Citizens Advisory Board Comments on Leggett's Proposed Budget

The Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board opposed a in downtown Bethesda and inquired about interim recreation services for the Scotland community in an April 11 letter to the Montgomery County Council offering a variety of feedback on Leggett’s recommended operating budget.

Leggett's budget aims to close a $300 million budget gap.

The group, which advises the County Council and County Executive Isiah Leggett on regional issues in the Bethesda, Potomac and Chevy Chase areas, commented on issues including the Bethesda parking fees and services for the Scotland community in Potomac while the Scotland Recreation Center undergoes renovations beginning October 1. In the letter, the group also advocated for youth sports, suggested more staffing at regional services centers, and proposed raising fees to help support programming at neighborhood recreation centers like the Clara Barton center in Cabin John,

The proposal to hike parking rates in Bethesda, part of the recommended budget, was introduced as a council resolution March 28. It would increase long-term parking rates in Bethesda's lots and garages – rates charged after the first three hours – from 65 cents to 75 cents an hour. Parking for the first three hours would remain $1 an hour. Parkers in county lots and garages would be charged from 7a.m. to 10p.m. Monday through Saturday – currently, parking is free on the weekends in lots and garages.

Monthly passes would also be bumped up from $120 to $140, and daily parking permits and carpool permits would also increase.

The fees would generate $650,000 annually for the Bethesda parking lot district – not general tax funds. The parking lot district funds are earmarked for use in downtown Bethesda and go towards things like parking lot maintenance, construction of new parking garages like the pending and the a group that markets and maintains the downtown.

Since the funds generated by the proposed fee hikes wouldn’t benefit  the general tax fund, they wouldn’t serve to help fill the county’s budget gap, the group wrote. “Given that the Bethesda Parking Lot District is currently healthy, now is not the time to take this action which could dissuade customers from patronizing the small businesses in downtown Bethesda, when they can go elsewhere instead and park for free Saturdays,” the letter read.

The resolution is slated to go before a council committee and before the community at a public hearing later this month.

The group also posed a question about interim recreation services while the Scotland Community Center closes for renovations. "This center serves a rather isolated community. Who will provide recreation and community liasion services to this community during the renovation?"

The County Council will vote on the recommended operating budget in May.