For Immediate Release: Friday, May 3, 2024
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Monday, May 6 at 9 a.m. to review FY25 Operating Budgets and FY25-30 Capital Improvements Programs (CIPs).
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Overview of Revenues and Expenditures
Review: The Council will receive an overview of the County’s expected revenues and expenditures. Additional details can be found in the Council staff report.
Interview: At 11:15 a.m., the Council will interview Patricia Swanson who is the County Executive’s nominee for the position of director of strategic partnerships.
Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
Review: The Council will review the more than $203 million recommended FY25 Operating for Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), which is an increase of more than $12 million, or 6.4 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The Council will also review revisions to the FY25-30 CIP to accommodate state aid. The budget for the M-NCPPC includes tax supported funds, self-supporting funds, debt service and reserves. The tax-supported operating budget consists of the Administration Fund, the Park Fund and the Advance Land Acquisition Debt Service Fund. There are three non-tax supported funds within the M-NCPPC, including the Enterprise Fund, the Property Management Fund and the Special Revenue Fund.
M-NCPPC is a bi-county agency which operates in Montgomery County through a Planning Board and a Park Commission. The Planning Department prepares master and sector plans for Planning Board review and approval by the Council. The Parks Department oversees the acquisition, development and management of Montgomery County’s parks system, which is currently comprised of over 37,000 acres across 420 parks.
The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee recommends restorations to the Park Fund totaling $908,211 and the Administration Fund totaling $503,905 to maintain services. Additionally, the committee recommended placing items on the New/Enhanced Program List for further consideration as found in the Council staff report on pages 9-10 and 13-14. The committee also supported the transfer of $950,000 from the tax-supported Administration Fund to the non-tax supported Development Review Special Revenue Fund and the transfer of $50,000 from the Cable Fund to support the Connected Parks Initiative. The committee also supported the appropriations necessary to accommodate state aid provided for several capital projects.
WSSC Water FY25 Operating Budget
Review: The Council will review the proposed $1.02 billion FY25 Operating Budget for WSSC Water, which represents an increase of $88.6 million, or 9.5 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The largest increases are a result of debt service, regional sewage disposal, and salaries and wages. The equivalent percent rate increase across volumetric fees and fixed fees is 8.5 percent, which is the same as the approved spending control limits rate ceiling. The account maintenance fee and the infrastructure investment fee are both increased by 65 percent based on the results of a cost-of-service study. The volumetric rate increase is 2.4 percent and there is no change to system development charge rates for FY25.
WSSC Water provides public water and sewer services to approximately two million residents in Montgomery County and Prince George's County. It maintains three reservoirs and two water treatment plants that provide about 162 million gallons per day of drinking water and maintains seven wastewater treatment plants.
The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends approval of the System Development Charge for FY25 at current approved rates and to increase the maximum chargeable rate by a CPI adjustment as allowed under state law. The committee also approved the FY25 WSSC Water Operating budget as proposed with recognition that an added $4 million in undesignated reductions will be needed to offset the increase in the Regional Sewage Disposal Charge not currently reflected in the budget. Additionally, the committee concurred with WSSC Water’s Volumetric Rate and Fix Fee Actions for FY25.
The Bi-County meeting with the Prince George’s County Council to approve the WSSC Water FY25 Operating Budget, the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program and the FY25 System Development Charge is scheduled for May 9.
Review: The Council will review WSSC Water’s more than $4.8 billion proposed FY25-30 CIP and information only projects, which represents an increase of more than $277 million, or 6.2 percent, from the approved FY24-29 CIP and information only projects. The Council will also review the mid-cycle update to the proposed FY25-30 CIP. The update includes revisions to the Blue Plains projects as well as changes in the Sewer Reconstruction Program. Based on the latest projections overall spending in the six-year period is expected to increase by nearly $2.3 million, while FY25 costs are expected to decrease by $10.1 million.
The TE Committee recommends supporting the WSSC Water CIP and “Information Only” Projects with mid-cycle update revisions, as proposed by WSSC Water. On the Potomac Submerged Channel Intake Project, the committee recommends adding the following language to the project description, “Both Council’s will review the results of the planning work and the updated costs and benefits of the project and must approve continuing the project before design and construction proceed.”
