Rockville's budget, minimum wage get bigger; property tax rate stays the same in FY2016 proposal

Rockville's operating and general fund budgets would increase (by 3.6% and 4.3%, respectively) in size under City Manager Barbara Matthews' proposed FY2016 fiscal plan. The budget book was formally introduced to the Mayor and Council at last night's council meeting.

The city government's minimum wage would increase to $9.55 on July 1, 2015, but the property tax rate paid by residents and businesses would remain the same as this year's. That won't prevent some from paying more property taxes, however, as assessments have been trending upward.

Watch your wallet, though: utility bills and refuse/recycling fees would increase under the proposed budget.

About $64 million would go to capital improvement projects, including the following:

• Funding for bridge repairs, including a $1.3 million taxpayer-supported debt issue in FY16 to address repairs to the First Street bridge and $1.8 million in FY 2019 for repairs to the Hurley Avenue bridge
• $1.7 million in FY 2017 to begin improvements to the Swim and Fitness Center locker rooms and for improvements to the Civic Center in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
• $3 million in FY 2018 to continue Swim and Fitness Center improvements
• Pedestrian safety initiatives and sidewalks
• Water, sewer and stormwater management system improvements, including debt issues to support the water, sewer and stormwater management funds
• Stabilization and rehabilitation of the King Farm Farmstead dairy barns
• Road and sidewalk repair and replacement
• A new utility billing system

You can read the full budget here. The budget will change based on feedback from the Mayor and Council and the public.

To comment on the proposed budget before it is adopted at the May 18 Mayor and Council meeting, you can speak at public hearings scheduled for March 30, April 13, and April 20.

Historic District Commission to meet with Twinbrook residents April 28

Twinbrook residents concerned about the future of their historic neighborhood may want to attend a meeting next month. Members of the Rockville Historic District Commission will attend a Twinbrook Citizens Association meeting Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 PM to discuss options the neighborhood can consider going forward. Commissioner Jessica Reynolds says "many of those homes are now within the 50 year" eligibility period, and that homeowners may wish to explore historic designation or other preservation efforts.

Miso to open in Rockville Town Square

It appears another Asian restaurant is coming to Rockville's town center. Japanese restaurant Miso has leased a space on Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. Stay tuned for more details on the menu and opening timeframe.

New emergency generator, boilers for Rockville Senior Center

The Rockville Senior Center, built in 1960, is getting a facilities upgrade after the Mayor and Council unanimously approved a bid for installation of an emergency generator, two boilers, main branch panels, life safety panel, Current Transfer cabinet and an Uninterruptable Power Supply system.

Limbach Company, LLC of Laurel had the winning bid out of 8 hopeful applicants, which included local giant M.C. Dean. Once a contract is issued by the city, and Limbach meets all bond and insurance requirements, the deal will be final.

The Senior Center currently lacks a backup generator for use during power outages. It previously was an elementary school before being converted to a senior center.

Water main break on Wooton Parkway

The fickle temperatures this week are getting the water mains riled up again. One broke in the 2100 block of Wooton Parkway yesterday, causing a temporary closure of one lane. Rockville's Department of Public Works says no customers were effected by the break. Light snow is forecast for Friday, so this may not be end of the water main issues for the winter, even as spring arrives.

Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru location plans opening today in Rockville (Photos)

There's new competition for the Fallsgrove drive-thru Krispy Kreme in Rockville as of this morning. A new Dunkin' Donuts location plans to open in College Plaza today, in the former Chicken Out/A&W space.

The even better news - they are actually going to use the drive-thru set up left from previous fast food tenants (unlike Chicken Out). As you can see, the drive-thru menu is already in place (and, yes, they do have the latest Croissant donut, Spicy Omelet Flatbread, and Rocky Road iced coffee).

You'll also note the building exterior has been given a freshening up. College Plaza is located at the intersection of Route 355 and College Parkway.

Centra Care Rockville opens (Photos)

Centra Care has opened at 750 Rockville Pike. The walk-in, urgent care health clinic is operated by Adventist Healthcare of Montgomery County, probably best known for its hospitals such as Shady Grove.

Patients can receive treatment for non-life-threatening emergencies 7 days a week; the clinic closes at 8:00 PM. Appointments can be made online, and physicians are board-certified. On-site medication dispensary eliminates the need to make a separate trip to a pharmacy for prescriptions.