Feedback

The City of Annapolis is redesigning its website and wants to hear from you. Take two minutes to tell them how they can improve the site by completing the feedback survey below. Click the link to share your input:

► Share Your Feedback: https://www.annapolis.gov/FormCenter/Site-Feedback-Forms-28/City-Website-Feedback-182

Annapolis Climate Action Plan – Community Town Hall

City of Annapolis Summer Internship Program – Now Hiring!

Ian Pfeiffer Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff

The Mayor’s Office has announced the hiring of Ian Pfeiffer as the City’s new Deputy Chief of Staff. As many of you may know, Ian is a familiar face in Annapolis — he previously served as Alderman for our very own Ward 7 and brings real experience in local governance to this role.

I want to be transparent: I voted against creating this position when it came before the Council, and my reservations about the position itself remain. That said, I am pleased that someone of Ian’s caliber and commitment to this community has been selected. Whatever my reservations about the structure, I have no doubt that he will serve the City with integrity.

📅 Save the Date: Ward 7 Town Hall – May 28th

Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library

Join me for our next Ward 7 Community Town Hall. More details to come — mark your calendars now and watch for updates!