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[Applause]
>> thank you.
Let me wish everyone a happy st.
Patrick'
s day and thank our
hard-working county employees
for moving the snow and all the
work you do to accommodate the
well over one million residents
of montgomery county.
Let'
s give them a round of
applause.
[Applause]
Montgomery county is one of the
best places in america to live.
It has been my honor to serve
this county executive for eight
years.
And as we emerge from this
difficult
challenge over the last few
years of the great recession, I
believe our best days are yet to
come.
But none of this comes easy.
The county government has spent
an increase in the last two
years in the previous
administration -- about 36% in
the last
three years.
Just before I
assumed office.
This was simply unsustainable.
We needed to put our county'
s
financial house in order.
Then came the great recession.
I made some very tough
and difficult decisions.
For the first five years, I
crafted budgets with zero
increases in county tax
supporte
I reduced the county'
s workforce
by 10%.
furloughs.
No stats.
-- no steps.
I reduced of the county'
s share
of the employees health and
retirement costs.
This alone saved $.5 billion
going forward.
I know of no county executive in
the region, no mayor, who did as
much for as long as I did those
things.
My objective was to protect our
public schools, enhance public
safety, and provide support for
the most vulnerable in our
midst.
I also promoted initiatives that
invested in jobs of the future
even during tough times.
So we
can emerge from the recession
well-positioned to grow again
and take advantage of future
opportunities.
We protected our aaa bond rating
throughout the great recession,
throughout sequesters, and the
government
shutdown.
Despite these challenges, the
county'
s reserves
our -- are
now at the highest in
the
history of montgomery county at
8.4%.
The highest in history, 8.4%.
En route to our objective of
10%.
Some May say why do we have such
a high reserve.
Technically, there is a
challenge.
We have
wind case out there.
[Laughter]
Montgomery county could lose up
to $150 million in retroactive
payments as well as $25 million
going forward to the future.
We need this balance in order to
sustain us going forward.
The budget I am recommending
today addresses the
possibilities of our challenges,
but also looks to the long-term
for the future as well.
Let'
s look at the numbers.
The county spending in this
budget, $4.97 billion, an
increase of $159.6 million, a
3.3% increase overall.
The increase in fy 2014 was $198
million, a 4.3% increase.
The rate of increase this year
is less than it was last year.
As a teacher, a parent, and
grandparent with kids in public
schools and one to whom
education was a
ticket out of poverty, there is
nothing more important than a
good quality education.
Over the last eight years, I
have increased the county'
s
contribution to the montgomery
county public school
construction by 36%.
I have recommended a high of
$1.1 billion in county funds
that is now before the county
council as capital budget.
To effectively address the
present and future of our
schools requires the state to
increase resources for our
schools over and above what they
have traditionally provided.
Since I have become county
executive, we have obtained $262
million in state construction
money, $60 million more in the
total of that seven years before
I obtained
office.
despite the difficult times we
are currently in.
However, more funding is still
required
to meet our unprecedented growth
of enrolsystem.
My fy 2015 recommended operating
budget includes a high of $2.16
million for our public schools,
an increase of $79.8 million or
3.2%.
This unprecedented and
county
contribution is $1.5 billion,
$26 million over the maintenance
required.
If we look at all this together
and include the fund balance
from the school system itself of
a minimum of $11 million.
We have, for the state of
maryland and
requirement of moe, we have
99.4% of the board'
s request.
99.4% of the request.
Why $26 million?
I would like to go all the way
up to $51 million.
Unfortunately, we could not do
that.
And why we did not do it last
year.
Last year, the request was
simply $11 million over the
maintenance of effort.
We thought they had a sufficient
fund balance to do so.
We have a slightly better
cushion this year.
The challenges the school system
is facing this year and the
challenge of $51 million is
simply too far for them to do
within their fund balance.
The $26 million plus $11 million
provides $37 million at a
minimum going forward above the
maintenance of effort level.
I wish we could have done more.
but we simply could not do so.
By the way, for those of you
interested, getting to 100%
is rare in the school'
s budget.
In the previous 12 years, it
only happened two times.