Department of Transportation – General Fund and Leaf Vacuuming Funds
Review: The Council will review the more than $64 million for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) FY25 Operating Budget, which represents an increase of more than $5 million, or 8.4 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The funds are divided among MCDOT’s General Fund, Leaf Vacuuming Fund and Grant Fund. The MCDOT General Fund is used to plan, design and coordinate development and construction of transportation and pedestrian routes, operate and maintain the traffic signal system and road network and to develop and implement transportation policies to maximize efficient service delivery.
The Council will also review the more than $7.4 million FY25 Operating Budget for the Leaf Vacuuming Fund, which represents an increase of $190,098, or 2.6 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The FY25 Operating Budget recommendation for the Grant Fund is $214,507, which represents an increase of $66,284 from the approved FY24 Operating Budget.
The TE Committee recommends approval of the County Executive’s recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Transportation General Fund and recommends additions to the New/Enhanced Program List which can be viewed starting on page 2 of the Council staff report.
Department of Transportation – Mass Transit Fund
Review: The Council will review the more than $193 million recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Division of Transit Services, which is an increase of nearly $14 million, or 8 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The Division of Transit Services provides public transportation services in Montgomery County and its budget is composed of the Mass Transit Fund and the Grant Fund. The recommended FY25 budget for the Mass Transit fund is more than $188 million, which is an increase of nearly $14 million, or 8 percent, from the approved FY24 budget. The recommended FY25 budget for the Grant Fund is more than $5.1 million, which is an increase of $7,449 from the approved FY24 budget.
The TE Committee recommends approval of the County Executive’s recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Mass Transit Fund. The committee also recommends two items for the New/Enhanced Programs List: more than $3.5 million for the Great Seneca Transit Network and $21,304 for the three percent inflationary adjustment to nonprofit service provider contracts.
Department of Transportation – FY25 Transportation Fees, Fines, and Fares Resolution
Review: The Council will review the proposed FY25 resolution on transportation fees, charges and fares. The proposed resolution maintains, with no changes, the fees, charges, and fares that the Council approved in May 2023. The full list of fees, charges and fares can be found in the Council staff report.
Review: The Council will review the recommended $373,882 FY25 Operating Budget for the Vision Zero NDA, which is an increase of $171,938, or 85 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. This NDA funds the oversight and coordination of the Vision Zero Initiative to end traffic related serious injuries and fatalities through a full-time Vision Zero coordinator and supporting operational funds.
The TE Committee recommended approval of the County Executive’s recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Vision Zero NDA. Additionally, $50,000 was added to the New/Enhanced Programs List for enhanced multicultural outreach efforts.
Review: The Utilities NDA is comprised of several components, including budgets for electricity, gas, fuel oil, water and sewer, as well as renewables. It also includes funding for administration-related expenses. The County Executive’s recommended budget for FY25 is $27.1 million, which is an increase of $1.8 million, or 11.9 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The TE Committee recommends an additional $10 million above the recommended level to clos a structural deficit created in the FY24 budget. This additional funding was recommended for the New/Enhanced Programs List.
Department of General Services
Review: The Council will review the more than $50 million recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Department of General Services (DGS), which represents an increase more than $3 million, or 6.4 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The largest increases are due to compensation-related changes and contract increases for maintenance services. DGS provides services to all County departments. Its programs include building design and construction; imaging, archiving and mail; energy and sustainability; facilities management; and real estate.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends approval of the General Fund portion of DGS’ operation budget at a funding level of $41,414,551, which is an increase of more than $2.6 million from the FY24 funding level. This includes a reduction of $190,000 in one-time operating expenses for the BlackRock Center for the Arts due to the same amount being received from state aid and placing one full-time program specialist position on the New/Enhanced Program List. The committee also recommends approval of the Print and Mail Internal Service Fund at more than $9.1 million.
Inflationary Increase for all Non-Profit Providers
Review: The Council will review the County Executive’s recommended three percent inflationary adjustment for nonprofit contracts in FY25, which would result in an increase of more than $4.57 million in tax supported funding and $80,231 in non-tax supported funding. The staff report reflects how the three percent adjustment would be distributed across departments and NDAs.
