SMITHSBURG, Md. – The Smithsburg Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to upgrade its accounting system to QuickBooks Online, replacing the current desktop version with a cloud-based platform that offers real-time access and improved reporting.
The move, discussed during review of the monthly treasurer’s report from town Treasurer Jenni House, aims to give staff faster bank reconciliations, more flexible report formatting and better overall efficiency in tracking the town’s finances.
Town auditor Erin Clark, from the firm SEK, told the council the change will allow her team and town officials to log in remotely and view data immediately, reducing delays from file backups and manual adjustments.
Conversion assistance from Clark’s firm is budgeted at $2,500, with ongoing subscription and payroll fees expected to stay close to current costs.
Councilman Jon D. Snyder made the motion to proceed “as soon as practical,” citing the benefits for data backup and day-to-day operations. The vote passed without opposition.
The council then approved the treasurer’s report after Clark and House clarified several line items, including contractual services overages offset by savings in planner salary, accrued vacation payouts affecting administrative costs, and carryover balances covering excess Shop with a Cop expenditures.
With the transition approved, officials said future financial reports should provide a clearer, more timely view of the town’s operations.
Council keeps property tax rate steady
The council voted to keep the property tax rate unchanged at $0.31 per $100 of assessed value for the next fiscal year, instead of dropping it to the state’s suggested lower “constant yield” rate of $0.2881.
Council members explained they made this choice to avoid cutting about $62,000 in expected revenue, which would have been hard to replace given rising costs the town can’t control — especially electricity and utilities. By holding the rate steady, the council aims to cover essential services and infrastructure needs without asking residents for more money through a rate increase.
No one on the council spoke strongly against the decision during the meeting. Several members, including Snyder and others, emphasized that the town is doing everything possible to keep taxes as low as feasible in tough economic times, while still protecting core services.
Since the rate is not going up, the town does not need to advertise the decision or hold a public hearing.
Other Actions
In other actions, the council also:
- Approved $1,300 from hotel tax revenues for the Smithsburg Ambulance’s Easter egg hunt and open house on March 29, following last year’s event that attracted nearly 300 participants.
- Awarded the annual mowing contract to incumbent Young’s Lawn Care Service at $1,050 per mowing (a small increase) after limited bidding participation.
- Authorized leasing two police patrol vehicles through the state contract, funded via speed camera revenue, with outfitting by Executive Emergency Lighting contingent on confirming a piggyback-eligible municipal or state contract. Delivery is projected for early July if ordered promptly.
- Granted permission to The Artist Palette Involved nonprofit to close Water Street and Railroad Lane for a Music and Arts Festival on May 9 (11 a.m.–5 p.m.), featuring art vendors, demonstrations, and live music, pending final verification of street-closure requirements.
- Heard a resident proposal for a Hometown Heroes banner program to honor area military veterans, with families funding the banners. The council expressed support and agreed to research vendors (such as Wingsport) and potential locations, possibly in Veterans Park.
Finally, the council tabled introduction of an annexation petition for the Scott property until the March 17 meeting for additional review.
