Today, Mayor Michael O’Connor vetoed both the City of Frederick’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget ordinance and the associated position schedule ordinance, citing concerns with more than $3 million in cuts passed by the City Council on a 3-2 vote.
Key cuts in the Council-adopted budget include:
Elimination of key existing and new positions, including a community planning and urban design plannerEmergency nonprofit supportFunding for employee pay adjustments aimed at addressing disparities in pay based on tenureThe police department’s professional services budget, which includes the City’s speed enforcement program, school crossing guard program, and body camera contractA grocery card program serving low-income residents
Mayor O’Connor issued the following statement:
“After careful consideration, and with great respect for the Council’s role in the budgeting process, I have vetoed the FY26 budget and position schedule ordinances. While we may agree on the challenges ahead, we differ in how we believe local government should respond to them.
The budget adopted by a 3-2 vote includes over $3 million in cuts that I believe move us in the wrong direction. It reduces support for residents struggling with food insecurity and housing instability by eliminating funding in emergency funding for nonprofits and a grocery card program targeted to those in poverty. These are not optional services in this moment. They are essential. And while these are new line items to city government, the needs they address are longstanding.
Earlier this year, the City Council held a public meeting where we heard directly from nonprofits about the growing desperation in our community—and the risk of the gap in services if federal funding disappears. My office also received letters from the philanthropic sector and service providers outlining a $50 million shortfall if federal funding disappears that provided exactly what programs could be cut. Frankly, our commitment was not enough. But it certainly should not have been cut.
The budget also eliminates several positions intended to improve operations, coordination, and long-term planning across departments. Among them is an urban design planner, which was created in direct response to residents asking for more proactive, thoughtful planning as Frederick grows. Cutting it undermines our ability to deliver that for our residents.
The budget also reduces funding from the police department’s professional services budget, which supports automated speed enforcement and school crossing guards. Neighborhood speeding and traffic safety remain among the most common concerns raised by our constituents.
In addition, the budget removes funding for employee pay adjustments aimed at addressing longstanding disparities in pay based on tenure. Our employees are the people delivering services every day. Failing to invest in our workforce risks weakening our ability to serve the public effectively and retain talent across departments.
The Council’s final budget was not passed with consensus. That alone signals there is still work to do. My proposed budget remains balanced, and I believe a more constructive and equitable path forward is within reach. I remain committed to working with members of the Council to continue delivering the core services our residents rely on every day.”