Leggett Recommends Capital Budget for Montgomery County

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett released his fiscal year 2014 capital budget this past week, and recommended that a number of planned projects in the six-year, $4.37 billion Capital Improvements Program be delayed.

Leggett's proposal was released by the county's community relations department.

Leggett spoke on the issue of the CIP, stating that "reducing CIP growth and debt service payments is an essential part of my ongoing strategy to ensure that our fiscal house is in order." Regarding the debt service, Leggett explained his recommendations as being limited to "previously established guidelines of $295 million a year in each of the six years in this CIP."

Transportation-related projects that would be affected by the amended budget are:

• Silver Spring Transit Center: a $7.5 million General Obligation (GO) bond to cover costs required to prevent further opening delays.
• Rapid Transit System: $7.6 million in GO bonds to fund concepts for Routes 355 and 29, as well as Randolph Road.
• Storm Drain Culvert Replacement: $6.3 million in GO bonds to replace storm drain pipes and culverts.
• Elmhirst Parkway Bridge: almost $2 million to replace the bridge.
• Bridge Renovation: $2 million in GO bonds to address unforeseen emergency projects.

Additionally, the budget states that six-year GO bond funding has been reduced by more than $20 million via a six-month delay of the Bethesda Metro Station South and Capital Crescent Trail projects.

Read more about funding delays proposed by Leggett for the Bethesda Metro Station South entrance and the Second District (Bethesda and Chevy Chase) Police Station on Bethesda Patch.

Read the full capital budget for fiscal year 2014 and the amendments to the Capital Improvements Program for fiscal years 2013-2018 online.