This episode is about the need for a La Plata Economic Development function.

At the December 10, 2024, Town Council meeting, Town of La Plata Ordinance 24-20, Tourism Zones was introduced as a first reading.

This is based on State enabling legislation enacted by the Maryland General Assembly in 2024, House Bill 1281/Senate Bill 0014 (Maryland Code, Local Government § 18-401), which enables municipalities to create tourism zones to encourage the growth and expansion of tourism-related businesses within areas designated by those jurisdictions.

I was not in favor of moving the proposed tourism ordinance to legislation for this and other reasons, including:

*Limited administrative or staff capacity to run this program
*No incentives were provided
*What are fiscal impacts – costs, revenue generation?
*Can current town functions support tourism or diversity in our tax base?

Are there other options – form an Economic Development Commission or function, combining current town activities?

YouTube Video Link

Downtown La Plata Development

My Third Year as Town Council Member

La Plata 2025 Election

Ordinance 24-20 - Tourism Zones

The first episode in this series about La Plata’s budget was posted on December 16, 2024, and talked about the preparation of the FY 2026, including the calendar of Town Council meetings, basic budget definitions, the different funds, revenue sources, and expenditures (how money is spent), and the Captial Improvement Plan (CIP).

This and later episodes provide information and transparency as the Town Council prepares the FY 26 budget.

This episode provides additional information and performance indicators about the current and adopted FY 2025 Town Budget. These include budgeted positions (FY 23-FY25, Workload, and Performance Indicators. An important metric is Expenditures per Capita. This can then be compared to other towns/municipalities, seeing how we do.

YouTube Link to this episode

Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget

This episode and later ones will provide information and transparency as the Town Council prepares the FY 26 budget, which includes the operating budget, enterprise budget (water, sewer, trash/sanitation, stormwater management), and capital improvement plan (CIP).

References:

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Town Budget
• Adopted Town of La Plata Calendar of Events Preparation and adoption on the Town FY 2026 Budget