So it is not something that
happens
quickly or easily but we have
made a good-faith effort to get
as close as we could.
That is a challenge we face and
we hope we will be able to get
there with the cooperation of
the board and all of us working
together.
I am recommending a larger
investment in montgomery
college.
The county'
s contribution to
montgomery college is $110.6
million, we
are providing $11 million over
the maintenance of effort, and
11% increase from the $100
million we had last year.
One of my top priorities is
safer streets.
Right now, the streets in
montgomery county are safer.
In large part because we
provided the added resources to
help reduce crime.
Between 2007 and 2014, while our
tax supp
budget went up by only 12%, our
police spending, the budget in
the police department went up
by 28%.
Despite our difficult economic
challenges, we were determined
to ensure that we provided safe
streets.
I increased full-time positions
in the police department, sworn
and civilian, by more
than 100 people.
My budget includes an $11
million increase to our police
department, 23 additional
officers and 2 forensic
scientists.
This is part of a multiyear plan
to add 120 officers and 23
police civilians for a total of
143.
All crime in the county
is down
by 26% over the past 7
years.
Almost 3 times lower than the
national rate of 9%.
I would like to give up our
police department, all the men
and women who work there, a
round of
applause for the tremendous work
they do.
[Applause]
Three times more than the
national average.
There have also been
improvements in public safety in
other areas,
such as the opening of our
family justice center to
establish a one-stop shop to
better serve families who are
victims of domestic violence.
With the opening of our new fire
station, I have opened five new
stations in 8 years.
Despite the turbulent economic
conditions.
That is five stations in eight
years.
And I plan to open a sixth
station in glenmont next year.
Let me repeat that -- I plan to
open a
sixth station in glenmont
next year.
[Laughter]
[Applause]
In the 12 years before I assumed
office, county spending was way
up.
We only provided two new
stations in 12 years.
We are providing five.
Over the past seven years, fire
and rescue response time has
improved dramatically.
Montgomery county'
s
civilian fire deaths dropped
from 13 in 2009 to 2 in 2012 and
3 in 2013.
Most of these fatalities were
among older residents of our
communities.
To address this troubling fact,
I added $100,000 to strengthen
our ongoing outreach to our
seniors in the county who are
most at risk for fire death.
We have one of the top library
systems in the nation.
More than 600,000 county
residents have library cards.
Due to the recession, the
department of public libraries
saw the deepest cuts, 26%
between 2007 and 2012.
Over the past two budgets, I
started the process of
rebuilding the most essential
library services.
Hours, materials, and staffing.
A few weeks ago, we reopened the
renovated library in
gaithersburg.
This past saturday, we opened
olney library as well.
I recomm
services of our libraries.
I have added and included 6.7%
increase from fy 2014.
The recommended budget for all
library sources for all the
things we have done in the
last three years will be a 30%
increase, getting us right back
to where we were in 2007.
In the f
will celebrate the opening of
the new silver spring library.
This budget includes funds to
fully staff this long-awaited
facility.
In addition, I am continuing my
efforts to increase services to
library patrons around the
county by increasing hours at 11
library branches.
Altogether, public library
service will increase by at
least 5%.
The county'
s police, recreation,
and health and human services
division have been working
closely together with community
groups
in my positive youth
development initiative.
That is aimed at at risk youth
in our county.
Last year, I added a sixth
middle school site for the excel
beyond the bell program.
I added a summer program
component as well.
This year, I proposed expanding
excel to
two additional sites at
watkins mill and adding a
high school sports academy.
Also added a language learning
site at south lake elementary
school.
The program brings together the
governme
things we do in the kennedy
cluster to expand this and
watkins mill for additional
support.
In addition, as part of our
community grants to our
nonprofit partners, I am
proposing to add $2.2 million
to 59 grassroots organizations
engaged in positive youth
development in the county.
My recommended budget expands
our efforts to make montgomery
county a community
for a lifetime.
that includes our seniors.
The fy 2014 budget included
enhancements for service to our
seniors, and we are building on
that.
I improved the senior
transportation options through
public-private relationships
with the jewish commission on
aging.
