Press Releases

Joint Education and Culture and Health and Human Services Committee and Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee hold virtual meetings on April 21

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 20, 2021

The joint Education & Culture (E&C) and Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. to review the FY22 Operating Budget and FY21-26 CIP Amendments for Early Childhood Services, High School Wellness Centers, the Children’s Opportunity Fund, Early Care and Education and Child Care Subsidies.

The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review the FY22 Operating Budget and FY21-26 CIP Amendments for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), including Park Police.

The members of the Education & Culture (E&C) Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro.

The members of the Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.

The members of the Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.

FY22 Operating Budget for Early Childhood Care and Education Services, Child Care Subsidies, Infants and Toddlers, High School Wellness Centers and Children's Opportunity Fund

Review: The joint E&C and HHS Committee will review the County Executive’s Recommended Budget for DHHS Children, Youth and Family Services, Early Care and Education Non-Departmental Account (NDA) and the Children’s Opportunity Fund NDA.

FY22 is year three of a four-year action plan developed by a cross agency working group with representatives from County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and community partners to strengthen the County’s early care and education system and support the expansion, access, and sustainability of quality early care and education programs throughout the County.

Expansion of quality early care and education has been the focus of multiple groups in the County and in the State in recent years. The need for public support for private early care has intensified with the pandemic as a result of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and stringent reopening requirements that have increased the financial strain on already struggling childcare businesses, jeopardizing their continued viability.

For FY22, the County Executive’s recommended budget for the Early Care and Education NDA is $10.9 million, an increase of $5 million or 83.4% over the FY21 level. The recommended budget for Child Care Subsidies is $3.3 million, a decrease of $12,357 from the FY21 level. For Early Childhood Services (ECS), the Executive’s FY22 budget includes $11.2 million, an increase of $938,720 or 9.1% from FY21. The recommendation also includes a combined $3.3 million in funding split between four Wellness Centers at Northwood, Gaithersburg, Watkins Mill and Wheaton High Schools.

The recommended budget for the Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF), a joint MCPS and Montgomery County Government effort to address the social determinants that impact the educational achievement gap, is $375,000 and equal to the FY21 Approved Budget. The Recommended FY22 Budget for DHHS Children Youth & Family Services is also stable at $255,000.

Councilmember Navarro has been a champion of early care and education throughout her tenure on the Council. She initiated the Early Care and Education Initiative and spearheaded the creation of the Children's Opportunity Fund, which leverages public funds to attract private investment to implement strategic investments to help close the opportunity gap.

Those expected to attend and provide information include: Raymond Crowel, director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); JoAnn Barnes, chief, Children, Youth and Family Services (CYF); DHHS; Kimberly Rusnak, project director, Children’s Opportunity Fund, Montgomery County Community Foundation; and Deann M. Collins, Director, CARES Act, Early Childhood and Title I, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); and DHHS, MCPS and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) staff.

MNCPPC (including Park Police) Operating Budget

Review: The PHED Committee will meet to review Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) $172.9 million FY22 Operating Budget request.

Tax-supported funds represent the largest portion of the M-NCPPC operating budget with a smaller portion of the budget represented by self-supporting funds, debt service and reserves. In FY22, the proposed tax-supported operating budget, including debt service, is $152.9 million. This represents an increase of $8.6 million (or 5.9%) over the adopted FY21 tax-supported budget.

Those expected to provide information include: Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson; Gwen Wright, director, Planning Department; John Kroll, corporate budget director, Central Administrative Services, M-NCPPC; Shuchi Vera, chief, Management Services, Parks Department; Karen Warnick, chief, Management Services, Planning Department and Parks Department and Management and Budget staff.

The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

 

Release ID: 21-169
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884