For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 4, 2023
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Friday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the FY24 Operating Budgets for the Ethics Commission, the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO), the Independent Audit Non-Departmental Account (NDA), the Charter Review Commission NDA, the Council Office, the Legislative Branch Communications NDA and the Office of the County Executive.
The committee will also discuss the operating budgets for Compensation and Benefits, the Office of Grants Management, the Community Grants NDA, Cost Sharing and Capital Grants, and the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS).
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Ethics Commission, which is $391,253. This is an increase of $15,497 or a 4.12 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The increase in the budget is based on annualization of FY23 compensation increases and proposed FY24 compensation adjustments. The Ethics Commission promotes the public’s trust of County government and ensures the impartiality of County employees, including elected officials.
Office of Legislative Oversight and Independent Audit NDA
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for OLO, which is more than $2.3 million. This is an increase of more than $151,440 or a 6.8 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The increase includes $137,539 in personnel costs mainly due to the annualization of FY23 compensation increases and the FY24 compensation adjustment. In addition, there is an increase of $13,901 due to the annualization of FY23 operating costs and the projected increase in printing and mail. OLO determines the effectiveness of legislation enacted by the Council and makes findings and recommendations concerning the performance, management and operation of programs and functions for which funds are appropriated or approved by the Council.
The committee will also review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Independent Audit NDA, which is $431,510. This is an increase of $3,628 or a less than one percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The increase is primarily due to the annualization of FY23 compensation increases and the FY24 compensation adjustment. The County Charter requires the Council to contract with a certified public accountant for an independent post audit of all financial records and actions of the County government, its officials and employees. OLO is the designated administrator for this contract, which also includes an independent audit of the basic financial statement of the Employee Retirement Plans, the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust and the basic financial statements of the Montgomery County Union Employees Deferred Compensation Plan.
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Charter Review Commission NDA, which is $1,150. This is an increase of $1,000 from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The increase would accommodate the cost of preparing the Charter Review Commission report, which is due on May 1, 2024. During FY23, a report was not due. The Charter Review Commission reviews the County Charter for potential amendments and submits a report containing its recommendations no later than May 1 of every even-numbered year.
County Council FY24 Operating Budget
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for County Council, which is more than $15.4 million. This is an increase of more than $1.4 million, or a 9.1 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. This budget reflects the full year costs of new staff added in FY23 to accommodate the addition of two new Councilmembers, who started mid-year in FY23.
In addition, personnel cost increases reflect the annualization of FY23 compensation adjustments and proposed FY24 compensation increases. Operating costs are increased to reflect a shift in funding from the Cable Fund to the General Fund, as funding available from cable revenues continues to decrease. The budget also includes a $40,000 increase to the budgets of Councilmember offices to account for inflation. One-time FY23 costs of $400,000 associated with the transition between Councils are removed, resulting in a cost decrease.
Legislative Branch Communications Outreach NDA
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Legislative Branch Communications Outreach NDA, which is more than $2.5 million. This is an increase of $362,605, or a 16.9 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. In 2012, at the committee’s initiative, the Council established this NDA to strengthen the capacity of the five Legislative Branch offices to inform constituent communities about issues that directly affect them and ensure that these communities’ concerns are considered.
In addition to the normal increases associated with compensation and the full year costs of positions added in FY23, the FY24 budget adds funding for a new position to serve as a liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, increased funding for translation services and $10,000 for culturally competent advertising.
Office of the County Executive
Review: The GO Committee will review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Office of the County Executive, which is more than $7.5 million. This is a decrease of $140,596, or a 1.8 percent decrease from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The Office of the County Executive provides leadership to the community and administrative direction to the County's departments and offices. The office provides support to the County Executive and the Chief Administrative Officer as they carry out their responsibilities to residents and employees of Montgomery County.
Compensation and Benefits Follow-Up
Review: The GO Committee will continue its review of compensation and benefits for all County-funded agencies and provisions of County government employee collective bargaining agreements. The committee previously held meetings on April 14 and April 19 to review these items. At this meeting, the committee will receive an update on the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) funding policy and discuss Executive and Legislative Branch salary schedules for appointed, non-merit employees. OPEB is defined as non-pension benefits offered by an employer to retirees, including retiree health, prescription, dental and vision insurance.
County-funded agencies have requested tax supported FY24 operating budgets with a combined $4.2 billion for compensation, which is a nine percent increase from the approved FY23 Operating Budget. Across the four County-funded agencies, employee compensation costs comprise about 70 percent of all agency expenditures. The cost of government is driven by both the number of employees and the cost per employee.
Office of Grants Management, Community Grants NDA and Cost Sharing and Capital Grants
Review: The GO Committee will continue to review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Office of Grants Management, which is $609,378. This is an increase of $268,069, or a more than 78 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Operating Budget. The office serves as a central point of contact regarding grants and awards received by the County. In addition, the office provides technical assistance regarding grants management to Executive Branch departments and principal offices. The office searches out and identifies federal and state grant opportunities to Executive Branch departments and principal offices.
At this meeting, the committee will discuss justification for two additional positions and the level of growth expected within competitive grant programs, funding for these programs and grant agreements. The committee held its first meeting to discuss these items on May 1, 2023.
The committee will also continue to review the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for the Community Grants NDA, which is more than $9.8 million. This is a decrease of more than $1.1 million from the FY23 Approved Budget. The Office of Grants Management will manage the application and awarding processes for the ten competitive grant programs within the NDA in FY24. In addition, 28 community grants programs previously funded through the Community Grants' budget will be shifted into departmental base budgets. At this meeting, the committee will discuss the Community Grants process FY24 timeline including bridge funding timing.
The committee will also continue its review of $3 million in community grants included within the Cost Sharing: Montgomery County Government project. These include arts facility capital grants and cost sharing capital grants for major projects over $100,000 and small projects under $100,000.
The services offered by community partners help the County address poverty and social inequity, provide emergency services and health care, serve youth in the community and ensure that seniors and persons with disabilities receive quality services. These partnerships help residents who are most in need access the services they require to thrive in a cost-effective manner.
Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS)
Review: The GO Committee will continue review of the recommended FY24 Operating Budget for TEBS, which is more than $54 million. This is an increase of more than $3 million or a more than 5.4 percent increase from the FY23 Approved Budget. The committee held its first meeting to discuss this item on April 26, 2023. This meeting will include a discussion on additional information regarding the TEBS staff complement and the vacancies and lapse assumptions in the recommended budget.
TEBS provides technology solutions and services to facilitate the delivery of a wide range of services in all branches of Montgomery County government. The department has undertaken a major transformation and reorganized its operating divisions into five program areas that tie management of the enterprise more directly to strategies and County priorities.
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.
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: 23-164