Council Approves Legislation to Simplify the Senior Property Tax Credit application and to include Surviving Spouses of Veterans.

Today we unanimously approved Expedited Bill 17-18, Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Members – Application. This legislation streamlines the application process for elderly individuals and retired military services members to receive the property tax credit, and  removes the requirement for an individual to apply every year that the individual is eligible to receive the credit. Instead, an individual would apply for the credit the first year and would automatically receive the credit for four additional years if the individual remains eligible for the credit. 

This bill applies retroactively so that individuals who missed the April 1, 2018 application deadline for the second year of credit would still receive the credit for the tax year that begins on July 1.

Also included in this bill is an amendment I introduced to implement a recent state law. This law allows a surviving spouse of a veteran eligible for the credit to receive the property tax credit. 

You can read the Council staff report here and check the Council website regularly for updated information. I'll also post more information as it becomes available.

Vote Early - Thursday, June 14, 2018 10:00 am - 8:00 p.m. through Thursday, June 21, 2018 10:00 am - 8:00 p.m.

Here's information about early voting:

Montgomery County will open eleven Early Voting Centers from June 14 to 21, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Any registered voter, or new Montgomery County resident, may cast a ballot at any one of these centers on the same voting equipment used on Election Day. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

Early Voting Centers are located at:

Activity Center at Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg

Damascus Community Recreation Center, Damascus

Executive Office Building, Rockville

Germantown Community Recreation Center, Germantown

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, Chevy Chase

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, Burtonsville

Mid-County Community Recreation Center, Silver Spring

Potomac Community Recreation Center, Potomac

Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (The Oak Room), Sandy Spring NEW SITE

Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring

St. Catherine Laboure Church (Claridge Room), Wheaton NEW SITE

For information on the specific locations of all Montgomery County Early Voting Centers, please visit our website at 777vote.org. To view more information during Early Voting hours of operation, such as wait times for each center - updated hourly - you may visit www.777vote.org.

Did you miss the voter registration deadline? During Early Voting you may register to vote the same day you vote. You must have a valid photo ID and proof of residency to register. Once you register, you will be issued a ballot. This opportunity is not available on Election Day – if you’re not registered yet and would like to vote, visit an Early Voting Center between June 14 and 21. You may not change your party affiliation at this time – this is only for new registrants.

For more information, call 240-777-VOTE, visit www.777vote.org, the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website at http://elections.maryland.gov, or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Your Time, Your Voice, Your Vote!

Media Contact: Marjorie Roher, 240-777-8625

Apply Now For County Board of Appeals - Application Deadline is Monday, July 2 at 5:00 p.m.

Get your application in by July 2. Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 11, 2018—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for a four-year term on the County Board of Appeals. The term of Edwin Rosado (Unaffiliated) will expire in September 2018. He does not plan to apply for reappointment. Applications for the position must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, July 2.

By law, no more than three members of the board shall be from the same political party. This position can only be filled by a Republican, a voter who is unaffiliated with a party, or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

In addition to Mr. Rosado (Unaffiliated), current members of the board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Stan Boyd (Democrat), Katherine Freeman (Democrat) and Bruce Goldensohn (Republican). Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Members of the board receive $15,365 annually, with the Chair receiving $21,715. Salaries are adjusted annually each December to reflect 50 percent of the change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral argument on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.

The board normally holds weekly hearings all day Wednesday and worksessions every other week. If necessary to accommodate an extended caseload or continued hearings, the board schedules hearings on other weekdays. Members are expected to prepare for the hearings by reading the cases to be heard and to share the workload of drafting and editing opinions or to follow-up on investigations on specific cases. Members work approximately 15-25 hours a week.

The principal jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals (concerning variances, special exceptions and conditional uses under the Zoning Ordinance) does not include the municipalities of Barnesville, Brookeville, Gaithersburg, Laytonsville, Poolesville, Rockville and Washington Grove. The normal Council practice is not to appoint residents of those municipalities to the board, however, exceptions to this practice may occur.

Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address, should be addressed to: 

Council President Hans Riemer, County Council Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or can be emailed to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on July 2. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the application closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and may select applicants to interview.

Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process. Any interviews held are open to the public and will be televised. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidate will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

# # # #

• Board-of-Appeals-release-6-11-18.doc

Three Ways to Vote -- Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Here's voting information from the Montgomery County Board of Elections regarding the upcoming Primary Election Day on June 26:

The Gubernatorial Primary Election is June 26 - did you know there are three ways to vote in Maryland Elections?

• Vote by Mail (Absentee Voting) – If you’re unable to vote in person, you have the option of casting a ballot by mail. Visit our website – www.777vote.org – or call our office – 240-777-8550 – to request an application.  If you receive a ballot by mail, you may then only cast a provisional ballot at the polls – Early Voting or Election Day. Absentee and provisional ballots cast by eligible voters are all counted before the results of the election are certified.

• Early Voting – Choose where and when you will vote! From June 14-21, between the hours of  10 a.m. – 8 p.m., you may visit one of eleven Early Voting Centers to cast your ballot in person using the same technology available on Election Day. During Early Voting hours, visit our website – www.777vote.org – to see up-to-date wait times at each of the Centers.

• Election Day – Your last chance to vote will be June 26 when polling places will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. You must go to your assigned polling place to cast a ballot.

Be prepared - visit our website – www.777vote.org – to make sure your registration is current and to find your polling place. You’ll also receive a sample ballot in the mail with this information.

Voting made easy in Maryland - not only do you choose who you will vote for, but you may also choose where and when to vote.

Council Approves the Budget

The Council today reached agreement on a $5.6 billion County budget for Fiscal Year 2019. Although I voted in favor of most of the FY19 operating and capital budgets (CIP), I voted against the County Government portion of the CIP because of the changes made to stormwater management programs. I fully support the County Executive’s March 15 proposal to institute a design/build/maintain approach. I strongly believe the Council’s decision on stormwater management today was unwise. You can view my earlier remarks I made about the budget here, and below is the full the press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 24, 2018—The Montgomery County Council today approved the County’s $5.6 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Operating Budget, the FY19 Capital Budget and the FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).  The Council approved a $4.5 billion FY19-24 CIP to fund school construction, infrastructure improvements and community projects. The operating budget fully funds Montgomery County Public Schools and supports Montgomery College, the County’s Police Department, the Fire and Rescue Service and essential health and human services programs.  The Council agreed to add nearly $6.7 million to the operating budget to maintain existing service levels and to minimize call response times for residents during emergencies.  The budget also sets aside funding for the County’s FY19 revenue goal of 9.4 percent of adjusted governmental revenues.  Funding for this financial obligation helps the County retain its AAA bond rating.

“Today we voted to approve the County’s FY19 Operating Budget and the FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program. Working together, we have produced a budget that is restrained and responsible, does not raise taxes, and ensures the County will continue to provide the superb services that so many of our residents appreciate so much,” said Council President Hans Riemer. “I credit the County Executive with making many great decisions in his budget, including fully funding Montgomery County Public Schools, which was also my highest priority. Among many changes, the Council was able to restore $6.7 million in proposed cuts to the Fire and Rescue Service, resulting in no cuts to these services, expand after school programs and pre-K, and shore up key safety-net services.” He went on to say, “In the capital budget, despite reducing our overall borrowing level, we increased funding for school construction, shifted transportation funding to transit and bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and added an exciting new project—a new facility for STEM learning and innovation for kids, in partnership with KID Museum and the City of Rockville. I thank my colleagues for their support and dedication to working together.”

Council President Hans Riemer, Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, George Leventhal and Craig Rice unanimously supported the operating budget agreement. Councilmembers’ budget statements and video clips of their remarks can be found here.

All of the Council’s budget votes were unanimous except for the CIP for County Government, which was approved by an 8-1 vote with Councilmember Nancy Floreen opposed because of her concerns regarding delays to County stormwater management projects. 

The budgets will go into effect on July 1. The Council’s final budget resolutions can be viewed here.  The complete list of items approved on the Council’s budget reconciliation list can be found here. The list of Council community grants can be found here.

