Dear Friends,
The new year is just a couple of weeks away, and you may be thinking about your resolutions. One common resolution is to be fitter and healthier in 2025—that is a goal of mine as well.
If that is one of your goals, for the third year, Montgomery County residents get a free RecFit pass. You can do that by showing a current utility bill with a local address or your state Driver’s License at any rec center.
We want to remove the barrier of cost that may be keeping some people from joining a gym. The pass provides access to fully equipped fitness rooms, open gym activities and game rooms at any community recreation center. It also includes participation in drop-in activities like basketball and pickleball. The free RecFit pass does not apply to Recreation’s aquatic centers, which still require a fee.
Since adopting the free RecFit passes, we have seen a 70 percent increase in foot traffic year over year at our 22 recreation centers, accounting for more than 86,000 County residents taking advantage of the free program. Non-residents can buy a fitness pass for $20 a month or $150 annually. The picture above is from my visit to the Wheaton Community Recreation Center in February to tour the LEED-certified facility and meet with residents using the gym and fitness rooms.
Applications are also open for Rec Assist, the financial aid program that helps our residents afford to participate in year-round activities.
Families that qualify can receive up to $400 in a calendar year to pay for Recreation programs and services like swim classes, ballet or summer camp. Those currently receiving County assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services or Montgomery County Public Schools may also qualify for Rec Assist. The money pays for up to 80 percent of the cost of a single activity. For eligibility questions follow this link.
Equity is a core principle of this administration and when it comes to our Recreation offerings, we want to make sure that they are accessible to everyone, including those who need financial assistance. Visit the Recreation website to learn more about our programs, locations and how to sign up for classes and activities through Active Montgomery.
County Budget Projections
I would like to share some good news regarding the County’s fiscal outlook. Our budget forecasts are better than had been previously forecast. Here are some of the details:
- FY25 projected revenues are up by $132.1 million.
- FY26 project revenues are up by $127.7 million, and
- We will close out FY24 with 15.8 percent in reserves, and the current fiscal year (FY25) reserves are now projected to be 13.1 percent, well above the County’s 10 percent reserve policy.
Despite the good news, we are also carefully watching and trying to plan for the potential impacts of a new Presidential administration and a Republican-controlled Congress.
If you would like to watch this week’s report on County financial projections to the County Council you can find that link here.
Honoring an American Hero – Brigadier General Charles McGee
Last week, I joined State and County officials and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society to unveil a memorial to the late combat veteran Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee at our Downtown Silver Spring library, which we named in his honor in 2022.
Gen. McGee was a proud, 30-year resident of Montgomery County. The latest tribute was unveiled just a few days before what would have been his 104th birthday on Dec. 7th.
Gen. McGee was not only a hero in the skies as a Tuskegee Airman but also a hero in life, breaking barriers and inspiring generations.
When I first learned about the history of World War II, sadly, I was not taught nor did this nation actively recognize the role of black soldiers during that conflict.
World War II was a conflict against fascism that we, as a country still in the grips of Jim Crow, fought with a segregated military. Nearly 80 years later, this irony is still not lost on me.
I am glad that the heroic service of individuals like Gen. McGee and the thousands of other servicemen of color from this war continue to receive their long overdue credit and appreciation for their service.
Their service is even more notable because black soldiers fought abroad to protect freedoms that would be denied to them when they returned to civilian life after the war. These men were good enough to fight, but not good enough to enjoy the same freedoms that other white Americans had.
I encourage all residents to stop by the Brigadier General Charles McGee Library in Silver Spring to learn more about this American hero and County native.
Focusing on State Priorities for 2025
This week I attended the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference. It is always valuable to engage with my peers from across the state, and the recent elections and the state budget deficit were prominent topics of discussion. We need to address many important topics at the State level, including housing, transportation infrastructure, health, child care and education funding. These conversations are vital as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. You can read more about our County priorities for the 2025 Maryland General Assembly here.
The Governor addressed the group at winter MACo and outlined two major challenges facing Maryland: a historic $2.7 billion budget shortfall and uncertainty about federal support with an upcoming change in administration in Washington, D.C. He also talked about some of the tremendous strengths of our state and the need to capitalize on them to improve economic growth. Specifically, he noted the many assets in the state, including the University of Maryland system, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Security Agency and more.
To improve and grow our economy, he said we needed to capitalize on some core strengths: life sciences, IT/cyber security and aerospace/defense. Of course, Montgomery County has a huge life sciences presence as well as the National Cyber Security Center of Excellence affiliated with NIST. I appreciated the Governor’s clear articulation of the challenges and strengths, and I look forward to working with him on a path forward.
We also need to think about how to fund the infrastructure we need for growth.
Many of you have heard this from me before but it bears repeating: Virginia is beating us in economic development. It was recently named America’s Top State for Business by CNBC while Maryland ranked 31st. One key reason for the disparity can be seen in how Virginia continues to add infrastructure. In this CNBC report, Virginia once again earned a high mark, ranking third in the national survey. Maryland lags far behind in shovel-ready sites for development, ranking 34th.
