Council OKs FY24 budget

of $155.6M

Includes 3 percent boost for general city employees

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(May 19, 2023) With the majority of revenues expected to come from tourism, not taxes, Ocean City’s fiscal 2024 budget and accompanying tax rate were officially approved this week.

WELL-GROUNDED

Two-thousand pounds of steel and aircraft aluminum is hoisted atop ABC Liquors at Seacrets’ new Area 51 venue last Thursday. The 12-foot disc is piloted by Paul the Alien, who was created by Geoff Charvat of Haines Fabrication and Machine in Selbyville, which also built the spacecraft. In addition to his aircraft being angled to deal with wind shear and solidly grounded in concrete, Paul is protected by two internal fire-suppression systems ... just in case things heat up on re-entry.

City Manager Terry McGean introduced the more than $155.6 million budget, which officially goes into effect on July 1, to council members for review on March 31. They spent the next two weeks going over the details and approved the first reading at the beginning of May.

On Tuesday, council members unanimously approved the second and final reading.

The numbers show an increase in the general fund of more than $3.3 million from last fiscal year, growing from about $101.5 million to nearly $104.9 million.

See OCEAN Page 8