The County’s $4.5 billion six-year capital budget provides funding to address the County’s most urgent building needs.  The Council agreed to $1.8 billion over the next six years for Montgomery County Public Schools’ CIP.  The Council reallocated/added $34 million from the approved CIP for school construction including funding for Lee Middle School to stay on the schedule proposed by the Board of Education with completion by September 2021 and planning funds for Dufief Elementary School in FY19. Other notable capital projects include funding for building acquisition and renovation to bring the KID Museum to Twinbrook, the Forest Glen Passageway, improvements to the Capital Crescent Trail, bike and pedestrian safety projects and several elementary school additions.

The operating budget includes tax-supported expenditures of $4.9 billion and approximately $672.2 million in non-tax supported expenditures. The budget reflects a property tax rate of 98.14 cents per $100 of assessed value, which is 1.98 cents below the current rate.  The budget includes a property tax credit of $692 for homeowners whose properties are their primary residences. The annual bill for the average homeowner will increase by $27.  With these actions, property tax revenue will not exceed the “Charter Limit” on real property tax revenue.

Montgomery County Public Schools

More than half of the County’s budget, $2.59 billion, funds Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).  This amount fully funds the budget request from the Montgomery County Board of Education. This represents an increase of $77.2 million or a 3.1 percent increase from the FY18 approved budget and is $18.6 million more than the required Maintenance of Effort level, which is mandated by the State of Maryland. This includes a County contribution of more than $1.7 billion. 

The County continues to rank near the top of all Maryland jurisdictions for total per- pupil funding.  The Montgomery County Board of Education estimates that 163,184 students will attend MCPS in FY19.  This will be 1,714 more students than last year.  The FY19 funding will provide an additional 152.7 full-time employees over the approved FY18 level, for a total of 22,452 employees including 91 new teachers.  A total of $60.4 million is allocated for the County’s contribution to the State retirement fund for teachers. 

The FY19 MCPS budget maintains or enhances several important programs. Some highlights include: 
• maintaining the class-size reductions approved by the Council in FY17; 
• expanding prekindergarten programs; 
• maintaining funding approved by the Council last year to expand Head Start programs from half-day to full-day; 
• expanding two-way immersion dual language programs to three additional elementary schools; 
• increasing counselor and psychologist positions to address the physical, psychological and social well-being of students; and  
• adding new career pathway programs for high school students. 

Montgomery College

County funding for Montgomery College in FY19 is $316 million, with $750,000 added by the Council to help fund the budget request from the Board of Trustees.  County funding for Montgomery College is above the required Maintenance of Effort level for the seventh year in a row.  The FY19 Montgomery College budget maintains and enhances several key programs designed to increase access, ensure student success and maintain affordability.  The budget also assumes a tuition increase of 2.9 percent by increasing per semester hourly rates as follows: $4 for in-County students; $8 for in-state students; and $12 for out-of-state students. 

Public Safety

The operating budget for the Department of Police is $279.9 million.  This is a 1.6 percent increase from last year’s budget.  Two police candidate classes are included with a total of 44 candidates to address attrition. The Department of Police budget also includes funding to expand the criminal gang unit, next generation 911 service, funding for the School Bus Camera Program and crossing guards for Richard Montgomery Elementary School.  The Council added funding for one vice unit detective ($60,992) and three school resource officers to staff middle schools ($182,947).   In addition the Council funded a body camera program for the Sheriff’s Office ($229,903).

The operating budget for the Fire and Rescue Service is $217.4 million.  This is an increase of 1.2 percent from FY18. The Council restored the following items to the Fire and Rescue Service budget to maintain existing service levels and to ensure that response times for residents during emergencies are kept to a minimum:  engines at the Hyattstown ($2.4 million) and Germantown Stations ($1.7 million); an aerial tower at the Hillandale Station ($1.5 million); four full-time positions at the Burtonsville Station ($674,930); $88,000 to fund the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad; and Emergency Management Services transport funds for the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the Local Volunteer Fire Departments ($114,780).

Economic Development

The operating budget funds more than $5 million in FY19 to support the work of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).  This organization implements the County’s economic development strategic plan, which includes marketing, business attraction and retention, entrepreneurship development and promoting the County’s economic base.

The Council allocated $1.8 million in funding for WorkSource Montgomery, which implements the County’s workforce development policies to promote job growth and attract talent.