Property Tax Options: Rate and Income Tax Offset Credit
Review: The Council will review the amount of the Income Tax Offset Credit (ITOC) value for FY25 and the weighted average real property tax rate for FY25. For FY25, the County Executive recommends retaining the current ITOC at $692 and retaining the current weighted average property tax rate of $1.0255 per $100 of assessed value. The weighted average rate includes the $0.0470 per $100 of assessed value approved for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in FY24.
The ITOC provides a tax credit to owner-occupied properties in the County. The value of the credit must be adopted by the Council each year and is based on the total County income tax revenues collected that exceed 2.6 percent and the number of eligible properties in the County.
The Executive recommended FY25 weighted tax rate of $1.0255 per $100 of assessed value is the same rate approved by the Council in FY24. This rate includes $0.9875 per $100 of assessed value that can be used to fund programs and services across all County agencies, and $0.0470 per $100 as assessed value that is dedicated to MCPS based on the mechanism used to increase the tax rate in FY24.
The GO Committee recommends maintaining the Income Tax Offset Credit at $692 and the current weighted average property tax rate of $1.0255 per $100 of assessed value.
Payments to Municipalities NDA
Review: The Council will review the more than $20.9 million recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Payments to Municipalities NDA, which is an increase of more than $2 million, or 11 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The reimbursement provided through this NDA offsets instances of tax duplication for public services in municipalities. In accordance with state law, the County is required provide to municipalities with the property tax-funded portion of those costs.
The GO Committee recommends approving the FY25 Payments to Municipalities NDA as recommended by the Executive. Additionally, the committee recommends the following for the New/Enhanced Program List: a one-time $357,350 reimbursement to the City of Rockville for police expenditures; a one-time $346,902 reimbursement to the City of Gaithersburg for police expenditures; and a one-time $29,758 expenditure for the Town of Garrett Park for park maintenance.
Police Accountability Board NDA
Review: The Council will review the $788,743 FY25 Operating Budget for the Police Accountability Board NDA, which represents an increase of $279,521, or 55 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The Police Accountability Board (PAB) and the Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) are two entities created by the State Police Accountability Act of 2021. They form a new disciplinary framework for state, county and municipal police officers that is meant to provide more transparency and accountability for police officers who face complaints from members of the public. The PAB is an advisory entity that, in part, reviews cases heard by the ACC to determine if there are any trends or other concerns of note in police disciplinary cases. The PAB also appoints certain members of the ACC, makes recommendations to the County Executive and functions as a research and policy entity in policing matters.
The Public Safety (PS) Committee recommends approval of the Police Accountability Board NDA as recommended by the Executive. Two items were also added to the New/Enhanced Programs List: reimbursements for trial board days in the amount of $37,500 and $2,000 for board member training.
Montgomery County Police Department
Review: The Council will review the more than $329 million FY25 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) recommended by the County Executive, which represents an increase of nearly $17 million, or 5.4 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The largest increases in costs are a result of compensation adjustments and increases, one-time lapse adjustments, retirement adjustments and personnel costs. Other increases are attributed to enhancements to the Drone and First Responder Program, records management systems and digital forensic evidence compliance.
The PS Committee recommended adding multiple items to the New/Enhanced Programs List related to technology enhancements including expanding the Drone as First Responder Program, increased funding for the Police Cadet Program and funding for a workload analysis and staffing study. A full list of these items, which totals nearly $4.5 million, can be found on page 3 of the Council staff report. The committee approved the overall budget as recommended by the Executive with reductions for the records management system ($624, 191) and the elimination of one-time items funded in FY24 ($438,588). The committee approved the remainder of the budget as submitted.
Review: The Council will review the more than $25.3 million recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the State’s Attorney’s Office, which is an increase of more than $3.2 million, or 14 percent, from the approved FY24 Operating Budget. The increase includes seven new legal assistant positions needed to review a large amount of digital evidence collected by body worn police cameras. The increase also includes funds for additional data storage and the Bureau of Justice Assistance Body Worn Camera Grant. The State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal violations in Montgomery County, educates the public concerning criminal justice issues, provides training to lawyers for future service, addresses inequality and promote fairness in the criminal justice system, ensures access to the criminal justice system and promotes professional relations with judges and attorneys.
The PS Committee recommends approval of the State’s Attorney’s Office as recommended with additional funding in the amount of nearly $752,000 placed on the New/Enhanced Program List for the Evidence Review Unit.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.
Council and committee meetings are 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: 24-177