18-04-2025
Frostburg officials approve budget
FROSTBURG — The 2026 fiscal budget for the city of Frostburg was approved during a Tuesday meeting, and nets a gross income of approximately $200,000.
Director of Finance Elaine Jones said budget planners worked with 'the best information currently possible' and that 'mid-year adjustments can occur.'
Changes made from the 2025 budget include a $2 increase per unit in the garbage fund.
One point of dissent among council members during the budget drafting process was hotel and motel tax allocations, which are awarded to businesses and organizations each year throughout the city.
During a recent work session, Commissioner of Finance Donny Carter said he had concerns about the city's largest allocation, to FrostburgFirst, a nonprofit economic development program that promotes the Main Street community.
The group requested $30,000 from the city for 2026.
Carter owns The Toasted Goat, a popular restaurant on Main Street, and said 'it's hard to support an organization like (FrostburgFirst) when you're seeing no benefit as a business owner.'
Carter claimed that 'everything that they do is at City Place' rather than hosting events and benefits on Main Street proper.
'There needs to be more people from downtown involved,' Carter said.
During the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting, FrostburgFirst Executive Director Dierdre Robertson addressed the mayor and City Council.
Carter was not at Tuesday's meeting.
'Funding from the city is so significant,' Robertson said. '(Reductions) in these could reduce our capacity for projects.'
Robertson said funds from the city help the organization.
FrostburgFirst hosts a number of events on Main Street, such as the popular Arts Walk, but there are a 'significant number of projects going on in the background,' she said.
'We're always happy to work toward improvement,' Robertson said.
Clory Jackson, president of FrostburgFirst, addressed the council's concerns about a lack of sole proprietors on its board of directors.
She said there are two business owners on its board, while there are seats for City Council members and representatives from Frostburg State University.
'We have no shortage of seats,' Jackson said. 'We're always wanting more.'
Several business owners and residents gave comments in support of the organization at Tuesday's meeting, which was well-attended.
Joe Hoffman, a longtime Frostburg resident, was on FrostburgFirst's original board of directors more than 20 years ago.
'We had so many things that we knew needed done,' he said, 'but you can see now how much we receive (from grants).'
Gerry LaFemina, a former president of FrostburgFirst and owner of Savage Mountain Punk Arts, said that the organization 'gets people walking downtown.'
'It's about showing that Frostburg really is cooler here,' LaFemina said.
'These complaints are a part of growth.'
