For Immediate Release: Friday, May 8, 2020
Also on May 11, Council will discuss Charter Limit Calculation
The Council will meet virtually on Monday, May 11 at 10:45 a.m. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas 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 and Fios 30.
Council Agenda Items
Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget
The Council’s focus as it reviews the County’s Fiscal Year 2021 Recommended Operating Budget is on producing a continuity of services budget for County government. The Council’s budget work is being completed with the knowledge that the Council may need to return to FY21 budget issues early in the fiscal year to make additional reductions based on anticipated revenue decreases.
The Council will review the FY21 Operating Budget for the following:
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
The County Executive’s recommended FY21 Operating Budget for DHHS is $348.2 million, which is an increase of $20.2 million or 6.2 percent over last year’s budget. Council staff recommends a continuity budget of $338.2 million, which is an increase of $10.2 million or 3.1 percent over last year’s budget. DHHS assures delivery of a full array of services to address the somatic and behavioral health, economic and housing security, and other emergent needs of Montgomery County residents. The Council staff report can be viewed here. - Non-departmental Account (NDA): Early Care and Education Initiative (ECEI)
The Early Care and Education Initiative is a four-year action plan, which was spearheaded by Councilmember Nancy Navarro and County Executive Marc Elrich, to create a comprehensive system of high-quality, accessible and affordable early childhood educational opportunities. The official roll out of the program started in 2019. The County Executive’s recommended FY21 Operating Budget for the ECEI NDA is $7.4 million, which is an increase of $1.4 million or 23.4 percent over last year’s budget. Council staff is recommending a continuity of services budget of $5.99 million, which is the same as last year’s budget. The Council staff report can be viewed here. - NDA: Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF)
The County Executive’s recommended FY21 Operating Budget for the COF NDA is $375,000. Council staff concurs with the County Executive’s recommendation. This funding vehicle was initiated by Councilmember Navarro and was established in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation in May 2016. Councilmember Navarro also serves on the COF Policy Leadership Group along with County Executive Elrich, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Smith and Board of Education Member O'Neill. COF provides funding to support policy priorities that address the social determinants that impact the achievement gap for vulnerable children and the barriers faced by their families. The Council staff report can be viewed here. - Community Grants and MCG: Cost Sharing
The Council will review the Community Grants Non-Department Account and Capital Grants as part of the Capital budget within Cost Sharing: MCG Project. On March 16, 2020, the County Executive recommended moving 67 community grants funded as part of the FY20 budget (totaling $3.8 million) into the base budgets of departments and $9,734,251 in renewed community grants to organizations that leverage federal, state and/or private funding or improve the quality of life for County residents. The County Executive also recommended $1,783,362 to fund nonprofit and arts and humanities organizations for capital projects. Council staff will recommend strategies to support nonprofit sector services and infrastructure and continue the discussion of legislation to launch an Office of Grants Management, which was introduced in December by Councilmember Navarro and co-sponsored by Council President Katz, Council Vice President Hucker, Councilmember Albornoz, Councilmember Reimer and Councilmember Rice, after the COVID-19 pandemic stabilizes. The Council staff report will be available here by May 11. - NDA: Utilities
The County Executive’s recommended FY21 Operating Budget for the Utilities NDA is $25.8 million, which is a decrease of $131,582 or 0.5 percent from last year’s budget. Council staff is recommending a continuity of services budget of $25.2 million, which is a decrease of $731,582 or 2.8 percent from last year’s budget. The Council asked the Department of General Services and Council staff to review the FY21 Utilities NDA budget projections in light of savings shown in the third quarter analysis projections and the impacts of Covid-19. The Office of Management and Budget's third quarter analysis assumes a year-end surplus of nearly $1.6 million or 6.2 percent from last year’s budget . The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Setting real property tax revenues – Charter Limit calculation
On May 7, the Council voted unanimously to keep property taxes at the County’s Charter Limit. The next decision point is whether the Council agrees with the financial assumption provided in the County Executive’s FY21 Recommended Operating Budget used to calculate the Charter Limit. The County Executive's recommendation would increase the property tax rate by 0.24 cents per $100 and generate nearly $5.2 million in additional revenue beyond the prior Charter Limit calculation. The Executive has programmed this $5.2 million in the operating budget.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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Release ID: 20-200
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931