For Immediate Release: Friday, May 7, 2021
The Council will meet virtually on Monday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. to begin reviewing committee recommendations on the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Operating Budget and FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program amendments.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Worksession: The Council will review the operating budget for WSSCWater. The recommended FY22 Operating Budget for WSSCWater is $852.1 million, which is a $2.4 million increase from the FY21 Approved Operating Budget. This includes a proposed 5.9 percent increase in the volumetric rate and no change in the system development charge, account maintenance fees or the infrastructure investment fee. The Bi-County meeting with the Prince George’s County Council to resolve any differences in recommendations regarding WSSCWater's FY22 Operating Budget, FY22-27 Capital Improvements Program, and FY22 System Development Charge is scheduled for May 13 at 3 p.m.
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Worksession: The Council will review the operating budget for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC.) The recommended FY22 Operating Budget for M-NCPPC is $168.6 million, which is an increase of $4 million or 2.5 percent above the FY21 Approved Operating Budget. For the Administration Fund, the recommended budget is $1,141,071 below the Commission’s request. For the Park Fund, the recommended budget is $3,157,947 below the Commission’s request. Non-tax supported operating budget items total $19.8 million, down $202,552 from the FY21 Approved Budget. The Commission's total FY22 budget request is $172.9 million, which includes enterprise operations, property management, debt service and special revenue funds.
Worksession: The Council will review the recommended FY 22 Operating Budget for the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which contains three fuds: the general fund, grant fund and the Housing Initiative Fund. The recommended budget includes $8.8 million in funding for the general fund, which is an increase of $230,708 or 2.7 percent from the FY21 Approved Budget. For the grant fund, $9.7 million is recommended which is a minimal increase from the FY21 Approved Budget. The recommended budget includes $89 million in funding for the FY22 Housing Initiative Fund (HIF), which provides funds for affordable housing production, preservation, support for rental assistance and homeownership programs and community-based services.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee recommended increasing the allocation in the HIF that supports Homeownership Programs from $2 million to $3 million; noting that this increase is accommodated by the additional $2.9 million from the designated reserve.
The Council will also discuss the use of the FY21 Designated Reserve for Affordable Housing, which is funding that was held in reserve to implement the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) Housing Production Fund and other new options for financing affordable housing. Currently, there is $6.3 million remaining in the designated reserve for affordable housing. The County Executive proposes using $3.4 million in FY22 to pay the first full year cost of the HOC Housing Production Fund.
Capital Improvements Program: Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund
Worksession: The Council will review the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund as a part of the original FY21-26 CIP. The fund would be primarily used for short-term financing of up to 36 months with a focus on the purchase and preservation of affordable housing. The source of funds is the Recordation Tax Premium for capital projects. There is no County debt associated with this proposal.
The funds would be reserved for projects in partnership with the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
Facility Planning: Housing and Community Development
Worksession: The Council will review a recommended reduction of $75,000 in FY22 for facility planning in Housing and Community Development (HCD). This project provides funding for planning of projects until they move to a stand-alone project description form (PDF). DHCA works within the funds available. The PDF notes that there is an unencumbered balance of $850,000.
Countywide Façade Easement Program
Worksession: The Council will review a recommendation to shift $220,000 for the Countywide Façade Easement Program from FY22 to later years to reflect project delays due to COVID-19. The total $2.906 million in funding for the project remains the same. The project would revitalize commercial areas in the Glenmont and Layhill Shopping Centers, Montgomery Village, Hillandale and the Wheaton Central Business District.
Worksession: The Council will review the FY22 Operating Budget for the Office of Agriculture (OAG). The recommended budget of $993,865 is a minimal increase from the FY21 Approved Budget. The OAG will partner with the Montgomery County Public Schools in FY22 to provide the “Ag in the Classroom” program as it did previous years before the pandemic. The OAG promotes agriculture as a component of the County's economic sector and works to preserve farmland as a resource for future agricultural production.
The Council 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: 21-197