Council Approves $4.8 Billion FY2014 Operating Budget

The Montgomery County Council has unanimously approved a $4.8 billion County total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2014. The budget, which reflects a 4.1 percent increase over the approved budget for FY 2013, “continues to invest in our economic and social infrastructure,” said Council President Nancy Navarro.The budget also maintains property tax revenue at the Charter limit. It includes a $692 property tax credit for owner-occupants of principal residences.
The overall tax-supported portion of the budget will be $4.2 billion, including debt service, an increase of 4.2 percent from the FY13 budget.

For Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the Council approved a total budget of $2.225 billion, including $2.1 billion in tax-supported funds,), an increase of $57.7 million (2.65 percent increase from FY13) in the total budget. The budget provides a County contribution to MCPS that meets, but does not exceed, the State’s Maintenance of Effort Law requirement.

Montgomery College’s approved budget is $280 million, including $228 million in tax-supported funds. This is an increase of 4.2 percent from the FY13 approved budget and funds 99 percent of the College’s tax-supported request.

In the years between FY09 and FY12, the County Government workforce was reduced by 1,254 positions (10 percent). The FY13 budget restored 92 positions and the FY14 budget restores an additional 128 positions.
The budget maintains the County’s commitment to prudent fiscal policies that the Council and Executive mutually agreed are critical to maintaining sound fiscal management. The budget increases reserve levels to cushion the County against any additional unanticipated economic setbacks. It also again increases the pre-funding of retiree health benefits.

The approved budget strongly supports the County’s public safety commitment. The budget for the Department of Police is $260.5 million, an increase of $9.99 million (4.0 percent) from the FY13 approved budget. The budget implements the second year of the Police Department’s three-year staffing plan, adding 40 positions. The number of School Resource Officers assigned to Montgomery County Public Schools was doubled from the current six to 12.

The budget for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is $218 million, an increase of $13.5 million (6.6 percent) from the FY13 approved budget.

The FY14 operating budget, and adjustments to the Fiscal Years 2013-18 six-year Capital Improvements Program, will go into effect on July 1.

Read budget highlights and more details.

Response from County Executive on Council Budget Approval

The Montgomery County Council has approved the fiscal year 2014 budget. I thank the Council for their hard work on this important task. Balancing the needs of our residents and businesses in the current difficult economic environment is not an easy endeavor and I appreciate and thank them for their accomplishments.

The balanced $4.8 billion budget I recommended to the Council in March strategically restored some of the most critical and important services that we were forced to substantially reduce over the past six years as the County faced unprecedented budget challenges.

My recommended enhancements in FY14 balance the backlog of resident needs with the County’s new economic reality - holding the line on property taxes at the County Charter level at the rate of inflation; holding the tax-supported County government budget increase to 3.9 percent, which is half of last year’s increase; and increasing spending for our expanding school enrollment.

The Council’s action approved 99 percent of my recommended budget.

I am, however, particularly concerned about two Council actions that create an $18 million problem this year and create greater difficulties in balancing the budget in FY15 and beyond.

The energy tax cut of 10 percent reduces revenues by $11.6 million in FY14 and well into the future. One of the many reasons why I recommended retaining the energy tax at the current level is that a substantial portion of the tax comes from federal and other tax-exempt facilities in the County that otherwise pay nothing to the County for the services that they consume. This reduction reduces our budget flexibility in future years.

I also do not believe the Council should “borrow” $6.7 million in funds I set aside to pay for retired County employees’ health benefits. Those funds will have to be repaid next year, which will result in higher future obligations.

I understand the Council’s desire to meet its own policy goals and the tremendous demands that make these decisions so difficult. My goal is to continue to improve our fiscal stability that we have worked so tirelessly and collaboratively to achieve.

Leggett Lauded by Governor for Support of Transportation Funding; Talks of Long Years of Support for Increased Funding

During the recent signing of the transportation funding bill in Annapolis, Governor Martin O’Malley publicly recognized County Executive Ike Leggett for his support for the legislation.

Following the bill signing, Leggett acknowledged a long, seven-year fight to obtain funding necessary to move critical projects forward.

View remarks by the governor and Leggett.

County Government Memorial Day Schedule

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27:

• County Offices – closed 
• Libraries – closed 
• County liquor stores – all retail stores open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
• Recreation – indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities will be open; administrative offices, senior centers and community recreation centers will be closed
• Montgomery Parks – for holiday operating schedule on Parks’ facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org. 
• Ride On – Sunday schedule
• Metrobus – Sunday schedule
• Metrorail – Sunday schedule
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed 
• Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection*
• Transfer Station – closed
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free 
• MCPS Administrative Offices – closed 
• State offices & courts – closed 

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

Hack for Change

Montgomery County will bring together residents, software developers and entrepreneurs for a “hackathon” on June 1-2 at the Universities of Shady Grove, Building III at 9630 Gudelsky D., Rockville, beginning at 2 p.m..

