North Beach says it spent the past budget year tightening control of town money. Credit cards and bank accounts are now centralized, all spending needs pre-approval, fleet fuel has new controls and vendors face stricter fraud checks, according to the town’s FY26 State of the Town infographic series.
The 16-page report, posted on the town website, covers the fiscal year that ended June 30. It describes a year of catch-up work in town administration. The town also lists finished projects on its pier, parks and shoreline. What it does not include is a single dollar figure. There are no budget totals, no audit findings and no project costs. A “Finance & Budget” section is illustrated with a stock image of a spreadsheet, but the reforms are listed only as checkmarks.
The town’s newsletter said the report moves North Beach from calendar-year to fiscal-year reporting, to line it up with the budget. That makes this the first State of the Town tied to a budget year. It is also the last under Mayor Mike Benton, who announced in August he would not seek re-election after eight years as mayor and eight more on the Town Council.
Money and administration
The report says the town built on work started in FY25. North Beach says it:
- Centralized town credit cards and bank accounts for better oversight
- Required pre-approval for all spending and tightened fleet fuel controls
- Tightened vendor accountability and fraud protections
- Fully put in place Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards
- Conducted a “comprehensive fiscal audit to improve reporting and budgeting”
- Launched new financial management software
“These reforms ensure taxpayer dollars are protected, responsibly managed, and positioned to support the Town’s future,” the report says.
A separate administration page lists 11 changes, including formal written policies and internal controls, cross-training so work continues when staff are out, performance reviews, project management systems, centralized records and stronger data security.
Residents who want the numbers behind those claims will need the town’s budget and audit documents, which the report does not link to. It also does not say whether the comprehensive audit found problems that prompted the changes.
Pier, parks and the nature center
The most visible work was on the waterfront. The town says crews replaced 9,000 linear feet of decking on the 450-foot pier with marine-grade material. The job finished ahead of schedule, and the pier stayed open evenings and weekends.
North Beach also built an ADA-compliant beach access ramp. It added gazebos, a pergola, water fountains and new public restrooms at Overlook and Callis parks. The North Beach Nature Center now draws “hundreds of visitors each month,” the report says.
Shoreline and flood insurance
Two items could matter to residents’ wallets and the shoreline.
The town launched a new floodplain management system aimed at earning a better rating under FEMA’s Community Rating System. The report says a higher rating could unlock flood insurance discounts of up to 45% for policyholders in town. It does not say what rating North Beach holds now or when it expects an upgrade.
On the water, North Beach is advancing an offshore breakwater and living reef built from recycled concrete from Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The town says the reef will reduce shoreline erosion and create oyster habitat. The report gives no construction schedule or cost. The town also approved green infrastructure designs at 5th Street and Greenwood Avenue and on Bay Avenue near the Twin Beaches Library, meant to soak up stormwater and recharge freshwater aquifers.
Growth and technology
Planning and zoning staff reported steady growth in short-term rentals, which the town frames as good for tourism and homeowners. Private fiber-optic service is being permitted and built in town.
The Town Council hearing room got ADA-compliant audio, video and assisted listening equipment for in-person and virtual meetings. The town also launched a redesigned website and moved to a .gov domain, northbeachmd.gov.
North Beach, founded in 1899 and incorporated in 1910, is known for its half-mile boardwalk. The town describes its goal as shifting North Beach “from a destination into a lifestyle.” The report closes with thanks from the mayor, council and staff to residents.
