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>> welcome to "one-on-
one" with
councilmember ike leggett.
I am lorna virgili.
A lot
happen in montgomery
county.
Let'
s get started with an event
that recently took place with
you your self asking the state
of maryland for more funding for
mcps, montgomery county policy
that public schools.
>> one of the talents with --
one of the challenges we have,
we have been doing a good job
providing funds to the school
system, but as you know, the
school system, we looked at all
the budgetary items total, it
probably comprises well over 50%
of the county'
s budget.
That is a fairly significant
amount.
They spend it very well, I
think.
There are challenges in terms of
utilizing the money on the other
side related to the -- the
county'
s school system has been
growing at a rate of 2000
students per year.
That is over the last five
years.
If you total the number out, it
is like 10,000, 11,000 students
in total.
Each 2000
, say, for simple, I
high school, the growth of our
school system is larger than
some of the entire state systems
of the state of -- entire school
systems in the state of
maryland.
One side is to make certain we
have the capacity to deal with
the increase enrollments so that
all the students are comfortable
within a school building in and
of itself and not in a temporary
location.
The second part of it is also to
make certain that the schools
that we have our upgraded in
terms of the maintenance, leaks
and the roots, those kinds of
things.
We are trying to deal with the
ongoing maintenance challenges
of the schools as well as
capacity, so we need additional
resources in order to accomplish
that.
>> when you say additional
resources, what are you talking
about?
>> a good very, but if you look
at the program conference in way
over the next six years, you'
re
talking about $500 million
to
$600 million.
The trick is to utilize bonding
capacity outside of montgomery
county.
We are fortunate to look at a
model that occurred last year in
the general assembly.
At the time, I supported.
That is the increase in aid
going to baltimore whereby they
were able to bring together
under the state of authority
additional money locally as well
as some infusion of money from
the state to allow them to
borrow even more to anticipate
and to deal with their
maintenance problems and their
adequacy problems in baltimore.
Well, when I do that, I said at
the time if the state accepted a
model, it would be a model that
I would hope that montgomery
county can follow, and so what
i'
ve been doing, one of the vice
presidents is to urge other
counties to look at that model.
We'
re going to look at it from
the county perspective and try
to come up with a model of her
own, replicated were get
approved last year for the city
of alt more.
We are able to do that, that
should provide a some additional
relief that we can utilize in
order to get at the very
difficult challenge of needs in
our school system.
>> feedback from the state --
what do you foresee happening?
>> it is a state matter in terms
of getting additional capacity.
It is a state matter that deals
with the state of authority.
We will have to go back to the
state in order for them to
approve this type of an
approach.
We will be doing this in spring
and hopefully we can get some
relief.
But this is a program where
looking at for the next six
years, so it is not something to
have any year one four $600,000,
but something we hope to have
over a period of time.
>> what was the actual
impact
overall in montgomery county as
far as 70,000 plus
federal
employees that do reside in the
county and the hundreds of
businesses that do contracting
with the federal government?
>> we'
re still in the process of
evaluating that.
We do know that when you have as
many as 70,000 county employees
that are working for the federal
government, that when you look
at the income tax impacted to
montgomein this case,
congress did in
fact asked legislation that
allowed the federal employees to
receive their back pay for the
time that was lost.
So we will not lose from that
perspective.
But there are other areas we are
evaluating.
There are large numbers of
federal contractors, many of
whom did not have the kind of
flexibility to get paid for
their absence of the time that
they were not actually working.
That is a loss to them, and
therefore it is a loss in income
tax receipts for the county.
We have not measure that yet
here we are still looking to
evaluate that to see the real
impact of that.
In addition to that, one of the
things that also happened is
that people cut back on
expenditures.
Bars, restaurants, hotel, motel
-- expenditures that people
normally would make when they
know that they are gainfully
employed, they know that they
are going to get a paycheck for
a certain period of time, many
of those discretionary
expenditures -- they no longer
will make.
But also look at some of the
institutions in maryland.
England acres, for reasonable,
we have a venue there that is
operated by the county, but when
the federal government shutdown,
it shut the facility down.
The county was operating on
federal money.
That is not make any sense to me
that we would close the facility
because we were not relying on
federal money.
It was basically county money to
operate that.
Very little involvement
from the
federal government, yet they
closed it down.
The impact of that, about
$35,000 per day for the various
venues at that location.
One of the things that I would
urge is that the county should
literally go back in and open
the facility up.