And here is the big secret that no one mentions—businesses in Virginia are willing to pay more in taxes than they do here. Virginia made the decision to use the extra tax dollars they got from the businesses to invest in the infrastructure that helped grow the economy for everyone.
Here is what I think we need to do to invest in our infrastructure:
- Pass differential taxation authority for residential and commercial property for counties in Maryland. Municipalities in Maryland already have this authority. Virginia and the District tax this way; why aren’t we?
- We need to ensure a clear purpose for the money generated by differential taxation. Businesses want to know that the taxes they pay benefit them. This is why the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority was created from a bill that the Republican legislature passed, the Republican governor signed and it was supported by both the business community and Democratic leaders from Northern Virginia.
- We also need to examine other regulatory and tax issues seriously. Adopting combined reporting for corporate income tax filings and enacting Fair Share Taxing policies are also important.,
Procurement Success
This week I attended the “Ready, Set, Grow” event, a procurement introduction and connections workshop held by the state of Maryland in Silver Spring to help connect vendors with State agencies. Maryland’s Special Secretary of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs, Maria Martinez, joined us, and I shared some excellent news about our procurement efforts in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 with attendees.
- The County spent a record $248 million with Minority, Female and Disabled-Owned (MFD) businesses—an all-time high for the program. That is nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, the highest amount since the program’s inception, and represents 23.5 percent of the total eligible dollars for MFD participation.
- We awarded $130.5 million in contracts to Local Small Business Reserve businesses, reflecting a 30 percent increase in participation over the past decade and a 74 percent increase in spending. This is the highest percentage spent with local small businesses since the program began in 2009.
We must continue to break the monopolies of the “good ol’ boy” network and do what we can to ensure a level playing field of competition. I can only do so much in the private sector, but I can influence and control where and how our County money is being spent.
Equity will remain a key focus of our efforts. Our Office of Procurement annually participates in about 40 regional outreach events and co-hosts outreach events with local organizations. I encourage you to reach out to them by calling 240-777-9900 or visiting the Office of Procurement website to attend one of the open houses held online every month.
Ride On Ridership is Up
I have some good news about public transportation. According to the American Public Transportation Association’s latest report, Ride On saw a 20 percent increase in ridership over the past year, ranking second in the nation among transit systems of its size (15 to 50 million riders). The picture above is from the group’s social media post about the rankings. That is more than 18.5 million rides this year compared to 15.4 million the year before—a significant jump.
This progress is especially encouraging as transit systems across the country continue to recover from the pandemic's impacts.
Right now, Ride On operates more than 80 bus routes. For FY24, we carried over 58,000 riders on an average weekday and 18.3 million riders for the year. With five months of data already in for FY25, we are on pace to reach 19.3 million rides, which is closing in on our FY19 pre-pandemic peak of 20.6 million rides.
The bulk of our growth has been on our traditional fixed-route services. Our busiest buses are on Route 55—which connects Rockville to Germantown. Ridership between the two cities is up 23 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Flash service is also doing well, with an 8 percent increase over last year and a remarkable 56 percent growth since the limited stop line was launched.
Ridership on our Ride On Flex service is still modest, carrying just over 100 riders per day with limited service. Flex has no fixed stops or schedules and serves the public on demand within Rockville, Glenmont and Wheaton. We remain committed to adapting it to better meet the community’s needs.
This success is a testament to the investments we have made to make Ride On more accessible and responsive to our community. Initiatives like zero-emission buses, Ride On extRa, and the expansion of our Flash Bus Rapid Transit give residents reliable, sustainable options to get to work, school, and other destinations.
I want to thank our Department of Transportation, and everyone involved in these efforts for their hard work.
Let’s keep this momentum going, and I encourage you to download the Ride On Trip Planner app and get on board. Ride On is an affordable, reliable and sustainable way to move around our County.
Holiday Reminders
Speaking of buses, I hope you have been able to see the Flash Lights buses on the road for the holiday season. They are decked out with lights and will run on Colesville Road/U.S. 29 for the next few weeks.
It is also a popular time to shop for holiday gifts, which reminds us to support local businesses. More than 95 percent of businesses located here have fewer than 50 employees. I recently visited the Maryland Women’s Business Center retail business incubator and saw how much work entrepreneurs do to get their projects started. Incubators are a wonderful tool that create a supportive community for entrepreneurs. The Shop Local store is located in Rockville Town Square, open 7 days a week and features products from many different businesses in the collective.
You can follow the advice of our Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by gifting outside the box. Consider gifting experiences when appropriate, gifting your time by giving back to a community organization and making a point to limit the amount of packing and wrapping paper you use. DEP staff will be giving away free reusable bags and offering lightbulb exchanges at the Westfield Montgomery Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. For more ideas, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/GiftGreener.
A puppy or new pet is not a perfect fit for every family, but if you do have room for a furry friend, you may want to take advantage of this weekend’s opportunity at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. Adoption fees will be waived on animals of all sizes on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15. You can schedule your appointment through the Animal Services and Adoption Center website.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
County Executive
