Dewey commissioners approve $3.5 million budget

Just two days before the new fiscal year began, Dewey Beach commissioners voted 4-1 March 30 to approve the town’s $3.47 million 2020 fiscal year budget. The budget shows $3.52 million in revenue and $3.47 million in spending, with a net income just over $41,000. The budget includes a 2.5 percent wage increase for year-round employees and $15,000 in employee bonuses.

Town Manager Scott Keonig made several adjustments to the budget that received preliminary approval March 9. Expected revenue from traffic fines was reduced, while vehicle booting and public-hearing fees were increased. Donations, beach and marketing expenses, and code update costs were all reduced slightly.

The 2019 fiscal budget will also be fully funded with set-asides from expected revenues, Koenig said, including 20 percent of building permit revenue to fund streets and infrastructure, 3 percent of the transfer tax to fund the comprehensive plan and 5 percent of parking fees toward signage.

A capital funding budget will be created for unbudgeted capital projects, studies and vehicles, which currently total $227,700 and are not yet funded.

Mayor TJ Redefer and Commissioners Dale Cooke, Gary Persinger and Paul Bauer voted to approve the budget; Commissioner David Moskowitz voted against.

Moskowitz said he disagreed with cutting the marketing committee budget and with not raising EMT and lieutenant lifeguard salaries. He said he initially wanted to raise seasonal police salaries but respected the police chief’s wish not to raise those salaries.

Moskowitz said he considered the budget to be actually negative $186,000 when combining net income and capital spending. “Some capital spending can be amortized over several years, but the town needs to spend money now on overdue capital projects including stormwater pipe assessment, recording emergency lines, integrating town websites, upgrading computers and working toward a new town hall,” he said.

Persinger motioned for a summary document to be included with the 2021 fiscal year budget. He said explanatory notes for line items are visible in Excel format, but not when the document is converted to a PDF and posted online. “It will improve the clarity of presentation for us and the public,” he said.