For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 5, 2021
The Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) will meet on Thursday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss funding for the Housing Opportunities Commission.
The members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.
The Government Operations & Fiscal Policy (GO) will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the FY22 Operating Budgets for the Community Engagement Cluster, Public Information Office, MC311, Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, Office of the County Executive, Council Office, Legislative Branch Communications Non-Departmental Account (NDA), Public Election Fund and property tax options.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
Housing Opportunities Commission
Review: The PHED Committee will review both the FY22 Recommended Operating Budget: Housing Opportunities NDA and an amendment to the FY21-26 CIP: Supplemental Funds for Deeply Subsidized HOC Owned Units Improvements.
HOC acts as a builder, developer, financier, owner and manager of housing for people with low or moderate incomes. It also provides eligible families and individuals with affordable housing and supportive services.
FY22 Recommended Operating Budget: Housing Opportunities Non-Departmental Account (NDA)
The Committee will review an additional $71,000 in recommended funding for the FY22 Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) NDA to cover annualization of personnel costs. This addition will bring the HOC’s total FY22 Recommended Budget to $6.9 million.
Amendment to the FY21-26 CIP: Supplemental Funds for Deeply Subsidized HOC Owned Units Improvements
The Committee will also review the recommended $1,125,000 in current revenue funded expenditures in FY22 to maintain and upgrade deeply subsidized housing units owned by HOC. The County intended to provide $1,250,000 annually for this purpose, but constraints on current revenue meant that FY21 funding was reduced to $1,125,000 in response to fiscal constraints.
Federal funding alone is not sufficient to continue to upgrade and maintain these units and the funding is needed for new windows, roof replacement, HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, floors, kitchen upgrades and new bathrooms.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Stacy Spann, executive director, Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC); Kayrine Brown, deputy executive director, HOC; Terri Fowler, budget officer, HOC Finance; Pofen Salem, senior fiscal and policy analyst, Office of Management and Budget.
Community Engagement Cluster (CEC) FY22 Operating Budget Review
Review: The GO Committee will review the $6,124,668 recommended FY22 Operating Budget for the Community Engagement Cluster, which is an increase of 42 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget. In FY22, the Office of Community Partnerships will expand as a result of the creation of multilingual and multicultural communications outreach efforts, which includes the creation of a permanent internal translations unit. GO Chair Navarro has fervently advocated for the creation of this unit to better serve all County residents.
The Community Engagement Cluster (CEC) is a combination of five Regional Services Centers, the Commission for Women, and the Office of Community Partnerships, including the Gilchrist Center, and the Volunteer Center. The cluster strengthens Montgomery County's commitment to civic engagement and community service by engaging residents, organizations, businesses and other community groups.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Fariba Kassiri, deputy chief administrative officer, Offices of the County Executive; Jewru Bandeh, director, East County Regional Services Center; Ken Hartman, director, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center; Catherine Matthews, director, Upcounty Regional Services Center; Luisa Montero-Diaz, director, Mid-County Regional Services Center; Reemberto Rodriguez, director, Silver Spring Regional Services Center; Diane Vu, director, Office of Community Partnerships (OCP); Jodi Finkelstein, executive director, Commission for Women (CFW); and Corey Orlosky, acting manager, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Office of Public Information (PIO) FY22 Operating Budget Review
Review: The Committee will also review the $5.96 million recommended FY22 Operating Budget for the Office of Public Information, which is an increase 9 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget. The mission of the Office of Public Information (PIO) is to provide timely, accurate and effective communication with the public.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Barry Hudson, director, Public Information Office (PIO), Brian Roberts, director, MC311 (PIO), Gail Roper, director, Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS); and Jane Mukira, fiscal and policy analyst, OMB.
Review: The Committee will review the recommended $4.3 million MC311 FY22 Operating Budget, which represents an increase of 5.5 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget. GO Committee Chair Navarro has also asked HHS Committee Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz to schedule a joint GO and HHS Committee session in summer 2021 to explore strategies to accommodate the rise in human service-related calls.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Barry Hudson, director, Public Information Office (PIO); Brian Roberts, director, MC311; and Gail Roper, director, Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, (TEBS).
Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice FY22 Operating Budget
Review: The Committee will review the $1 million recommended FY22 Operating Budget for the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ), which is an increase of 72.3 percent from the FY21 approved budget. This office was created as a result of the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, which was authored and spearheaded by GO Chair Navarro and enacted unanimously by the Council.