In fact, I even indicated that I
was going to go and open it
myself, and I was prepared to do
that, and people said well, you
May be arrested for trespassing.
It was going to be an act of
civil disobedience on my part.
Fortunately we did not have to
go that far.
>> there was also a meeting that
were that top leaders of the
metro jurisdiction, prince
george'
s county, the district,
and yourself, montgomery county
and fairfax county.
When you all met, what was the
biggest concern regarding this
shutdown?
>> it was a combination of
things.
The district of
columbia, we
felt, they were treated
unfairly.
The district could not utilize
its own resources.
All of us in the region are
impacted as a result of that
because when people come to this
area, they come to the district
of columbia and oftentimes spend
money and neighboring
jurisdictions.
if they felt the district was
closed, they are not going to
come to the washington region
and therefore we are all
adversely affected.
They were not allowed to utilize
the funds that the district had
collected for operation for
services within the district.
We felt that was wrong.
>> thank you, we will take a
short break and be right back.
>>
dealing with the daily
struggles of dealing with a
loved one, we hear you so that'
s
why aarp created
a community to
better care for ourselves and
the ones we love.
>> did
you know there are more
than 10,000 can'
t just county
government honors but there is
only one number you need to
remember for nonemergency
calls,311.
Mc 311
is the montgomery county
online telephone system.
If you need information or have
a problem or complaint or are
trying to locate a government
facility -- call 311 which is
open monday-friday,
7 A.M.-7:00
P.M. And the the website is open
24/seven.
>>
I can'
t wait to make a new
start.
>> I will get to paint the
white house.
>> here he comes.
>> now you can recycle more
plastic in montgomery county.
We are in.
for more information, contact
the montgomery county division
of solid waste services at 311.
>> welcome back to
one on one.
We are talking about the federal
government shut down and the
impact in montgomery county.
One of the main concerns
was
preserving the aaa rating that
montgomery county has held.
You recently took a trip to new
york, wall street?
>> yes, we took a team from the
county to go to wall street and
it involved the county council.
We'
ve made the case as to
why
montgomery county should
continue to have its aaa bond
rating.
We have had to go through a
transition in the county over
the last few years to ensure
that our budgets come our long-
term future was sustainable.
We committed our ongoing
obligations in a way that made
us the top in terms of credit
worthiness.
It'
s an ongoing process and
would you do this annually so
you
have to go back and
demonstrate to wall street why
you should have that.
We made overtures and
presentations to moody'
s, fitch
and standard & poor'
s to justify
why we have the aaa bond rating
and why we should continue to
have that.
For us, the new should
be and
has been fairly good for us.
we have met all of the
obligations we indicated that we
were going to meet some years
ago.
In terms of our indebtedness
and how much we will borrow, in
terms of our reserves.
The reserves we have in
montgomery county now, eight
point one percent, is the
highest in the history of the
county.
Let me repeat that, the reserves
we have in the county today are
the highest in the history of
the county.
We plan to increase that.
We have only one more year to
go
on the uptick for funding.
We are meeting our targets in
terms of paygo, all the
targets
we have indicated we would meet
in terms of our indebtedness.
I think wall street is very
pleased with the progress we
have made especially given the
difficult times
and the actions
we have taken over the last few
years.
>>
you wrapped up a mission to
china for 10 days.
There was a sister city
agreement there.
There was some economic
development agreements.
Can you give us an overview of
that trip?
>> we visited for cities --
we signed the sister city
agreement with the city of
shian where you have the terra-
cotta warriors.
It also has a very large
industrial and technology park
that is probably 1/3 the size
of montgomery county.
the park has around
26,000
businesses and they register
about 16 businesses per year.
It is a natural for us in terms
of technology because we have a
fairly large technology sector
here.
It is natural in terms of
biotechnology where we have a
strong presence in montgomery
county.
The trip was one in which the
county does not pay.
It is by sponsors and people pay
individually as you go.
You go with us to help him of
montgomery county.
From a business standpoint, we
made an awful lot of contacts
and we are looking extensively
at programs and services and
conductivity with our technology
part series montgomery county
and they'
re business people are
following through on many of the
contacts they made.
We are also looking at a program
to enhance and make better the
montgomery county help
innovation program whereby the
chinese will do some investment
in common participation.
When you look at the things we
have accomplished and the
chinese have made an investment
there already, it is beyond
belief how we were able to
accomplish so much in such a
relatively short period of
time.
I want to congratulate everyone
who was involved in that.
There were many from our office
in special projects and the
office of economic development
and the entire team -- all the
people who attended.