In addition the Council funded more than $3.5 million for the County’s incubator programs. This includes funding for BioHealth Innovation, which identifies market-relevant biohealth products and connects those products with funding and assists business development and growth.  The Council also funded $4.5 million for the Economic Development Fund including $250,000 for the Small Business Assistance Program in Wheaton and $425,000 to create and fund a Small Business Innovation Research Matching Program.   

The budget includes $1.5 million from the County’s hotel/motel tax for Visit Montgomery, which promotes and markets the County as a destination and provides information to County visitors.

Transportation

The Council funded the Department of Transportation’s budget at more than $217 million.  This includes funding for items like road maintenance, leaf collection, Ride On and the parking lot districts.  The Council’s budget includes funding to begin to pilot bus service on Route 52 between Olney and Rockville. This new service will use microbuses to broaden the service area within Olney’s neighborhoods, including Olney Mill, Longwood and Brookeville. The Council also agreed to provide funding for bus service between several points in Clarksburg and the Germantown MARC station starting in January 2019.  In addition the Council agreed to fund $100,000 to restore signal timing optimization to help keep traffic moving.

Children, Youth and Families

Continuing the Council’s commitment to funding early childhood education and prekindergarten programs, the Council funded $86.6 million for children, youth and family services.  The combined total for Head Start and prekindergarten programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and MCPS is $76 million. This includes $2.5 million for a new early childhood center, additional prekindergarten classes and summer school classes for prekindergarten. The Council added $877,944 to expand part-day prekindergarten services to full-day at eight schools, which is consistent with the Council’s prior actions to expand full-day prekindergarten slots.  The Council funded more than $4 million for early childhood services. The Council added $25,000 for Montgomery Housing Partnership’s GATOR afterschool enrichment program.  Along with a $150,000 community grant, the GATOR program will be able to serve everyone on its waitlist.  

Health and Human Services

The Council funded $318.5 million for the Department of Health and Human Services. This is a 1.8 percent increase from last year’s approved budget.  The Council funded 1,425 full-time positions and 342 part-time positions. The Council approved several service enhancements to provide additional safety-net services for residents including:  

• $979,272 to provide increases to nonprofit contracts providing health and human services. 
• $246,500 for a Youth Drop-In Center for young people who are experiencing homelessness.
• $68,700 for Care for Kids.
• $158,000 to provide 2,000 primary care visits, $25,500 to restore psychiatric services and $50,000 for specialty care through Montgomery Cares.
• $113,400 to provide funding to increase the reimbursement rate for Montgomery Cares by $1.50.
• $135,308 to convert four contract positions in the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and four contract positions in the Latino Health Initiative (LHI).
• $316,844 to fund the Developmental Disability (DD) Supplement at an amount that will allow providers to pay up to an average of 125 percent of the County’s minimum wage to direct service workers.
• $65,320 for one position in the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program because of the growing number of facilities.
• $80,000 to, and shift funding allocated for, the Tree House contract to restore a community health nurse in Child Welfare Services to be assigned to the Tree House.
• $60,000 to continue to increase the number of elementary school children who receive weekend food bags, otherwise known as Smart Sacks.
• $30,000 to fund mini-grants to assist organizations that are recovering and/or distributing food.

Community Grants and Working Families Income Supplement

The Council funded more than $12.37 million for 249 different grants to nonprofit community partners that provide essential services for County residents. This amount includes the grants recommended by the County Executive. View the full list of FY19 Council Approved Grants.

The County’s budget provides $23.3 million for the Working Families Income Supplement Non-Departmental Account, which supplements Maryland’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and benefits low-income working families. The County supplements the State’s refund by 100 percent for County residents, which in effect doubles the amount received.

Affordable Housing

The Council funded a total of $63.8 million for the Housing Initiative Fund for affordable housing.  This includes funding appropriated to both the operating and capital portions of the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF).  The Council added $6 million to the capital appropriation to increase the preservation and production of affordable housing.  The HIF also includes funding for the Building Neighborhoods to Call Home Program and the Inside (Not Outside) Initiative to end homelessness.  The Council also agreed to a $17.3 million cap for the Payment In-Lieu of Taxes Program that helps promote the construction of affordable housing throughout the County. 

