New Carrollton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Carrollton, MD public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Schedule of fees, fines, and penalties reform
With no city manager, the council must still deliver a budget to the county by October. Open questions: employee salary increases, pay inequities between long-tenured and newer workers, and an untouched schedule of fees and fines dating to 2014.
Special election funding and administration
The city must announce the special election date by Wednesday, with November 9 the frontrunner — the Monday after the midterms, matching residents' Monday voting habits.
Hiring freeze exceptions for DPW and finance
The city has had a hiring freeze since October 2025 while a consultant's report is evaluated. The council was asked to consider one narrow exception to promote Leroy Robinson to Public Works Director so the department keeps steady leadership over streets, trash, parks, and capital projects.
FY 2027 Budget Continuing Resolution
The city's new fiscal year starts July 1, but the budget isn't done — so a continuing resolution keeps services running at current spending levels for three months while the compensation study and fees are finalized.
FY2027 Budget Process
The council was scheduled to discuss the FY 2027 budget status and next steps, and residents were invited to comment — with comments limited to budget topics only. This is where residents could weigh in on how their tax dollars get spent next year.
City Manager Position and Counteroffer
The city has no mayor present, no city manager, and is running on volunteers and part-time help. Leroy Robinson becomes Public Works director, Delaney Galloway signs on as part-time operations manager, and Maisha Williams volunteers to help with the handoff.
Resolution 26-06: hiring and pay freeze
The council unanimously froze hiring in October 2025 (Resolution 26-03); the mayor reinstated a public works director and code enforcement manager without council-approved exceptions. This dispute is the basis of the forfeiture action and the staff resignations that preceded it.
FY 2027 Budget Amendment
The first budget amendment for fiscal year 2027 was scheduled for discussion, along with a budget feedback survey to gather resident input.
BRC compensation and organizational assessment
The council found BRC's 545-page deliverable short of what was asked, held final payment, and scheduled an August presentation. The hiring freeze stays until the study clarifies pay levels — the city clerk position remains open partly because of it.
Charter working group on city's form of government
The council was scheduled to discuss next steps for charter changes that would modify New Carrollton's form of government. How the charter is shaped affects the balance of power between the mayor and council.
Compensation and organizational study (RFP-NC-2026-3)
The city is hiring a consultant to audit pay, assess how the organization is structured, and compare employee compensation against peer jurisdictions. The results could mean pay adjustments for city staff — and a change in how payroll dollars from the city budget are spent. A final consultant choice is expected at the next meeting.
$250,000 Resident Cash Assistance Proposal
With distress calls rising — especially over utility shutoffs — the mayor wants a fund to help residents in crisis, similar to the COVID-era ARPA aid. A roughly $160,000 allocation was floated, and College Park's $2,500 cap gives a sense of scale. The council wants a detailed proposal before committing.
FY2027 Property Tax Rate
The council adopted the Constant Yield Tax Rate of $0.5263 per $100 of assessed value, slightly lower than last year's $0.5461, meaning the city collects roughly the same revenue as before without raising the rate on you.
Constant Yield Tax Rate for FY 2027
The city is deciding whether to keep the constant yield tax rate, which it has used since FY 2021. Some councilmembers say rising costs make it unrealistic.
Emergency Budget Amendment 26-18 (police overtime & FICA fix)
The department head salary line is projected to have less than $50,000 left for the year — a problem flagged back in October — and Public Works has a shortfall too. Council wants a closed session with the City Attorney to figure out a fix.