County Council Adopts $5.08 Billion Total Operating Budget for FY2016; Property Taxes Maintained at Charter Limit

The Montgomery County Council adopted a $5.08 billion total County operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016 that begins July 1. The budget reflects a 1.7 percent increase over the approved budget for FY 2015.

The total County budget, including debt service, grants and enterprise funds, will be $5.08 billion. The overall tax supported portion of the budget including debt service will be $4.42 billion, an increase of 1.5 percent from the FY15 budget.

The budget maintains property tax revenue at the Charter limit (last year’s amount plus an inflation-tied increase). It includes a $692 property tax credit for owner-occupants of principal residences. The weighted property tax rate will decrease to 98.7 cents per $100 of assessed value (from 99.6 cents).

The budget will go into effect on July 1.

See more in the Council news release.

Read County Executive’s reaction to the Council’s approved budget.

Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/openbudget.

Leggett Moves Forward to Privatize County Economic Development

County Executive Ike Leggett has sent legislation to the County Council that would transfer the major functions of County economic development and business promotion to a private-sector-led, non-profit entity.

Under the proposed legislation (Bill 25-15), both the County’s Department of Economic Development (DED) and the non-profit Montgomery Business Development Corporation (MBDC), a non-profit funded by the County to assist with business marketing, would be folded into a new 501-C-3 non-profit corporation. That corporation would be directed by an 11-member board chosen from the private sector and appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council.

The new corporation would be funded by the County and have responsibility for business attraction and retention, marketing and fostering entrepreneurship.

Read more information in the news release.

See Frequently Asked Questions on the privatization of core County economic development functions.

Executive Office Building Traffic Circle Closed During 16-Month Rehabilitation, Improvement Work

The Executive Office Building Traffic Circle (EOBTC) at 101 Monroe St., Rockville will be closed to vehicular traffic from now until September 2016 while the area’s surface and support structure are demolished, reinforced and reconstructed.

Immediate repairs are necessary due to continual deterioration which is causing water to penetrate the loading dock below the EOBTC that services the EOB, Circuit Court, and surrounding shops.

Pedestrian access will still be possible to the surrounding buildings. There will be varying amounts of noise created due to construction seven days per week and in the evenings.

To make up for the loss of the normal drop-off area in the traffic circle, there will be a 50-foot, designated drop-off area on Monroe St. on the EOB side of the traffic circle.

The eight-phase project will include selected demolition, removal of plaza surfacing, structural road deck concrete patching, asphalt topping, new waterproofing and new expansion joints. The project also includes replacing all of the landscaping and addressing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliance issues.

Swim but be Safe this Summer at County Pools

Montgomery County Recreation’s seven outdoor pools are now open for the summer season. They are:

• Bethesda Pool, 301-652-1598, Little Falls Pkwy. and Hillandale Rd.;
• Germantown Outdoor Pool, 301-601-1690, 18905 Kingsview Rd.;
• Long Branch Pool, 301-431-5700, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring;
• Martin Luther King Jr. Outdoor Pool, 301-622-1090, 1201 Jackson Rd., Silver Spring;
• Wheaton/Glenmont Pool, 301-929-5460, 12621 Dalewood Dr., Wheaton;
• Upper County Outdoor Pool, 301-840-2446, 8211 Emory Grove Rd., Gaithersburg; and
• Western County Outdoor Pool, 301-349-2217, 20151 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. 

As the summer swim season gets underway, residents are encouraged to become familiar with the safety rules posted at the pools. Children are at high risk for water-related accidents and it is important that they are closely supervised at all times while in and around the pool.

See a pool safety video.



Because safety is the priority for Recreation Department programs, it may be necessary to temporarily halt admission to pools when capacity is reached. Swimmers will be admitted as soon as space becomes available.

For information about pool amenities or hours of operation at all swimming pools, visit the Recreation Department website.

Spreading the Word about Parking Lot Safety

In a continuing effort to reduce pedestrian collisions in Montgomery County parking lots, teams of County staff and volunteers will be at local parking lots this summer to educate people about ways to improve safety.

The effort is part of a broader campaign to educate drivers and pedestrians about reducing pedestrian collisions in parking lots. In Montgomery County, about one in four pedestrian collisions occurs in parking lots, which can result in debilitating injuries. The goal of the public education campaign is to change attitudes and behaviors in parking lots.

If you’d like to help spread the word about improving parking lot pedestrian safety via social media or through civic, school, religious or neighborhood organizations to which you belong, see our resources on reducing pedestrian collisions in parking lots.

If you’re interested in volunteering to help distribute information in parking lots this summer, contact the Public Information Office.

Police Host Food and Blood Drive on June 2

The public is invited to help give the gift of life by donating blood and help the less fortunate by donating non-perishable food items to the Captain Joseph Mattingly Food Pantry at a Food and Blood drive on June 2 presented by Montgomery County Police. The event will be held at the County’s Public Safety Headquarters (First Floor Conference Room), at 100 Edison Park Dr., Gaithersburg, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Walk-in donors will be accepted, but the preferred method is to make an appointment online. Sign Up.

Updated Transportation Option Information for Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

The message for older adults and adults with disabilities in Montgomery County is clear: the County can help you get around.

The flyer entitled “Explore Your Transportation Options” features a detailed list of services, from providing rides to information on the Senior SmarTrip® Card and free transportation choices for residents going to senior and/or community centers in the County.

See the Explore Your Transportation Options flyer (pdf) or visit County's Senior website.

Summer Entertainment and Education Available through Recreation Department Programs – Be Active, Get Healthy

Wondering what to do with the kids – and yourself – this summer? Montgomery County Recreation invites you to take a look at the variety of offerings in their Summer Guide and Summer Camps Guide.

Because enrollment for the Summer Camps began in January, many have reached peak enrollment. However, it’s still worth checking the guide for what camps still have spaces.

Take a look at the Summer Guide and Summer Camps Guide for any number of opportunities for summer activities for the entire family.

Rockville Memorial Library Starts Extended Summer Hours

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has announced that the Rockville Memorial Library, at 21 Maryland Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, now through September 5.

“Urban libraries like Bethesda, Rockville Memorial and Silver Spring have much they can offer to the nighttime economy of Montgomery County,” said MCPL Director Parker Hamilton. “Rockville Memorial Library is one of the anchors of the Town Center, and we are pleased to offer our services during high traffic hours.”

County Executive Ike Leggett recommended funding for the extra hours at the Rockville Memorial branch, which was approved by the County Council in the FY 2015 budget.

For more information on the evening hours and services at the Rockville Memorial Library, call 240-777-0140. Information about all MCPL branches is available at montgomerycountymd.gov/library.

New School Immunization Requirements for 2015-2016 School Year Announced

Montgomery County health officials urge parents of students entering seventh and eighth grades to be sure their children show proof of vaccination against Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and Meningococcal meningitis (MCV4) prior to the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Students not in compliance with Maryland vaccination requirements will not be allowed to attend school until they provide documentation of the required Tdap and MCV immunizations. The requirements are in place throughout the State of Maryland.

School health staff is reviewing student health records, and parents of current sixth-grade students received a letter recently advising them of the new requirements.

Parents should contact their doctors to make sure their children are properly immunized and submit a copy of the documentation to the children’s school health nurse as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, August 31 -- the first day of the 2015-2016 school year.

Free Tdap and MCV4 immunizations will be offered to incoming seventh-grade students on Monday, June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at specified schools throughout the County.

Appointments are required and can be made at montgomerycountymd.gov/VaccineClinic. A parent or designated adult must be present with a parent-signed consent form at the time of vaccination.

See a list of schools and read more about the immunizations in the news release.