We are expanding the senior
housing options through a $6
million commitment to help
develop 140 units of senior
housing in silver spring.
The fy 2015 continues that
focus.
In addition to more resources
dedicated to senior fire safety,
I am proposing to restore
operating hours at the county'
s
three senior centers that were
reduced on the great recession.
I am increasing counter reserves
for adult protective services,
adult foster care day care, and
senior
long-term care.
And for caregiving services
all directed for seniors.
I am increasing the income
eligibility guidelines for the
county'
s call and ride program
to make sure more seniors have
the use of this program as well.
This change will increase
services to over 90 adults and
montgomery county.
We are increasing funds for the
ride on, kids and seniors ride
free program as well.
Creating jobs is a difficult
task, but one that we cannot
overlook.
In December 2013, the county'
s
unemployment rate fell to 4.1%,
the lowest since 2008 and a
nearly 30% decrease since the
great recession.
Construction of new residential
units in the county has more
than tripled in the last three
years.
Nonresidential construction has
gone up by more than 100%, 140%,
during this time period.
Over the past three years of
recovery, montgomery county jobs
are up 3%, placing us ahead of
virtually everyone in the
region.
My fy 2015 budget increases life
sciences and innovative services
by $400,000.
I am recommending an increase of
$250,000, for a total
of $500,000 in county funds for
bio health innovation.
This fy 2015 recommended
operating budget includes funds
to repurpose the william hanna
innovation center to becomethe
national civil cyber security
center of excellence.
Making montgomery county a hub
for civilian cyber security.
The total investment in
affordable housing during the
last 8 years is up an
unprecedented $320 million.
$320 million.
This budget increases the
general fund contribution to the
housing initiative fund by 10%
over last year'
s level.
Even during troubled economic
times, county funds were
leveraged to
provide an additional $1 million
in housing development in
montgomery county.
We have added or preserved 9000
affordable housing units.
There is more on the way.
I want to thank the people and
the housing and development
office
for the work they have done.
They have been innovative,
collaborative with all of those
in the private sector to get us
to this number.
$328 million contribution, 9000
affordable housing units.
That is an astonishing amount.
Let'
s give them a round of
applause.
[Applaus
I have included significant
additions for resources for a
variety of health and human
services challenges.
For behavioral health and for
other critical safety net
services.
This budget adds funds for the
development disabilities
supplement to support programs
that grew out of the increased
enrollment and expanded services
requirement among clients.
It provides nurse monitoring
services to more than 2000
seniors and disabled clients.
And it helps us to deal with a
number of challenges to our
waiver program with the state'
s
new medicare services.
Community first, choice, and
increasing mental health
funding.
In keeping with my belief that
our county'
s diversity
contributes to the strength of
our county, my recommended
budget
increases county funding for
english language adult literacy
by 10%.
Combined with the amount we
provided last year, we are now
$200,000 over the year before
last.
in addition this budget
, increases county
funding for the arts and
humanities by $440,000, more
than 11%.
I have made partnership with
nonprofit organizations
a hallmark of our administration
and this recommended budget
reflects that.
I am increasing funds for
community grants by $970,000.
For a total of $5.5 million.
Let me mention a couple areas
that are important for us that
support what we are doing.
As a vietnam veteran, I know how
much we owe to those who have
served and to their families.
That is why I established the
first ever county veterans
commission.
To help our county better
support the servicemen and women
of our community.
In this budget, I am providing
funds to strengthen outreach
services for the mental health
hotline the county established
several years ago.
In partnership with the mental
health association of montgomery
county.
Another grant, a new grant, will
help support the project of the
team river runners, supporting
therapeutic kayaking for
disabled veterans.
Strengthening their minds and
their bodies.
A third project, the warrior
canine connection, is a joint
project with the county and the
state that will train service
dogs for wounded warriors.
Can you ask of the
representatives of these three
groups to please stand.
Please give a round of applause
to our great veterans and what
they have done.
Thank you.
[Applause]
My budget holds the line on
property taxes for county
homeowners at the charter limit.
