The recently adopted fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget, (starts July 1, 2024, ends June 30, 2025) was a tumultuous process.

I want to provide my views on this process - specifically the Town’s outreach and community engagement/reactions.

My Asks:

• This is YOUR town, your neighborhood - get engaged, ask questions, attend meetings – in person, online, or watch later on the La Plata YouTube channel. I know you are busy with your family, work, and other daily activities. I also know this stuff is at times boring, and takes time to understand. But this is YOUR TOWN!
• Research the facts! There was a lot of misinformation in the community. I was then very disappointed not only by the lack of information but also unintended harm to town staff, framing the tax increase, as us versus them. This will have a demoralizing impact on our workforce.
• We all need to have skin in the game. Again, this is your community. This lack of engagement is reflected in the dismal turnout at Town Elections! I will confirm, but the 2021 voter turnout (-+ 1,000?) was below 10% of registered voters!
• So, participate and vote! The next election is May 2025, with filing of applications due in late March 2025, if needed a primary (if 2 or more candidates file to the same ward), then our general election for Mayor and Council seats (4) in early May 2025. A detailed process is under development and will be released in early 2025.

Outreach examples provided to the Town Council:

• Morrisville, NC Budget Connection Portal
• Charles County YouTube Let's Get Fiscal
• Davis, CA Budget Brief
• Charles County Budget Dollar

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

In this episode, I review the third year of my 4-year term, elected May 10, 2021. My term ends in May 2025.

Please know that I am one of five (5) Council members, and differentiate our accomplishments as a Town Council, versus my activities.

References:

• La Plata Bikeway
• Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)
• Development Capacity Analysis
• What is Complete Streets and Why?!
• Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Process

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

This is an update to my February 6, 2024, podcast – FY 25 Budget Process

My Ask:

• Review the draft FY 2024
• Attend our Council meetings – in person, virtually (Microsoft Teams), or watch on YouTube. Links are in the Notes.
• Email me at djenkins@townoflaplata.org with your questions and comments.

Thanks again for listening and for your interest and engagement with your Town!

Town Council Meeting Agendas

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

Hi and welcome again to this latest episode of La Plata Ward 4 Update Podcast.

This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast, and my companion La Plata Ward 4 Video Update on YouTube.

A pause to update you about recent Council meetings/ activities, and related issues.

References:

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget Process
• Polls says Marylanders want more homes, in more places, to fit budgets
• Greater Greater Washington Poll Results Presentation

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

There are many concerns and comments about growth in La Plata and Charles County, including if recent construction on MD 488 in the town or the county. This is outside the Town boundary, beyond and further east of Kings Grant. This construction is the last St. Charles neighborhoods – Piney Reach and Wooded Glen. The St. Charles Master Plan link is provided.

This episode is a comparison of development in La Plata and Charles County.

The source for this episode is the Maryland Department’s planning annual reports from La Plata and Charles County planning commissions. The most recent and published reports are from 2022. Links are provided below.

References:

• St. Charles Master Plan
• Charles County Planning Commission 2022 Annual Report
• La Plata Planning Commission 2022 Annual Report

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

This episode is a follow-up to my podcast, La Plata’s Infrastructure – Water, posted in July 2023. That provided background and detailed information about the Town’s water supply system and current status.

The intent here is to provide facts and context in response to myths and rumors about La Plata’s ability to provide water to existing and new developments.

La Plata Ward 4 Video Update - Development Capacity Analysis, April 2023

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

Consistent with the Town’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan GOAL #16: Continue to make La Plata a very walkable community (Page 16), The Town of La Plata was awarded two grants for the construction of the La Plata Bikeway running from Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School on Willow Lane, along MD 6 Charles Street, adjacent to the Agricopia subdivision, adjacent to MD 488, to Radio Station Road to Laurel Springs Regional Park.
The two grants:

• $1.44 million from the MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program
• $385,500 from the MDOT Bikeways Program.

The link to my La Plata Ward 4 Video Update of this project.

MY ASK/CALL TO ARMS:

There will be a follow-up podcast/episode on the Town’s FY B25 budget process following our April 09, 2024, Town Council Regular Meeting - Budget discussion focusing on General Funds, and April 16, 2024, Town Council Regular Meeting - Budget discussion focusing on Enterprise Funds.

I ask for your participation and engagement in the budget process and other important Town issues. Your input is important, from the bottom-up for change.

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!

This is the first of a series of podcast episodes following the development of the Town’s FY 2025 budget. FY 25 year starts July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.

The process started with a Town Council Budget Work Session, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

The January 30, 2024, session outcomes were

• Understanding of the Town’s current financial standing
• The long-term budget outlook for the Town
• Department Directors communicate department priorities
• Elected officials establish priorities and communicate budget goals

Meeting agenda:

Presentation by Town Treasurer:

• FY23 Financial Overview
• FY24 mid-year budget review

Presentations by the Department Directors.

This January 30th budget work session will be followed by additional Town Council work sessions and public hearings.

Calendar of events for the preparation of the Town's Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget. FY 25 starts July 1, 2024, ending June 30, 2025.
DATE EVENT
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - Budget work session
Wednesday, February 07, 2024 - Budget worksheet available to Department Directors.
Friday, February 23, 2024 - Deadline for all Department Directors to complete FY 2025 budget worksheet(s) for review by the Town Manager and Treasurer.
Monday, March 04, 2024 – Thursday, March 14, 2024, The Town Manager and Treasurer meet with Department Directors to align
their budgets with service priorities and available resources.
Friday, March 22, 2024 - The Town Manager transmits the Proposed Budget for FY 2025 to the Council.
Tuesday, April 09, 2024 - Town Council Regular Meeting - Budget discussion focusing on General Funds.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - Town Council Regular Meeting - Budget discussion focusing on Enterprise Funds (Water, Sewer, Stormwater Management, Trash/Recycling)
Friday, April 12, 2024 -
1. Publication of notice of public hearing on Constant Yield Tax
Rate scheduled for April 23, 2024
2. Publication of notice of public hearing on Fee Schedule
3. Publication of notice of public hearing on Financial Plan
Budget
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Town Council Regular Meeting -
1. Public Hearing and Public Comment on Constant Yield Tax.
2. Discussion of fee schedule.
3. Discussion of any outstanding budget items.
4. Introduction of Ordinance for FY 2025 Tax Rates.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Town Council Regular Meeting -
1. Public Hearing and Public Comment on FY 2025 Fee
Schedule.
2. Public Hearing and Public Comment on FY 2025 Financial
Plan Budget
3. Introduction of Ordinance adopting the FY 2025 Fee Schedule.
4. Introduction of Ordinance adopting the FY 2025 Financial Plan
Budget.
5. Adoption of Ordinance for FY 2025 Tax Rates
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Town Council Regular Meeting - Adoption of Ordinances for FY 2025 Fee Schedule and Financial Plan Budget.

This concludes this latest La Plata Town Council Ward 4 Update. I hope you find this podcast informative and useful.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to your questions and comments.

My email address is djenkins@townoflaplata.org

Talk to you soon!