Dear Friends,
We had a great event this week! I joined the official opening of the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park campus. It is a cutting-edge facility that revolutionizes STEM education and will equip students with the skills needed to participate in the workforce and a modern economy.
This project didn’t happen overnight. We began official public discussions within the County back in 2015 and hosted the first community conversations in 2017. Along the way, we listened to the concerns of neighbors about the potential impacts on this historic neighborhood. I want to thank Montgomery College for its careful planning and willingness to work with the community to ensure this project was done thoughtfully and collaboratively.
Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus is one of the most diverse in Maryland, home to 7,800 students representing over 140 countries. This diversity mirrors the culture of inclusion and equity that defines Montgomery County. It’s a powerful reminder of the opportunities this facility will provide to so many young minds from all walks of life.
It is especially fitting that this state-of-the-art facility is named for the former County Executive and the former First Lady. They have dedicated their lives to uplifting our community in countless ways. Catherine has been a passionate advocate for the arts, education and nonprofits, while Ike has always championed minority communities and pushed for an inclusive County long before "equity" was a common term. Their contributions to Montgomery County go far beyond politics; they are a way of life for the couple.
Ike and Catherine’s work raising money for scholarships and with the ACES program opened doors for deserving students and set countless young people on the path to success. Their legacy is more than this building, it is in the opportunities that will be created for generations to come.
Our education system, like this new facility, is essential to attracting businesses and ensuring that Montgomery College students find fulfilling careers right here in Montgomery County, without needing to look elsewhere. This is how we drive economic development and build a future that benefits everyone.
On behalf of the County government and the entire community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Ike and Catherine. Their impact extends beyond professional achievements. The work they continue to do for Montgomery County makes an impact. This new math and science center is a lasting symbol of their vision for a better Montgomery County and the positive change they have created.
Great Financial News for County
This week, Montgomery County received very good financial news. First, Montgomery County has continued earning the highest possible bond ratings – AAA - from all three major Wall Street bond rating agencies – Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.
Out of the over 3,000 counties in our nation, only about 50 have a “Triple AAA” like we do. And our streak of AAA bond ratings now stretches 52 years from Moody’s Ratings, 49 years from S&P Global Ratings and 34 years from Fitch Ratings. We aren’t aware of any other jurisdiction that has this sort of positive financial record and history of strong management.
Receiving a AAA rating is like having a perfect credit score. It allows us to spend more on our needs, like new schools, recreation centers, libraries, and improved transit projects. The longevity of our excellent fiscal record is a testament to the leaders who came before us and to the work of our current government.
The other good financial news we received this week was the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday. You can read more about that here. It is the first time interest rates have gone down in four years.
As I have mentioned before, Montgomery County has been significantly impacted by the Fed’s decision to raise interest rates to levels we have not seen in more than two decades.
The Fed indirectly sapped the County’s power to generate its normal revenue by keeping these rates high. Revenue from the County’s transfer and recordation taxes is down 50 percent from historical averages. Money generated for the County when homes are sold and registered to a new party—through the transfer tax and the recordation tax—lagged because of declining home sales.
Lower revenue has a trickle-down negative impact. The County has less money to pay for contracts and services that employ people and contribute to business growth, so artificially high interest rates' negative impacts extend beyond the housing market.
High interest rates have kept home sales far below their normal pace, meaning that many families have been waiting for interest rates to fall before buying a home.
It will not happen at once, but I hope pent up demand for houses will help drive home sales in our area back up and positively impact County and State revenues. I hope this move by the Fed provides a jolt to our housing market.
We are currently in the midst of our FY26 Community Conversations on the County budget.
Montgomery County Selected to Advance Energy-Efficient Building Codes
I am excited to share that Montgomery County has been selected by the Biden-Harris Administration as one of 19 jurisdictions in the country to negotiate the terms for federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Investing in America plan. This Department of Energy (DOE) funding would support the County’s Department of Permitting Services in the development and implementation of innovative building energy codes aimed at improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
While this is not a final award, being selected for negotiations is a strong recognition of our County’s leadership in zero-emission building codes as key climate action and DOE has selected Montgomery County for up to $10 million. I thank our Department of Permitting Services for their work with federal partners to finalize this incredible opportunity. These funds would significantly help us to create energy-efficient, resilient communities. For more information visit the DOE’s website.
This is a big deal, and we will keep you updated on our progress on these potential funds.
Health Update
As we start to see the number of people impacted by COVID-19 flatten out again, I want to acknowledge and thank our Departments of Health and Human Services public health team, General Services, Procurement Recreation and Public Libraries.
Starting in January 2022 Montgomery County distributed free COVID-19 test kits. In fact, we gave out 93,000 in the first day and 278,000 in the first week. This summer, our supply and our funds for these free tests finally ran out. But over those two and half years, we gave out 2.7 million Covid tests at our libraries and three million facemasks. When you add in test kits given away at our distribution outlets, Montgomery County distributed more than three million free Covid tests.
I consider this more than just a successful operation—it saved lives. I appreciate the coordination and hard work displayed by so many across our government to provide these kits and facemasks at no charge to our residents.
We must all remain vigilant because respiratory illnesses ramp up with cooler weather. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, as well as flu and RSV shots, is the best way to protect ourselves and our community. Check vaccines.gov to find ways to schedule your shot at a nearby pharmacy or doctor’s office.