We had about 90 people from
montgomery county who went.
This was not a cat -- at county
expense.
It was done by individuals and
sponsors and businesses all
designed to help promote
montgomery county.
I was delighted
with the trip.
We will have continuations of
meetings that are ongoing.
We will follow-up on some of
contacts we have made in china.
>>
ultimately, it'
s about job
creation?
>> it'
s also about the other
connectivity to that.
When you know people better,
when you understand the culture,
the language come and you have
better medication, the job
creation is easier to accomplish
when you are dealing with people
from a distance.
Raking down the barriers and
getting to know people better
andister city
relationit helps you to
create the environment to ensure
that you have successful
business.
We have successful businesses
that are working in an
international climate.
It will help create jobs and
help enhance our tax benefits in
montgomery county.
Beyond just the chinese, we have
large interests in all of asia.
In south korea,
in india as
well, those places continue to
work with us.
>>
there is legislation pending
in county council about the
minimum wage.
they want
to raise it to the
maximum $11.50 per hour.
You you foresee that having an
impact for the small business
community paying employees?
How do you see this legislation?
>> the legislation was
introduced by mark ulrich.
The intent was to get up to a
certain level.
It is something I supported
going back some years ago when I
supported the state increase at
$10 per hour for statewide
minimum.
The debate now is whether you
have a statewide bill or whether
you go to a local bill.
On one side of the argument is
that the cost of living here is
higher than some other places
around the state.
Therefore, it justifies a higher
amount.
On the other hand, having a
comprehensive statewide will
helps all of us because you
cannot be tricked -- trade one
jurisdiction off another because
we are part of one state.
I support the increase, I
supported the $10 increase some
time ago, and I believe if we
can phase it in or have a
statewide bill, it will be
helpful.
If that does not
work, I will
deal with a local bill in
montgomery county.
>> the affordable care act
started October 1.
The county partnered
with about
10 nonprofit organizations to
get the word out for individuals
who were qualified to get
enroll.
Have you heard any feedback as
far as challenges, perhaps, and
what needs to be done to get the
word out so people and role --
and role within the timeframe/.?
>> there are some challenges
and the rollout has not been as
smooth as it should be.
Let'
s keep that in perspective.
There is a long time that people
can and
enroll.
As you go forward, you have
to
balance the challenges and
difficulties of the rollout
versus the prospects of having
health insurance for people who
had not been able to have
insurance before.
We have to keep that in
perspective so I hope and
believe that those problems are
being resolved.
But you have to balance the fact
that people now have the
opportunity to access health
care versus the challenges you
face with the rollout.
I thanks -- I think those are
not resolved and hopefully
sometime in the future we will
have that working smoothly.
If we are careful about how we
proceed, I think we will be ok.
>> we will take another short
break and be right back with
montgomery county executive ike
leggett.
>>
so, I'
m kind of new but
I'
ve noticed a trend.
There is as funny thing my human
gets all my toys and then she
hides them in the basket by the
door.
It'
s always the same basket and
it'
s always in the same place
and then she asked surprised
when I find them but she is
putting them in the same basket,
again.
Hello!
This is where you put it last
time.
You are the worst of hide and go
seek.
>>
if it wasn'
t for the doctor,
he would not be here.
>> if it wanted for montgomery
county fire and rescue, he would
not be here.
>> if it wasn'
t for the phone
call, we would not have been
there.
>> if I did not call, I don'
t
know where we would be.
>> montgomery county emergency
responders are there when you
need help at no cost to you.
In an emergency, don'
t hesitate
to call 911.
If you live in montgomery
county, you'
ll never get a bill
or pay a dime.
>> if you have an emergency,
call us.
>> we are there for you.
>> welcome back to one on one
with ike leggett.
Recently, you and councilmember
george leventhal launched a
campaign give a hand up, not a
handout and it is destined to
deal with panhandling in
montgomery county.
Have you seen any results
already from that campaign where
county residents were asked to
not give money to people
panhandling on our streets but
to text and make a
contribution?
>> believe it or not, I have
seen fewer people on the street
but that is my own individual
observation.
There is no empirical data to
suggest that there has been a
significant reduction to the
number of people out
panhandling.
We will continue to have
panhandling regardless of the
effort we initiated.
The challenge for us is twofold
--
to recognize that people who are
panhandling present a safety
threat to themselves and
potentially to motorists along
our highways and their
intersections.
Secondly, there is a recognition
that we are encouraging more
panhandling by giving direct
cash.
