While… Read More » OC Council Moves Forward With Air Rights Proposal Members of the Berlin Town Council this week agreed they wanted to continue seeking funding through the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Bikeways program to build a path in the right-of-way along the railroad tracks. But I understand how it comes across so we will work to change that perception in the future.”īerlin To Seek Funding For Bike Path Along Railroad TracksīERLIN – The town will continue to pursue plans for a bike path along the railroad tracks through Berlin. “I really think the intent, when the word ‘challenge’ is used in this presentation, is it’s more of the accounting challenge. “I apologize if it came across that way,” he said. “We must be living in a time capsule and are out of touch with reality.”įor his part, City Manager Terry McGean said he meant for the presentation to show accounting challenges. “We just think people are coming to Ocean City because we’re sitting here, because we have a beach,” he said. With increasing access to destinations around the world, he argued Ocean City should be competing on digital platforms. “Every dollar we spend in advertising is clearly making us more money, every year.” “Instead of looking at the 60% going into the general fund, we persistently looking at the 40% going into advertising,” he said. He added that the town should be supporting its advertising budget. “It’s our secondary source, but it’s our fastest growing percentage wise.” “All we do is beat down our revenue source,” he said. Gehrig argued the town should be celebrating its successes. That goes towards funding our bills, paying our bills from the general fund.” “We had $1.2 million from room tax above budget, which is over a penny on our tax rate. “We are above budget, basically did better than what we expected,” he said. Gehrig said that money was used to pay for public safety, public works, roads and debt service, among other things. Room tax is generated when people visit Ocean City.”Īmong the budget changes approved on first reading this week was an amendment to the budgeted room tax, which exceeded revenue projections. “Advertising is not funded by property tax. “I just think we need to change our mindset here …,” he said. He pointed out the budget amendment labeled the increased advertising budget as a challenge. Following Monday’s vote, however, Councilman John Gehrig voiced his concerns regarding aspects of the budget amendment presentation. The change reflects an increase in room, income and admissions tax revenues, and an increase in grant, salary and advertising expenditures, among other things. On Monday, the council voted 6-0, with Councilwoman Carol Proctor absent, to approve the first reading of several budget amendments for fiscal year 2023. OCEAN CITY – Approval of a budget amendment this week led to a larger discussion about the town’s advertising funds.
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