The County continues to work to achieve the goal of reaching functional zero for chronic homelessness. Since January 2016, 363 chronically homeless people have been placed in housing.

Recreation

The Council funded total expenditures of $38.8 million for the Recreation Department. This is an increase of more than $1 million from last year’s approved budget.  The Council added funding for several service enhancements for the Recreation Department to improve facilities maintenance and enhance services for residents, especially those focused on positive youth development. Some of the enhancements include: 

• $53,826 to extended hours at the Mid-County and White Oak Community Recreation Centers. 
• $30,000 to restore grounds maintenance.
• $50,000 to restore furniture, fixtures and equipment.
• $70,000 to restore janitorial and custodial services.
• $397,318 to fund two new Excel Beyond the Bell elementary school sites.   

Environment

The Council funded $109.9 million for solid waste services in the budget of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  This is a $13.4 million or a 13.9 percent increase from last year’s approved budget.  Most of the increase is for trash and recycling collection contract costs, reduced energy revenue at the Resource Recovery Facility, capital equipment costs, increased out-of-County trash hauling and increased contractual costs.  The Council concurred with the County Executive’s recommended increase in the refuse collection charge from $70 to $77. 

The Council funded $30.7 million for the non-solid waste portion of DEP.  This includes expenditures for the General Fund and the Water Quality Protection Fund (WQPF). Overall the WQPF is 91.1 percent of DEP’s total budget and covers County costs associated with water quality and the inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation of stormwater management facilities. 

The Council reviewed the CIP for the Conservation of Natural Resources - Stormwater Management and supported a six-year spending level of $100.7 million (a decrease of $177 million compared to the County Executive’s last recommended total of $102.5 million).  Both the County Executive’s recommendation and the Council’s action reflect a substantial reduction in expenditures from the approved CIP and are the result of less capital work expected to be required over the next six years to meet the County’s next National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - MS-4 permit. 

The Council shifted $2 million in funding from the Stormwater Management CIP to Montgomery Parks’ Stream Restoration Stream Valley Parks Project so that the Department of Parks can implement several important stream restoration projects. 

The Council did not support the County Executive’s recommendation to move forward with a new five-year comprehensive design/build/maintain contract for 530 impervious acres of retrofit work.  Instead the Council allocated these contract expenditures (minus the funding shifted to Parks) to existing projects and supported DEP meeting its expected future MS-4 permit requirement by using its existing contract mechanisms to complete work already under design. 

The Council supported the County Executive’s recommendation to keep Water Quality Protection Charge rates at current levels for the upcoming fiscal year.  The Council also agreed to provide $48,508 to fund a program manager position in the Office of Sustainability for half of FY19. 

Park and Planning

The Council funded $153.6 million for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), excluding the capital projects fund. This is more than a 3.5 percent increase from last year’s approved budget.  Included in this amount is more than $107 million to enhance and maintain the County’s park system, which includes 419 parks and more than 36,800 acres of land.  The Council added $200,000 to create urban parks through placemaking and $343,995 to provide service for new and expanded parks across the County.  

Libraries

The Council funded $42.8 million for the Department of Public Libraries.  This amount is a slight increase from FY18. The budget maintains the same public service hours for all branches.  
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
The Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils, on May 10, reached budget agreements for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), the bi-county portion of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Washington Suburban Transit Commission (WSTC).  WSSC’s FY19 Operating and Capital Budgets total $1.4 billion. The new budget includes a 4.5 percent rate increase for WSSC water and sewer customers.  All new bi-county spending plans are effective starting July 1, 2018.   The 4.5 percent rate increase will add $2.04 per month to a household with average consumption (143 gallons per day).

Wage Adjustments

The Council unanimously approved a two percent general wage adjustment and service increments of 3.5 percent in each collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the County Executive for FY19. Pursuant to the agreements with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Lodge 35, and Local 1664 of Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters (IAFF), the general wage adjustment will take effect on the first pay period after July 1, 2018.  The general wage adjustment in the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization of the United Food and Commercial Workers, AFL-CIO (MCGEO) agreement will take effect on the first pay period after December 1, 2018.  In addition to these wage adjustments, the FOP, IAFF and MCGEO also will receive longevity awards.  The Council approved a $1,000 lump sum award in the FOP agreement for eligible unit members who had a service increment deferred in FY12 and/or FY13 on the first full pay period following July 1, 2018. 

