FY 2014 Budget Information

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett presented his recommended operating budget for FY 2014 and highlighted his budget priorities.

• County Executive’s Recommended FY14 Operating Budget
• County Executive’s Recommended FY14 Operating Budget – Budget in Brief (pdf)
• Press Release  | Budget Charts
• View video of Budget Conference
• Submit your budget ideas on engageMontgomery

• Budget Shortfalls Closed (pdf)
• County Government Spending (pdf)
• Holding Property Taxes at Charter Limit (pdf)
• Employee Cost Savings FY10 - FY13 (pdf)

Leggett Budget Holds Line on Property Taxes at Charter Limit, Funds Schools at Maintenance of Effort Level, Boosts Public Safety, Libraries, Positive Youth Development and Seniors

Prudent Approach Built on Putting CountyFiscal House in Order, $469 Million in Savings on Employee Compensation Realized Over Past Four Years

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has announced his recommended $4.8 billion operating budget for fiscal year (FY) 2014 that begins July 1. Leggett’s budget holds the line on property taxes at the County Charter level below the rate of inflation.

His recommendation includes a tax-supported County government budget of $1.3 billion, up 3.9 percent, which is half of last year’s increase. The budget increases County spending for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to the level required by the State’s Maintenance of Effort law.

The budget continues Leggett’s three-year plan to add 120 sworn officers and 23 civilians to the Police Department and doubles the number of School Resource Officers assigned to County high schools. It provides a 10 percent increase in Public Libraries, staffing newly-renovated libraries in Gaithersburg and Olney, increasing materials and adding hours at several libraries.

Following up on commitments made in his February 20 “State of the County” speech, Leggett expands the popular “Excel Beyond the Bell” program in his Positive Youth Initiative and boosts County funding to expand English language programs for County adults by 14 percent. Leggett’s budget also expands the County’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that assists the working poor.

The overall recommendations include:

• A total County budget (which includes debt service, grants, and enterprise funds) for FY14 of $4.8 billion, an increase of $190 million from the FY13 approved budget – or a 4.1 percent increase. This includes all agencies -- MCPS, Montgomery College, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and County government
• An overall FY14 tax-supported portion of the budget of $4.188 billion (including debt service) that will increase by $168 million, or 4.2 percent, from the FY13 budget. 
• A tax-supported County government budget of $1.31 billion, an increase of $49 million, or 3.9 percent – about half the increase approved by the County Council for FY13.
• Funding for MCPS will increase by $55.8 million – a 2.8 percent increase from FY13 and an increase of $28.7 million in County funding over last year. The budget provides a County contribution to MCPS that meets the requirements of the State’s Maintenance of Effort Law. 
• The budget for Montgomery College increases by $9.2 million, a 4.2 percent increase. The budget funds 99 percent of the College’s tax-supported request.
• Funding for the M-NCPPC increases by $4 million, a 3.7 percent increase representing 100 percent of the agency’s tax-supported request. 

See the Executive’s Recommended FY14 Operating Budget.
See the Budget in Brief.
Read details in the news release.
See following budget charts:

• Budget Shortfalls Closed (pdf)
• County Government Spending (pdf)
• Holding Property Taxes at Charter Limit (pdf)
• Employee Cost Savings FY10 - FY13 (pdf)

View video of Budget Conference
Submit your budget ideas on engageMontgomery

Pedestrians Urged to Walk Safe, Drivers Should Look Out for Pedestrians; Time Change, Warmer Weather Brings Spate of Pedestrian Collisions

With the recent time change to Daylight Savings Time, early morning pedestrians are traveling before the sun comes up. County officials urge pedestrians and drivers to be especially aware of each other, particularly during darkness and in bad weather when visibility is limited.

“The recent spate of pedestrian collisions in Montgomery County is a terrible tragedy,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “The County is committed to keeping pedestrians safe, and we have engaged in an aggressive program to reduce collisions through engineering efforts and enhanced enforcement and education that is having excellent results.

“But, we also need the public’s help to improve safety,” Leggett stated. “We need drivers to obey the law, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, slow down, pay attention and look out for pedestrians. We need drivers to eliminate distractions, put down their electronic devices and drive less aggressively.

“We need pedestrians to be vigilant, on guard and undistracted. They should use crosswalks, cross only with walk signals and never assume that drivers see them and will yield to them when they step into the road.

“We need everyone to be engaged to make sure that crossing the street is not a death defying act.”

See safety tips for pedestrians and drivers.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Police Urge Residents to be Alert for Possible Utility Scam 

In the wake of a recent utility scam in Gaithersburg, County Police are warning residents to be aware that all utility workers carry proper identification. If a worker is unable to provide proper identification, do not allow him or her to enter your residence. 

 
Residents can also check with their respective utility companies to determine whether the company has workers in the area before allowing the worker to enter their homes.