The increase includes the addition of four full-time staff members. Two full-time staff were added mid-year in FY21 via supplemental appropriation to provide training to Montgomery County departmental staff, assist with examination of policies, processes and procedures and to track and address each department’s Racial Equity Action Plan. Two additional staff members are recommended for FY22 to enhance analysis of racial equity data and facilitate improved consideration of racial equity issues in the County’s budget.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Tiffany Ward, director, Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and Veronica Jaua, fiscal and policy analyst, OMB.
Office of the County Executive FY22 Operating Budget
Review: The Committee will review the $5.6 million FY22 Recommended Budget for the Office of the County Executive (CEX), which is a 0.7 percent decrease from the Approved FY21 Budget. Decreases include a reduction in personnel costs, although operating costs within the budget have increased by 6.1 percent.
The recommendation includes additional funding of $134,206 to create the position of Director Strategic Partnerships within CEX. The position is intended to act as a liaison to the County Council and develop County Executive positions and testimony on Council matters, along with coordinating and reviewing Executive regulations and other policy assignments.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Richard Madaleno, chief administrative officer, Office of the County Executive (CEX), Fariba Kassiri, deputy chief administrative Officer, CEX; Jerome Fletcher, assistant chief administrative officer, CEX; and CEX and OMB staff.
Review: The Committee will review the $12.8 million FY22 Recommended Budget for the Council Office, which is an increase of 1.38 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget.
The budget includes increases due to higher advertising costs. State legislation requires ads for public hearings be placed in newspapers and does not allow advertisement via electronic publications. The Council’s access to local, less expensive print newspapers has declined, requiring ads with higher-priced regional newspapers.
Notable discussion points for consideration include the increasing volume and complexity of requests from residents and ongoing equity and inclusion training in the Legislative Branch. The mission of the County Council is to legislate for the peace, good government, health, safety, and welfare of Montgomery County and establish policies under which a system of public administration and finance provides services effectively, efficiently and equitably.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Marlene Michaelson, executive director, County Council; Sandra Marin, administrative services manager, County Council; and Philip Weeda, senior management and budget specialist, OMB.
Legislative Branch Communications NDA
Review: The Committee will also review the $1.18 million recommended FY22 Operating Budget for the Council Legislative Branch’s Communications Outreach NDA, which is an increase 11.3 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget.
In 2012 the GO Committee, led by Chair Navarro, established this NDA to strengthen the capacity of the five Legislative Branch offices, which include the Council office, the Office of Legislative Oversight, the Board of Appeals, the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings and the Office of the Inspector General, to inform constituent communities about issues that directly affect them and to ensure that all community concerns are considered.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Marlene Michaelson, executive director, County Council; Sonya Healy, legislative information officer, County Council; Sandra Marin, administrative services manager, County Council; and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Review: The Committee will also review the $3 million recommended FY22 Operating Budget for the Public Elections Fund (PEF) NDA. There were no funds for this in the FY21 Approved Operating Budget.
The PEF provides public campaign financing for qualified candidates for County Executive or County Council with the aim of encouraging more candidates who do not have access to large contributions from interest groups or individuals to run for County elective offices.
Chair Navarro worked extensively on establishing the Public Election Fund, which is a public campaign financing program established to encourage greater voter participation in County elections, increase opportunities for more residents to run for office and reduce the influence of large contributions from businesses, political action groups and large organizations.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Dale Tibbitts, special assistant, CEX; Eric Friedman, director, Office of Consumer Protection (OCP); K. Samuel Bao, Office of Consumer Protection (OCP); David Crow, fiscal projects manager, Department of Finance; and Estela Boronat de Gomes, OMB.
Property tax options: rate, amount, and the Income Tax Offset Credit
Review: The Committee will also make a recommendation on the amount of the Income Tax Offset Credit (ITOC) value for FY22 and the weighted average real property tax rate for FY22. The Council considers its options each year for setting property tax rates, property tax revenues, and the ITOC during the operating budget deliberations. Due to a recent Charter amendment, beginning in FY22, the Council only needs to consider the weighted tax rate and the ITOC amount.
Those expected to attend and provide information include three members of the Department of Finance, Mike Coveyou, director of finance; Nancy Feldman, chief, Division of Fiscal Management; and David Platt, chief economist.
Budget Consent Items
The Committee will review the following budget consent items:
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 and Committee meetings 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: 21-194