For Immediate Release: Friday, May 5, 2017
Montgomery County Council VP Riemer
hails new State law to reduce
WSSC connection charges
for child care facilities
Governor signs bill to lower start-up costs for
youth centers, child care and facilities
serving those with developmental disabilities
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 5, 2017—Montgomery County Council Vice President Hans Riemer today praised a bill approved by the Maryland General Assembly that creates new exemptions from the System Development Charge that the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) assesses for new water and sewer connections to facilities that are used for non-profit youth centers, child care and serving individuals with developmental disabilities.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on May 4 signed House Bill 335 that will create the exemptions and reduce the cost to create new facilities for these type of organizations.
The bill was introduced by Delegate David Moon and co-sponsored by Delegate Eric Luedtke, both of Montgomery County. County Council Vice President Riemer worked with Delegate Moon to craft the bill and gain support for it in the General Assembly. The bill was supported by the Montgomery County Council and the Montgomery and Prince George’s delegations in the House and Senate. It passed in the House and Senate unanimously.
“This change makes it less expensive for private organizations to create new facilities that are sorely needed in our community,” said Council Vice President Riemer. “I am especially pleased that child care facilities will now be eligible for this exemption. While, on its own, this change certainly won’t ensure that every family can afford quality child care, anything that helps make care more affordable without lowering quality is moving us in the right direction. I am grateful to Delegate Moon, Delegate Luedtke, and the rest of the County’s delegation in Annapolis for delivering on this bill.”
Delegate Moon said: "Our region has the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation with its high cost of child care. Part of this can be attributed to supply, so this bill is a small step toward incentivizing the creation of more facilities in Montgomery County. I am hopeful that this issue will gain prominence in the coming years, as my constituents often report long waiting lists for quality child care facilities."
For more information on Bill 335, go to:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/bills/hb/hb0335t.pdf
# # # # Release ID: 17-156