PEPCO customer service 202-833-7500 http://www.pepco.com
WSSC customer service 301-206-9772 http://www.wsscwater.com
Washington Gas customer service 703-750-1000 http://www.washgas.com

Free Sign Language Practice Series for Beginners at Germantown Library
A free five-session Sign Language Practice for Beginners will be introduced at the Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd., on Sunday, April 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. The program will continue on April 21 and 28, May 5 and 19. (No sessions on April 14 and May 12.)

The practice sessions, that will emphasize practicing and expanding vocabulary and conversation, are designed for individuals ages 16 and older who have basic knowledge of sign language. Advanced beginners also are welcome.

Registration is limited to 30 participants and includes all five sessions. Go to the library website -- www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library -- under Library Events Calendar.

To request disability accommodations, contact the Germantown Library at 240-777-0110.

Earth Day Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to assist with trash removal during an Earth Day cleanup project on April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon in the White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring.

Participants, 14 years of age or older, must register prior to the event. Public school students who volunteer will be eligible to earn Student Service Learning hours. Contact Leslie Wilcox at leslie.wilcox@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-7780 for more information or to register.

Hosted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Department of Parks and the local watershed group Eyes of Paint Branch, the event is part of the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Earth Day Cleanup celebration held throughout the Anacostia watershed.

A list of Montgomery County Earth Month events is available on the My Green Montgomery website. Check back frequently as more events are added.

MAKING NEWS

County’s Public Libraries System among Top 100 to Follow on Twitter

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has placed 48th in the list of “Top 100 Libraries to Follow on Twitter” that also includes notable libraries and library systems in the U.S. and abroad. Topping the list were The Library of Congress and the New York Public Library.

The listing was compiled by Matt Anderson, an academic librarian, library lover and, currently, a product manager at a major library software company.

Anderson explained that the list reflects “…active libraries that provide great content on Twitter. They are quick to respond to people’s comments and questions, and their presence is felt around the Twitter library world. If you are trying to learn about what leading libraries are doing, check out the 100 Twitter handles.”

See the list of 100 Libraries to Follow on Twitter.

Follow MCPL on Twitter.

Leggett to Present FY 2014 Recommended Operating Budget

County Executive Ike Leggett will present his Recommended Operating Budget for FY 2014 and highlight his budget priorities on Friday, March 15 at a 10:30 a.m. news conference in the Executive Office Building in Rockville. 

The news conference will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery, Channel 6 for Comcast and RCN subscribers and Channel 30 for Verizon subscribers.

It can also be viewed on the County’s website by going to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm

Investing in Roads, Bridges & Mass Transit…and Creating Jobs

A consensus plan that will increase investment in the State’s transportation system by an average of $800 million a year, once fully implemented, and will support an estimated 44,000 jobs over five years has been introduced by Governor O’Malley and Senate and House leaders.

See details about the plan.

County Officials Respond to the State’s Transportation Funding Initiative

County Executive Ike Leggett

“I am very pleased that Governor O’Malley, Senate President Miller, and Speaker Busch have joined forces to ensure that the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund has the needed resources to maintain and improve our State’s roads and transportation systems and grow jobs and business into the future.

“Several years ago, I virtually stood alone in advocating for an increase in the state’s gasoline tax -- which hasn’t been increased since 1992, when George Bush Senior was President. It wasn’t popular then, and it isn’t popular now. But we needed it then, and we still need it now.

“This will help replenish the State’s Transportation Trust Fund and assist counties throughout the state to advance major transportation infrastructure. Inaction costs commuters even more time stuck in congestion and costs the State jobs and investment.”

Council President Nancy Navarro

“Thank you to Governor O’Malley, Speaker Busch and Senate President Miller for proposing a serious transportation solution. Maryland’s economic future rests on our ability to fund our state’s transportation priorities. The proposal to lower and index the gas tax, while adding a sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline, will keep Maryland’s transportation funding and gas prices competitive with our neighbors across the Potomac River.“Governor O’Malley’s proposal recognizes that we will rise or fall together—as One Maryland. His statewide solution will raise revenue to fund projects from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore. Having resources available to build our transit infrastructure and maintain our roads and bridges will help our private sector grow and economy thrive.

“I look forward to working with our delegation in Annapolis over the next six weeks to pass the Transportation Infrastructure and Investment Act of 2013.”

Chat Online with County Executive Ike Leggett

County Executive Ike Leggett will host his next online, live discussion with residents on March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Residents interested in participating can submit questions before or during the chat. Questions and answers will be available for viewing both during and after the chat.

For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507.

Council to Host Town Hall Meeting at AFI Silver

The County Council will host a Town Hall Meeting for the Silver Spring area on Wednesday, March 13, at the American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, beginning at 8 p.m.

Located at 8633 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring, the theatre is close to the Red Line - Silver Spring Metro Station. Parking is available in nearby public garages.

The meeting will be recorded for broadcast at later dates on County Cable Montgomery (CCM) which is on Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN and Channel 30 on Verizon. Susan Kenedy, a CCM producer, will moderate the meeting.

Read more about the Town Hall Meeting or call 240-777-7931.