Studies & Design Work

The Council funded a benchmarking study on racial and social disparities in the County through the Office of Legislative Oversight.  The goal of this study is to create an equity policy framework for County government to help eliminate disparities. 

In addition the Council provided $60,000 for a student loan refinancing market study and cost analysis.

The Council added $250,000 to the Administration Fund for M-NCPPC to fund various studies and consulting work. 

The Council also added $32,300 for design work for potential façade and other improvements in the Glenmont commercial area. 

Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for the Memorial Day Holiday, May 28:

County Offices – Closed

Libraries – Closed

County Liquor stores (DLC) – all stores will be open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Recreation – aquatics programs and facilities open; all other classes and programs canceled. Administrative office, senior centers and recreation centers are closed

Montgomery Parks - Montgomery Parks - for special programs, events and operating schedule, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks and tennis centers, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org

Ride On – Sunday Schedule 

Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com

Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com

TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center – Open

TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – The Silver Spring TRiPS store will be open on Memorial Day but the Mobile Store will be closed

County Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection, all collections for the week will be made one day later than normal with Friday pickup on Saturday 

The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station –  closed 

Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – Free

State offices and courts – Closed

Council Reaches Budget Agreement

Yesterday we reached unanimous preliminary agreement on a $5.6 billion County budget for Fiscal Year 2019. The budget strongly supports Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and does not raise property taxes. You can view my comments here. We will formally adopt the budget on Thursday, May 24, and it will go into effect on July 1. Here's what I said at yesterday's Council session: 

After 16 budgets, I’m reminded of how this process always reveals the dedication and hard work of all those involved in our budget process, and how difficult it is to choose among the many projects we review. There are many wonderful programs that come before us, and I wish we could fund all of them. But resources are finite.  We do our best to support what we can, while also delivering a balanced and responsible budget. As so immortally put by the Rolling Stones, “You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes, you might find you get what you need.”

I want to thank our new Council Executive Director, Marlene Michaelson. I commend your stewardship during your first budget cycle. This isn’t an easy task. I couldn’t manage without our staff’s thorough analyses, innovative ideas and communication with our constituents, especially my Chief of Staff, Judy Jablow. I appreciate the significant input from the many stakeholders, including department and agency heads, business representatives, the County Executive and, most importantly, our residents.

As I reflect on the past 16 years, it’s noteworthy the amount of change and growth Montgomery County has experienced since my first year as a Councilmember. Back in 2003 our population was 936,000. We’ve grown 12.2% since then to 1,050,370. This year, we plan to approve the FY19 budget that totals $5.56 billion and supports 10,483 county employees. This is an 80.5% increase from my first budget in FY04 that was $3.08 billion, when we had 8,901 county employees. 

With this year’s budget, we continue our strong commitment to education by funding MCPS at $2.6 billion to support the current enrollment of 163,184 students and 22,452 employees. Back in FY04, we funded MCPS at $1.5 billion. Then, it had an enrollment of 139,203 students and 19,291 employees. Compared to FY04, we’ve increased MCPS’ budget by 73%. It is my hope that the next Council, and all future Montgomery County Councils will continue this strong support for education, while working purposefully to provide equity for all our students in all our schools. 

  

As always, we must keep a keen eye on the future.  Making these budget decisions is our most important responsibility, and we must be accountable to our residents to ensure we are prudent stewards of this County’s fiscal future. By maintaining a healthy financial reserve and our retirees’ health benefits, we safeguard our County’s AAA bond rating and our financial flexibility. I’m reminded of the difficult decisions that I and some of my colleagues on this Council faced during the great recession, and how we continue this struggle to restore funding while facing new challenges that that impact our revenue.

For example, Montgomery County residents are rightly proud of our parks and recreation facilities and programs.  These departments were hit hard during the recession, and we continue to try to bring their budgets back to pre-recession levels so we can expand and enhance some of the experiences and services residents enjoy most.