The “Hack for Change Hackathon” will be part of the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking designed to leverage the power of public data with the expertise of residents and entrepreneurs in finding technology solutions for the common good. Other agencies hosting civic hacking events include The White House, NASA, the Census Bureau, HHS, FEMA, the National Archives and departments of Labor and Energy.

The event will offer County residents a unique opportunity to get involved and improve community life by developing new applications for smart phones and other devices. Participants will select the idea they find most compelling and form a development team to work on it. Some ideas may have multiple teams and others may have none.

Meals will be provided, and the event will conclude at 6:30 p.m. on June 2 following team presentations and judging.

Get more details, including registration information.

Public Invited to Comment on Plan to Improve Accessibility at Recreational Facilities and Parks

Residents and community groups are invited to attend a public meeting to help develop a multi-year plan to improve accessibility for people with disabilities at recreational and park facilities throughout the County.

Hosted by the County’s Commission on People with Disabilities and the County-Wide Recreation Advisory Board, the meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the Executive Office Building, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.

More details about the public meeting are available on the website which will be updated regularly with information on the multi-year plan.

American Sign Language interpreter services will be provided. The meeting room is equipped with an assistive listening system. Anyone needing other auxiliary aids and services to participate in this event should contact the County’s ADA Compliance Office at least three business days in advance of the meeting. Call 240-777-6197, or TTY 240-777-6196 or email adacompliance@montgomerycountymd.gov.

For more information about the public meeting or about ADA compliance issues, contact Nancy Greene in the Department of General Services at nancy.greene@montgomerycountymd.gov, or 240-777-6197; or Bob Green, ADA Compliance Project Manager for M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks at bob.green@montgomeryparks.org, or 301-495-2571.

• Visit County calendar to sign up the event.

“Be Active Montgomery!” – It’s About Daily Fun, Fitness and Health

The County’s new “Be Active Montgomery!” outreach campaign -- aimed at promoting overall health and wellness through participation in healthy recreation and leisure activities -- will kick off with a variety of special free activities for all ages on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Germantown Recreation Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council Vice-president Craig Rice will join Montgomery Recreation, Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) representatives at the kick off.

The free event will include the United Way Fun, Fly and Fit obstacle course; healthy food vendors; fitness walks; and interactive demonstrations such as Quick Start tennis, Zumba and golf clinics. Attendees who complete the fitness challenge will receive free admission to the Germantown Indoor Swim Center and the miniature golf course.

Taste the World in Fenton Village

More than two dozen restaurants featuring cuisine from around the globe will be showcased in the third annual Taste the World in Fenton Village on Sunday, June 2, from 1 to 5 p.m. Fenton Village is located just south of Downtown Silver Spring between Wayne, Georgia and Burlington aves. and Fenton St.

Event attendees may pick up their Taste the World passports at Parking Lot 3 on Fenton St. between Thayer and Silver Spring aves. beginning at 1 p.m. Once participants have their “visas” stamped with three or more restaurants for tastings, they can enter a free drawing for prizes from local merchants.

The Silver Spring Metro Station is a 10-minute walk from the stage area. Free parking will be available at Parking Lot 3 as well as Parking Garage #4 on Silver Spring Ave. and at all other nearby County-owned parking facilities.

For maps, a list of participating restaurants and other event details, visit www.tastetheworldfentonvillage.org .

Open House for IT Vendors to Explore Business Opportunities with the County

Information Technology (IT) vendors wanting to explore possible business opportunities with County departments and agencies are invited to a free open house on June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Executive Office Building, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.

See the full list of participating departments and agencies.

For more information, contact the Office of Business Relations and Compliance at 240-777-9913 or obrc@montgomerycountymd.gov.

"Do More 24" - Help Local Non-profits Help Your Community

On June 6, local residents can help build better communities and enhance the lives of those in need by participating in the 24-hour online “Do More 24” campaign, powered by the United Way of the National Capital Area. The goal of the campaign is to increase funding - through a day of concentrated giving - for the countless local non-profits that provide valuable services to the neediest area residents.

Residents can do several things to participate:

• Mark June 6 on the calendar and bookmark the “Do More 24” website at http://domore24.org; the website also has a list of the many fundraising events scheduled for the area on June 6; 
• Donate that day to a favorite nonprofit organization, or to the “Do More 24” Fund; and 
• Follow United Way NCA on Facebook at facebook.com/unitedwaynca and Twitter at @uwnca. Use the #domore24 hashtag to keep the onversation going. 

So far, more than 800 nonprofit organizations have registered to participate in “Do More 24.” Organizers expect by June 6 there will be more than 1,000 organizations taking part.