Hyattsville · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hyattsville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
FY27 Legislative Priorities
The city is lining up bond-bill asks for the Maryland General Assembly: temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, city building renovations, the environmental depot, Hamilton Street corridor improvements and a recreation storage facility. The Council will rank the five before November 16.
Council survey on service costs and workload
The committee is building a survey to find out whether low pay keeps people from serving, and how many hours council work really takes. The survey needs to be finalized at next week's meeting so respondents have time to complete it.
Thrive grant program
Thrive Program applications open September 1, 2026, and the committee will review the application at its August meeting.
Public question on possible forensic examination
A resident asked whether the auditors would recommend a multi-year forensic examination of city finances, citing roughly $11 million in bond anticipation notes and a $15 million bond issuance. The city hasn't answered yet.
Finance staffing and close processes
The committee asked whether finance staffing is sufficient and how long month-end and year-end closes take. Understaffing and slow closes can delay the city's audits and financial reporting.
Annual Campaign Finance Compliance
Three city employees still haven't filed their required annual financial disclosures, even though filings from elected boards are complete. The Commission tracks these to keep city government transparent about officials' financial interests.
2027 Citywide Election Preparation
FY27 is a big election year — a mayoral race plus one seat from each ward, with vote-by-mail ballots, poll books, and required mailings driving a big jump in the election board budget.
Ward 5 Discretionary Funds and Equity Concerns
Council members control roughly $2,500–$2,700 per ward in discretionary funds for community events, but many residents — especially non-English speakers and undocumented neighbors — don't know the funds exist or what they cover. The task force wants better website and social media outreach about the program.