I believe we have a bright future ahead of us, and I’m encouraged by our economic development opportunities. Our unemployment rate when I started on the Council back in 2003 was 3.3% and has returned to this level since the great recession. The County’s rate is lower than both the state and national unemployment rate which at 4.1%. Our gross economic output is $89.9 billion, which is a measure of the total size of the county's economy. Overall, this figure grew 36.4% since 2003. If Montgomery County were an independent country, we would place 66th in the world for total annual economic output. This is pretty cool!

Here are some other encouraging statistics.  Since 2003, our assessable base has grown 115.7% and our weighted tax rate (property tax charge) has decreased by 2.3%. Let’s not forget the Income Tax Offset Credit, for owner-occupied residences, which began in FY06 at $116 and is now $692.

I am unequivocally optimistic about Montgomery County’s future and hopeful that the next Council will be wise and restrained in spending our residents’ money.  We never know what challenges we will face. Our fiscal strength is what makes it possible for us to weather them.

Absentee Ballot Applications Are Now Available for the Gubernatorial Primary Election

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, you'll need to get an application and submit the completed form to the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Here's the full press release from the Board of Elections:

VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Any registered voter who wants to vote by mail may now request an application for the Gubernatorial Primary Election.  If you request a vote by mail ballot, it will be your official ballot and you will not be able to vote on the paper based, digital image scan voting system at the polls on Election Day, June 26, or during Early Voting, June 14 - 21.

You may apply for a vote by mail ballot in one of three ways:
1.     Visit our website – www.777vote.org – and select Absentee.   Follow the instructions for completing the application which may be mailed, faxed (240-777-8560) or e-mailed absentee@montgomerycountymd.gov to the Board of Elections. 
2.     Visit https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1 to complete an online application.  You must have a valid Maryland Driver’s License or Motor Vehicle Administration issued ID and enter your name and date of birth exactly as reflected in the voter registration database in order to use this method.  Follow the prompts to complete and submit your application.
3.     You may apply in person at the Montgomery County Board of Elections – 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD  20879 – between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To obtain an application for another person, please call 240-777-8550 for detailed information.
The deadlines for receipt of your completed application are as follows:

•  If you want your ballot mailed to you, your deadline is Tuesday, June 19, 2018. If you mail or deliver this form, your election office must have it by 8 pm. If you fax or email it, they must have it by 11:59 pm.
• If you want to print your on-line delivery ballot from the State Board of Elections’ website, your deadline is Friday, June 22, 2018. If you mail or deliver this form, your election office must have it by 5 pm. If you fax or email it, they must have it by 11:59 pm.

After the aforementioned dates, absentee ballot applications need to be requested in person at our office – 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg.  The office is open: 

• From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 
• During Early Voting, June 14 - 21, from 8:30 a.m. through 8 p.m.
• Saturdays, June 2 and 23, from Noon to 4 p.m.
• June 9 from Noon to 4 p.m.
• Sundays June 10 and 24 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections wishes to remind voters that impersonating another voter or casting a ballot on behalf of another person is a crime. If you see or hear of any attempted vote fraud, contact the State Attorney’s Office at 410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023 toll free in Maryland or via TDD at 410-576-6372.

For more information on voting by mail call 240-777-VOTE, visit www.777vote.org, our mobile app at m.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections, the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website at https://elections.maryland.gov, or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Your Time, Your Voice, Your Vote!

Media Contact:  240-777-8625

The County's Economy -- How are we doing?

You may have heard talk lately about the overall health and welfare of Montgomery County's economic development. Did you know that our Gross Regional Product is $89.9 billion, which is a measure of the total size of the county's economy? Overall, we've grown 24% since 2010. If Montgomery County were an independent country, we would place 66th in the world for total annual economic output. Pretty cool!

Montgomery County

                                              2010                            2017                            Change

Population                            976,253                        1,054,399                    8%

Jobs                                      441,890                         468,308                      6%

Gross Regional Product     $72,381,433,082           $89,928,963,921          24.2%    

Source: EMSI, BLS, BEA, and U.S. Census