Price, Pressure, and Process: Inside Hyattsville’s $7.5 million Land Proposal

Hyattsville’s city council is weighing whether to spend $7.5 million on land next to Driskell Park. Here’s what they said—and what the numbers actually show.

No time for a long article? Here’s a quick summary: Hyattsville is considering taking on $8.5 million in new debt to buy parkland — despite having $28 million in reserves and no independent appraisal. City treasurer Ronald Brooks says the reserve funds can’t be used, even though he previously cited them to justify years of deficit spending. Mayor Robert Croslin requested $3.5 million in state funds without public council approval, putting pressure on the council to approve the purchase or risk upsetting state allies. If the purchase moves forward, the city’s debt could approach or even exceed 100% of its annual general fund revenue based on current projections.