For Immediate Release: Friday, June 11, 2021
The Government Operations & Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Monday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing on federal and state programs for digital equity, review a resolution to approve the Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary for the FY22-27 Public Services Program and review Expedited Bill 12-21 which makes amendments to the County's retirement plans to conform to recent changes in federal law.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
The Transportation & Environment (T&E) Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. to review Expedited Bill 13-21 that would expand the authority of the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) to approve permits for private property owners to construct non-commercial, accessory structures, such as vehicle charging stations, in the right-of-way without a franchise agreement.
The members of the T&E Committee include Chair and Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer.
Federal and State Programs for Digital Equity
Briefing: The GO Committee, led by Councilmember Navarro, requested a briefing from the Executive branch on federal and state programs and resources to improve digital equity in the County. This briefing builds on prior GO Committee meetings on this topic that included government agencies and internet providers. The focus of Monday's briefing will be on new funding from external sources and the process that will be used to ensure that funds will be directed to underserved residents who still do don't have broadband access.
The information presented is expected to include methods for identifying gaps between required and available bandwidth and possible marketplace solutions and governmental strategies to help close persistent gaps in broadband access
Those expected to attend and provide information include Kathleen Boucher, special assistant to the director, Office of Intergovernmental Relations; Gail Roper, director, Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS); and Alison Dollar, chief budget officer, TEBS.
Resolution to approve the Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary for the FY22-27 Public Services Program
Review: The GO Committee will review a resolution to approve the Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary for the FY22-27 Public Services Program. This summary reflects current information on projected revenues and non-agency expenditures for the six-year period, which must be updated as conditions change.
The summary also reflects the policy on County reserves as described in Resolution No. 19-753, which was adopted on March 2, 2021, and the amendments to the Revenue Stabilization Fund law in Bill 36-10, which was approved by the Council on June 29, 2010.
The FY22-FY27 Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary, like all version of the fiscal plan, reflects current fiscal projections and policy assumptions when the Council adopted the FY22 Operating Budget and the Amended FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Future versions of the Fiscal Plan Summary will change as economic and fiscal conditions are better understood. The Dec. 2021 update will reflect changes to the FY22-FY27 revenue estimates.
The Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee collaborates with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Finance to develop and refine County fiscal projections to adopt a fiscal plan that is structurally balanced and that limits expenditures and other uses of resources to annually available revenues.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Mike Coveyou, director, Department of Finance (Finance); Jennifer Bryant, director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Chris Mullin, manager, OMB; Nancy Feldman, fiscal management chief, Finance; and Dave Platt, chief economist, Finance.
Review: The GO Committee will also review Expedited Bill 12-21 which would amend the County retirement plans to conform to recent changes in the Internal Revenue Code.
The bill would increase the age for a required minimum distribution of benefits to 72, change the timing for distributions to certain beneficiaries and permit the suspension of a required minimum distribution for 2020 to conform to federal law.
The bill would also clarify the process for sending unclaimed distributions to the State of Maryland and authorize the Board of Investment Trustees to provide for a new investment option for defined benefit contributions that would be based on the investment returns for the defined benefit trust fund returns.
This bill was introduced by Council President Tom Hucker, at the request of the County Executive.
Review: The T&E Committee will review Bill 13-21 which would expand the authority of DPS to approve permits for private property owners who need to install non-commercial structures that are accessory to a residential use, such as an electric vehicle charging device, private storm drain pipes with access to the public sewer system, roof drains and other non-standard facilities in the County’s rights-of-way.
The permittee would be required to execute a maintenance and liability agreement to hold the County harmless for any risk, danger, injury or damages to private property or of another party. A permittee would be exempt from the current requirement to obtain a franchise approval through the Council.
This bill was introduced by Council President Tom Hucker, at the request of the County Executive.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Linda Kobylski, division chief, DPS; Atiq Panjshiri, manager, DPS; Maricela Cordova, manager, Department of Transportation (DOT).
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.
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: 21-251