Saturday, May 18, 2013
'People,' 'testified' and 'college' also were big in Nancy Navarro's budget statement.
When Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro summarized the fiscal 2014 county budget, naturally, the words "county," "budget" and "Montgomery" featured prominently in her statement. Council members tentatively approved the spending plan in a unanimous straw vote Thursday. Other words that Navarro was fond of in describing the $4.8 billion plan: "percent," "funding," "college," "testified," "people" and "providing." See what else Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring thinks of the budget in the word cloud above. Read Navarro's statement here. What words would you use to describe the Montgomery County budget? What would be the big words in your word cloud?
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Find out how you may comment on the budget proposals.
The Montgomery County Council will hold five public hearings in April on the county's operating budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1. County Executive Isiah Leggett's $4.8 billion budget proposal, which he unveiled on March 15, would add more than 100 new jobs in public safety and libraries. Leggett also proposed a slight increase in aid for Montgomery County Public Schools to meet Maryland's maintenance of effort law, which requires that counties fund schools at the same level or greater from year-to-year or face a fine. The County Council will analyze these recommendations and adopt the budget in late May. Read more about the budget: The public hearings will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office …
Friday, March 15, 2013
The plan holds the line on property taxes and schools aid and boosts aid for public safety.
A $4.8 billion county operating budget plan unveiled by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Friday holds the line on property taxes and schools spending and adds more than 100 new jobs in public safety and libraries. Leggett (D) presented his budget plan for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1, at a news conference in Rockville. The plan would keep property taxes within the limit allowed by the county charter and below the rate of inflation. Average monthly property taxes would increase by $6.67. Tax-supported government spending would increase by 3.9 percent—less than half the increase in fiscal 2013—to $1.3 billion. Leggett also proposed a slight increase in aid for Montgomery County Public Schools to meet Maryland's maintenance of…
The Montgomery County Executive explained his proposal to increase spending on public safety and hold the line on property taxes.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) on Friday unveiled his budget proposal for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1. Related Content:
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr said he is disappointed in the County Executive's budget plan.
The amount of aid for county schools proposed by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett in his fiscal 2014 county budget plan falls short of what's needed, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr said Friday. Leggett's plan calls for a schools budget of $2.23 billion—an increase of $65.8 million, or 3 percent more than the budget approved for the current school year. "The County Executive's recommendation would fund 100 percent of the [school board]'s request," according to Leggett's budget proposal. Click here to read more on Leggett's fiscal 2014 budget plan and here to hear the County Executive discuss the proposal. The proposal is a slight increase in spending for MCPS, to the level required by the state's …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Fiscal year 2014 budget would delay some planned projects in the 2013-2018 Capital Improvements Program.
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 …
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Montgomery County Council meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Rockville.
The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing regarding an amendment to fiscal 2013-18 Capital Improvements Program and supplemental appropriation to the fiscal 2013 capital budget that will provide an additional $1 million to development of the Rapid Transit System. "The funds would provide for additional studies as precursors to full-fledged project planning studies for certain bus rapid transit (BRT) lines identified by the County Executive's Transit Task Force to be built in a first phase," according to County documents. The studies, according to the County, will include: The full information packet for the public hearing is available online and the hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Other agenda items of note …
Friday, January 4, 2013
Public forums for Montgomery County's FY14 operating budget are scheduled in January and Feburary.
Montgomery County residents can have their say regarding the county's FY14 operating budget priorities at five public forums in January and February. The forums, which are sponsored by County Executive Ike Leggett, begin at 7 p.m. on the following dates: • Jan. 10, Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring; • Jan. 24, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown; • Jan. 28, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center, 4805 Edgemoor La., Bethesda; • Jan. 29, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring; and • Feb. 4, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring. Leggett will announce his recommended fiscal year 2014 operating …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Van Hollen was unanimously re-elected Thursday to serve as ranking member of the House Budget Committee by the House Democratic Caucus.
The U.S. House of Representatives' Democratic Caucus unanimously reelected Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D, District 8) on Thursday to serve as ranking member of the House Budget Committee. "It has been a privilege to serve as ranking member of the Budget Committee for the last two years, and I am honored that my colleagues have reelected me to continue to serve in the 113th Congress," Van Hollen said after his reelection. The House Budget Committee is chaired by Rep. Paul Ryan (R, Wisconsin). In the 112th Congress (2011 to 2012), the committee consisted of 22 Republicans and 16 Democrats. As ranking member, Van Hollen is the most senior member of the committee from the minority party (which, in the case of the House of Representatives, is …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
County officials blamed the bad economy, increased costs in health benefits for retirees and the $30 million needed to meet state funding requirements for Montgomery County Public Schools.
Early projections forecast a $71 million budget shortfall for 2014 public services in Montgomery County, part of the fiscal plan the Montgomery County Council adopted Tuesday. County officials blamed the bad economy, increased costs in health benefits for retirees and the $30 million needed to meet state funding requirements for Montgomery County Public Schools, county records show. County officials declined to say whether they would raise taxes or make cuts to close the gap, according to The Washington Post. On Monday, the council’s government operations committee voted unanimously to recommend the 2013-18 fiscal plan. County staff will update the summary in December.
Fred Foo
10:27 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
It's not as simple as you say. It's important to recognize that while good schools attract people, high taxes repel people. And the people who can most easily afford the taxes can also afford to send children to private schools. more ›