CHV FY27 Budget Updates

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AmyJean Chung Fry

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May 13, 2026, 7:49:58 PM (6 days ago) May 13
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Cheverly FY27 Budget Update

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Constant Yield Tax Rate Hearing last week. It means a lot to see so many residents engaged in the process. That said, I’ll be honest: the process itself can feel a little broken. Year after year, residents show up ready to weigh in, not realizing that most of the real deliberation happens earlier in the budget season. By the time we reach the Constant Yield Hearing, we’re typically voting, not debating.


That needs to change, and I’ve asked that we fix it. Going forward, I’ve requested we hold a budget hearing at least one week before the Constant Yield Hearing. Residents deserve a real seat at the table before department heads finalize their proposed budgets. Asking for cuts and changes at the last minute isn’t fair to anyone, including our staff. I realize, that I am part of this problem, so want to ensure we avoid this situation again. 


Where We Stand on the Tax Rate

The Town is currently looking at a $0.05 tax increase. This is the remaining increase we committed to as part of securing our AA bond rating. Last year we held the line with no increase, but we also didn’t balance the budget the way we had committed to, so here we are.


What’s Driving Costs Up

Costs are rising across the board, and Cheverly is no exception. We also haven’t yet felt the full impact of federal layoffs in our region. Many of our neighbors who were federal employees or contractors are facing real uncertainty, and while the effects on our housing market haven’t fully landed yet, they will. We’re keeping a close eye on it.


Our Police Department budget has grown, and honestly, that’s a good news story. We committed to 24/7 fully staffed coverage under Mayor Kayce, the community asked for it, and she and the council made it happen. A fully staffed and growing department costs more. Vehicles, equipment, training: these aren’t extras, they’re the backbone of public safety, and you deserve nothing less.


As we look at annexation, we have to be clear-eyed about what it involves. More residents means bigger departments and more services. But it also brings in commercial revenue that can take real pressure off homeowners. That’s the long game, and it’s worth playing.


On a bright note, Vice Mayor Bryner identified $10,000 in WMATA administrative fees from the CPD partnership that hadn’t been captured in the budget. Every dollar counts, and we’re glad to have sharp eyes at the table.


Ideas on the Table

I came to the conversation with a range of ideas, and so did many of you. I want to be upfront: I don’t love all of these. Some I genuinely dislike. But we have to have an honest conversation about needs versus wants, especially looking ahead to future budget cycles. Without growth in commercial tax revenue, and with county taxes trending the same direction, we can’t keep putting these conversations off.


Increase Fees

• Permits

• Facility usage

• Recycling toters

• Fines

• Vacant lots


Charge for Services Currently Covered by Taxes

• Food compost program (this one is moving forward; at $45K, it makes more sense to charge the households that actually use it. This program is near and dear to my heart, but I understand the tradeoff)

• Bulk pickup: Is once a week necessary, or could once a month work? Does it actually produce meaningful savings? We need a real number before we decide.


Reduce Funding for

• Resident Day activities

• Youth activities

• Cheverly Day fireworks (pursue sponsorships to offset)

• Trash pickup reduced to once per week (~$50K estimated; we’ve requested a confirmed figure)

• Tree services (~$200K)


Freeze

• Conference budgets (~$20K per department)


New Revenue Sources

• Advertisements to help cover newsletter costs (~$40K)

• Sponsorships for Cheverly Day and community events

• Traffic cameras (red light, speed, stop sign)

• More Grants


The Numbers

Each penny on the tax rate equals roughly $94K in revenue. I’ve identified somewhere between $0.025 and $0.03 cents worth of expenditures to cut, reduce, or freeze for FY27. I won’t pretend I’m thrilled about it, but it’s one year. The question worth asking is whether we can all carry a little of this together, and I think we can.


This conversation also matters beyond FY27. MNCPPC taxes are likely going up within five years, and county taxes will stay elevated as long as commercial revenue stays thin at the county level. Building good habits now will serve us well.


Moving Forward

A big thank you to Vice Mayor Bryner for keeping us focused and trying to keep us on schedule, and to our Town Staff for building a budget around the number we gave them. I know they worked hard to get the budget cut down to what was proposed and to ask them to do more is unfair. It is on us, the residents, to see what and where we can dig deeper. We’re lucky to have good people doing this work.


We need a budget hearing before the Constant Yield Hearing, full stop. That’s where the real conversation belongs: needs versus wants, priorities versus cuts, and what kind of community we want Cheverly to be. The Constant Yield Hearing should be where we vote, not where we’re still working things out.


I hope to see you at tomorrow’s meeting. I truly appreciate all the feedback and ideas that have come in. This is exactly how it’s supposed to work: our community, figuring it out together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​




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Warmly,


Amy 🫰🏽💜🫶🏽


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