In fact, the average county
homeowner
will see a $17 reduction.
In property taxes over the next
year.
I am recommending a reduction in
the property tax rate from
$1.01
to 99.6 cents.
When you combine that with the
$692 credit you receive, the ask
-- the average homeowner will
see a $17
decrease.
During my administration, all
county taxes as a share of
personal income have gone down
from an average of 4.4% in fy
2004 to a projected 4% in fy
2015.
A 10% reduction in overall tax
burden.
My recommended budget assumes
the current
charge for the water quality
protection or solid waste
charge for our presidents as
well.
-- for all residents as well.
This budget does not alter the
current rates for the fuel and
energy tax from the fy 2014
approved by the county council.
This is possible because of the
work we have done together.
Working with our county council
and members of our general
assembly.
Working with all the outside
agencies.
We have been able to weather
some very difficult storms.
We have made significant
progress under some very
difficult circumstances and
conditions.
We see some light at the end of
the tunnel.
That light is bright, but the
light is not as bright as
everyo
but it is bright.
This is a much better day, but
we could have only gotten here
because of the work all of us
have don
there are some challenges ahead,
but we are at a much better
position.
I want to thank members of the
county council and all the
outside agencies, our board of
education, the sanitary
commission, wssc, montgomery
college, all the agencies that
have helped, maryland park and
planning commission.
We have all worked together.
The person who has led the
charge has been the head of our
office of management and budget.
Let'
s give a round of applause
for jennifer hughes and her
staff.
[Applause]
Our director of finance, joe.
Thank you.
[Applause]
And the person who runs all
these operations, tim.
Thank you.
[Applause]
We are in a much better
position.
Thank all of you for what you
have done.
Great times ahead for us in
montgomery county.
But we have to do this together.
If we continue together, we can
do even better things for the
citizens of montgomery county
and all the residents who reside
here.
Thank you very much.
[Applause]
This is a news conference, we
May have a chance for a couple
questions.
Otherwise, we will be around
online.
Are there any general questions?
Yes?
>> the impact of all the snow on
your budget, talk about that.
>> I have said before that
whenever I see snow now, I
do not see beautiful white
flakes, I see dollar signs
falling out of
the sky.
[Laughter]
We have shed a lot of dollars,
way above what we projected.
This is why we have to be
cautious and why I want to have
the reserves that we have for
implement weather.
For the first time in my
administration, we started a
program reserve for inclement
weather challenges.
That is not enough for the kind
of winter we have had thus far.
We will be with the county
council talking about what we
can do, but we are way over
budget.
>> do you have a ballpark
figure?
And does that mean supplemental?
>> it might be supplemental.
Yes.
>> some economic indicators you
mentioned, job creation up and
unemployment down, talk about
exactly what you think you did
to bring
some of those conditions about.
These are things that also have
regional and global influences
also.
>> if things had gone negative,
someone would say I had done
something wrong.
But they are going up, someone
asks
what did you do?
First of all, in the county, we
have to create
a very open and friendly
environment for businesses to
operate.
Secondly, we provided a
first-class education here,
which is the hallmark for
virtually anything you would do
in this
county.
Why people come to this county
is because of schools.
Why they stay is because of
schools.
In everything that we do to make
certain our schools are
operating at the level they are
operatin
is so supportive of the business
climate in montgomery county.
We have also reduced the
regulatory burden in montgomery
county.
We recommend that 6 or 7
different recommendations to
help
businesses grow.
There are some challenges but if
you look at the record overall
in terms of having an adequate
workforce, a school system that
people want, reducing regulatory
challenges we face.
If you look at all those things
together.
And more importantly than
anything else, providing
resources
and support for transportation.
If you look at what the county
is advancing in the white flint
area, it is a huge amount of
money we are advancing in
anticipation of growth and
development for the future.
If you look at what we are doing
with the $1 billion we are
anticipating getting from the
state for transportation, we are
advancing projects for the
future.
All of those things are done by
local government.
Without their help and support,
it would stagnate business in a
way that would be acceptable.
No further questions.
Thank you all for coming out,
thank you.
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