Thursday, March 28, 2013
Find out ways you can 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 …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Councilman says county law blocks people with serious disabilities from some county posts.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Thursday proposed a county charter amendment calling for the development of a program for hiring people with disabilities. Leggett (D) urged the County Council to put the amendment before voters in November. "In grossly disproportionate rates, individuals with disabilities cannot find 'work' in Montgomery County. It is for this reason that this charter amendment is critical," Leggett said in the statement. Earlier this week, County Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg urged his Council colleagues to place on the ballot an amendment that would create a "special hiring authority" within the county's merit system. The authority would recruit and hire people with significant …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
County executive will host 'Virtual Town Hall Meeting' from 1 to 2 p.m.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will hold his latest “Virtual Town Hall Meeting” from 1 to 2 p.m. on June 13. Residents may submit their questions to Leggett before or during the online discussion by clicking here. During his last virtual town hall on May 23, Leggett answered 14 questions. Questions focused on pedestrian safety, the planned Costco in Wheaton, the Housing Opportunities Commission, Ride On, apartment living, soccer fields, noise metering of Intercounty Connector traffic, school construction funding, bicycle racks, the bag tax, pay raises for county teachers and tree trimming by utilities. Leggett has held the online chats every two to four months since taking office in December 2006. For more information, call the …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
County executive will host 'Virtual Town Hall Meeting' from 1 to 2 p.m.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will hold his latest “Virtual Town Hall Meeting” from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Residents may submit their questions to Leggett before or during the online discussion by clicking here. During his last virtual town hall on March 15, Leggett answered 17 questions about pay raises for county employees, county police practices, panhandling, library cleanliness, school funding and even his pick to win the NCAA men's basketball tournament. (For the record, don't go to the county executive for advice in filling out your brackets next year. He took Michigan State to win it all this year. The Spartans bowed out to Louisville in the Sweet 16.) Leggett has held the online chats every two to four months since …
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Capital improvements needed to provide access for people with disabilities will put strain on an already tight budget over the next six years.
- GOVERNMENT
- Holly Nunn
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Montgomery County is the newest jurisdiction to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring its facilities into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, an undertaking with an uncertain, but hefty, price tag. County attorney Marc Hansen briefed Montgomery County Council members on the agreement, bringing up questions of funding and capital improvement priorities. The agreement with the Department of Justice is the result of a five-year process, beginning with a DOJ audit of how well the county is meeting accessibility requirements for its residents with disabilities. Since 2000, DOJ has entered into similar agreements with other 180 local governments. "Montgomery County has been a leader …
Sunday, September 18, 2011
As debate continues, we ought to think about what happens to kids who will be cited for these violations.
The Montgomery County Council will be holding work sessions in its Public Safety Committee on the new curfew legislation proposed by County Executive Isiah Leggett. This may doom any hopes for speedy action by the council, but it also allows more opportunity to examine the specifics of the legislation and how it fits into the bigger picture. The proposal itself seems to be gaining support as it moves forward, and will likely see some compromises to address concerns that have been expressed in recent weeks. The curfew would take effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights and from midnight to five on weekends, and applies to youth 17 and under. Exceptions to the curfew appear to be expanding as residents have weighed in. Youth who are out …
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 ›