There is a belief based on some
analysis that by giving the cash
to people that they are not
spending the resources they get
in a way that deals with the
problems and challenges that
they currently have.
Thirdly, there are other
more
productive and efficient ways in
which to help.
We have set up a series of
programs and services within the
county that will help people who
are homeless and help people
with housing challenges and
other issues they May have in
the county.
Many of these programs
work very
well and are challenges to make
certain we get the people in.
When you give money to people
directly, often times, they
spend it for things that are not
designed to necessarily help
them along those areas of
housing, food that they May
need, and shelter and what have
you.
If you want to give, we
encourage you to you.
You can get by going directly
online to give and we will take
the monies and put them within
the programs and services we
have and distributed to the very
people who need them on the
street.
When you give money, you only
encourage people to come out
more often and secondly, it is
not going to the programs and
services they need to deal with
the challenges they face.
>> another way that residents
can help that is by texting the
word "share."
80077.
You recently participated in the
opening of the senior
affordable
housing units around the corner
from here in rockville.
That was built rather fast rate
I remember the ground baked a
few months ago and all of a
sudden, apartments are there.
>> it did not happen quite that
fast rate it was a long struggle
and challenge we had to deal
with.
It was one that proved to be
successful.
There were challenges within the
neighborhood.
We had to do with the
complications and difficulties
of the permitting process and
some legitimate concerns at the
city of rockville had raised
about the housing units.
Ultimately, it was done and
completed.
86+ units, a good number of
those units are market priced
housing but there is also a
significant number that are
affordable units for public and
seniors.
Keep in mind that over the last
few years, we have actually
constructed and maintained or
enhanced eight thousand
affordable housing units and
people find that to be
astonishing.
We were able to do that with
some creative financing, did
terminate and that we borrow as
opposed to using money from the
operating budget and a taking
advantage of some of the
challenges that we face in the
market, partnering with some of
the community partners and
nonprofit partners throughout
the area.
That has allowed us to build a
large number of housing.
Fortunately, the 8000 is only a
portion of what is needed in the
county.
The real challenge for us going
forward is the senior housing.
How can we deal more effectively
with providing more houses for
the growing number of seniors in
montgomery county?
If you look
at the silver spring
library, jason to the library is
a senior housing component.
>> let'
s
talk about another
favorite topic of yours which is
transportation.
Recently,
governor martin
o'
malley announced that $400
million would be allocated for
the purple line great we have
heard about this purple line.
When will we actually see it in
the county?
It will go east-west.
For those who advocate against
it, what do you have to say?
>> there are legitimate
concerns from those who
advocated against a, people
concerned about the traffic and
the noise along the right-of-way
and that is something we have to
look at and try to respond to.
There are people that feel
the
trail May be compromised.
All of those things are
legitimate concerns.
We are looking at ways in which
to help mitigate some of those
challenges and make certain
those challenges are resolved.
Those are some very strong
legitimate challenges that
people have a right to raise.
When you look at overall
transportation, keep in mind
where the money comes from.
It comes as a result of the
increase in the state gasoline
tax.
This is something I advocated
for and push many years ago and
finally, the state now has
approved that.
That now provides us with
resources not only to look at
the east-west transportation
between new carrollton and
silver spring and all the way
around to bethesda, but also the
watkins mill exchange at 270.
All of this comes as a result of
the efforts we were able to
make.
We push for an increase in the
gasoline tax to replenish the
state'
s transportation trust
fund which obviously, did not
have sufficient funds.
I think I was proven right about
my advocacy for it.
I am only disappointed that we
did not do it sooner to address
many of the transportation needs
in montgomery county.
>> another method of
transportation is bicycles and
the bike share plan is official
and you were there for the
opening of one of the first bike
share stations.
We will have over 51 stations in
the county and close to 500
bikes or so.
Will that be the new method in
the county?
>> we will increase bike
sharing but also make certain
people are well-connected in the
community for trails, sidewalks,
and all the things that would
make it efficient.
We kicked it off with a huge
rally and a thank you for those
who had been involved in this
process for a number of years in
rockville.
As you indicated, we have 51
stations throughout the county
and you need to look at the
locations near metro, in silver
spring, bethesda, friendship
heights, all designed to enhance
the transportation options for
our community.
>> are you going to bike to
work?
>> I will be able to do that if
we can get up and down 29.
Far distance out.
>> you will get in better
shape.
Thank you for joining us today.
For you watching, any
information regarding our county
, montgomery county md.Gov.
Thank you for watching.