Voter Registration Day
Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, which is good timing because there is a little over a month until the Presidential Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
I want to encourage everyone to get ahead of the fast- approaching voter registration deadline of October 15. By registering to vote now, voters can avoid having to do same-day registration during early voting or while casting a ballot on Election Day. Board of Elections workers are doing outreach in our libraries and community events leading up to that deadline. You can also text the word ‘Vote’ or ‘Vota’ to 77788 to get information sent to your phone about how to register.
Ballots are not automatically mailed to voters like they were in 2020. However, there is still time to request a mail-in ballot through the Maryland State Board of Elections at elections.maryland.gov. A Maryland Driver’s License or ID number is required.
For anyone without internet access, a mail-in ballot can be requested in person by visiting the Montgomery County Board of Elections office during normal business hours. The address is 18753 North Frederick Ave., Suite 210 in Gaithersburg.
The Board of Elections is just starting to mail those ballots, with every mail-in request expected to be processed 30 days before Election Day.
Mail-in ballots have prepaid postage so you can mail them back or put them in one of tmore than 50 secure drop boxes that are being set up around the County so they can be used this weekend. You do not need to give a reason to request and receive a mail-in ballot.
If you request a ballot, please look for it in your mailbox. Most importantly, vote. This year's ballot includes many important issues that impact us locally, across Maryland, and throughout the nation.
Keep up with all election news in Montgomery County by visiting 777vote.org.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Suicides are the result of pain and suffering that too often victims suffer without the proper support. That’s why the 2022 launch of 988, a nationwide suicide prevention hotline, has been so critical.
The 988 hotline gives users the option to call, chat or text with someone at any hour of the day. Between the first and second year there was a ten-fold increase nationally in people reaching out for help.
The hotline has been promoted and shared by our Department of Health and Human Services staff, as well as state and federal partners. It is operated locally by one of our community partners, EveryMind. They answer chat and texts that come in from acossMaryland. Leaders there tell us over the last year they’ve fielded nearly 3,000 texts from local phone numbers in Montgomery County and participated in more than 1,300 chats. On this week’s media briefing I was joined by EveryMind’s 988 Hotline Director Ariel Gordon. She said almost half the people reaching out for help through 988 are under 24 years old. You can watch the media briefing here.
These are real numbers that represent real help for people in need, but more people need to know that this free lifeline is available. With so many people struggling with depression, anxiety, and addiction (28 percent of all local contacts mentioned substance use in their conversations in 2023), more people need to know that 988 is there to help.
I want to thank Congressman Jamie Raskin for the suicide prevention legislation he introduced recently. The Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act would create a grant program at the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand the use of evidence-based models for stabilizing individuals with serious thoughts. His personal experience gave him a unique perspective on suicide and this legislation has been in the making for several years. At the state level, the Thomas Bloom Raskin Act, enacted in July 2021, expands the state’s crisis call center so that trained mental health counselors can periodically check in with people who need mental health support instead of waiting for them to call when they are in crisis. I know the pain of losing someone to suicide and my sympathies go out to him and his wife Sarah on the loss of their son.
I would also like to highlight work done by our County to keep more people safe from self-inflicted shootings. As of Sept. 1, gun stores must provide information on suicide prevention, gun safety and conflict resolution when a customer purchases a firearm. If a gun store is not displaying that information contact the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. Inspectors will look into those complaints and check on compliance with the new Suicide Awareness and Firearm Education or SAFE Act.
You can help break the stigma of depression and mental health challenges by participating in Walk with Us To Prevent Suicide on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown starting at 10 a.m. The event supports the Out of the Darkness movement which is celebrating its 20th year. The walk supports families impacted by suicide and to spread the message that suicide can be prevented.
A suicide prevention coalition has also been established to help with education. It is led by Sheppard Pratt and brings together 100 community partners who meet regularly to discuss strategies and education opportunities. Anyone group interested in joining is welcome. Email mcsec@montgomerycountymd.gov for more information.
Weekend Activities
We have reasons to celebrate this weekend in Poolesville and Burtonsville.
Saturday marks Poolesville Day, which is a celebration of community. Lately though, it has also been a good opportunity to for anyone interested in driving electric vehicles to learn from some of the many early adopters in Poolesville.
Next week is Drive Electric Week and last year nearly 200 vehicles registered and attended the Drive Electric Poolesville Day Event. That made it the largest National Drive Electric Week event worldwide based on registered participation.
I look forward to joining other County and state leaders for the Fair Access Committee breakfast Saturday morning.
I will then move on to celebrate Burtonsville Day. Their annual parade begins at 10 a.m. and starts from Paint Branch High School.
We’ll have a team of County representatives and community partners on hand for the festival near the Marilyn J. Praisner Library and Community Center on Old Columbia Pike until 3 p.m. Saturday.
I hope we get some wonderful weather for these events and other fall activities that we have going on throughout the County.
2024 Online Resident Survey
I want to remind everyone that Montgomery County’s 2024 online resident survey is now open to all residents 18 and up. I strongly encourage everyone to take the survey and help us understand how to improve the County.
This survey is accessible on the County’s website and will be available until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30. The survey provides the ability for direct feedback on local government services and allows the public to rate the County in several categories to help us gauge how quality of life here.
When we listen to you, it helps us deliver the services you need and expect. This survey gives everyone across the County equal access and opportunity to share feedback. Your feedback helps us make informed decisions that benefit our entire community. Question topics include County services, usage of amenities and facilities, participation in County programs, customer service experiences and the effectiveness of our communications. We have also included questions about household practices like recycling to get a complete picture of how we are serving you.
This survey is crucial for improving customer service, promoting transparency and informing our budget and policy decisions. The insights we gather help us deliver effective and efficient government services, so find the link on our County homepage to participate.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
