Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc.

MCCF TESTIMONY ON FY2025 MOCO BUDGET

In April 2024, MCCF submitted brief testimony on the County FY2025 budget, which included support for funding the Office of the People’s Counsel and for the Department of Transportation for stump grinding and planting of new replacement trees.
READ TESTIMONY

COUNTY FY2023 BUDGET

The Montgomery County Fiscal Year 2023 Recommended Operating Budget (this is a CIP year) was the topic at the April 11, 2022, MCCF General Meeting.  The Guest speaker was Rich Madaleno, Montgomery County’s Chief Administrative Officer.  View his PowerPoint presentation here:
VIEW THE PRESENTATION
Videos of this April 11, 2022, online MCCF program on the proposed Montgomery County Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget are now available on YouTube:
VIEW VIDEO

FY2019 PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET

Videos of the April 9, 2018, MCCF program on the proposed Montgomery County Fiscal Year 2019 Operating Budget are now available on YouTube:
VIEW PART 1 [59:22]
VIEW PART 2 [35:03]

FY2017 PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET

Here are links to the actual documents:
FY17 OPERATING BUDGET OVERVIEW
FY17 CAPITAL BUDGET | FY17–22 CIP
FY17 RECOMMENDED OPERATING BUDGET
FY17-22 PUBLIC SERVICES PROGRAM
FY17 BUDGET UPDATES
COUNTY OMB BUDGET OVERVIEW
COUNTY OPEN BUDGET WEBSITE

ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING METHODS

This report, Office of Legislative Oversight Report No. 14-9, was submitted to Council and released to public on 7/15/14.
VIEW OLO REPORTS WEBPAGE

FY2014 COUNTY BUDGET TIMETABLE

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett sponsored five budget forums during the months of January and February to seek input from residents about fiscal year 2014 operating budget priorities.  The County Executive released his recommended fiscal year 2014 operating budget on 3/15/13.  The County Council held several public hearing sessions on 4/9-11/13.  Council held series of worksessions on the budget, then took final action on 5/23/13.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE | BUDGET

DISPOSITION OF COUNTY PROPERTY

On 3/13/12 Expedited Bill 11-12 introduced requiring Council approval of disposition of county property valued at $100,000 or more (additional hearing was held 3/27 at 1:30 pm).
■ On 5/1/12, Council approved Expedited Bill 11-12 with amendments by 6 to 3 vote (Council members Floreen, Ervin and Rice opposed); County Executive Leggett vetoed the legislation; and on 5/15/12 Council overrode the veto by 6 to 3 vote.

FY2013 OPERATING BUDGET

County Executive Leggett sponsored a series of public forums across the county in January 2012 seeking comments on the FY2013 Operating Budget, in anticipation of transmitting his recommended budget to Council on 3/15/12.
■ On 3/15/12, County Executive Isiah Leggett transmitted to the County Council his recommended county Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2013 — 7/1/12 through 6/30/13.
VIEW CE FY13 OPERATING BUDGET
VIEW BUDGET IN BRIEF
■ Council held five public hearings on the FY13 Operating Budget: April 10 at 7:00 p.m.; April 11 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and April 12 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
■ On 5/24/12, Council approved $4.6B Operating Budget for FY13.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE

TEACHER PENSION COSTS SHIFTED TO MARYLAND COUNTIES

Governor and General Assembly shifted teacher pension costs to Maryland counties.  In his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2013, released in January, Governor Martin O’Malley proposed shifting one-half the cost of teacher and other pensions to counties.  In April the General Assembly approved the shift.  For Montgomery County, the proposed pension shift will cost $47 million in FY2013 and $315 million over the next five years.

FY13 CAPITAL BUDGET | FY13–18 CIP

On 1/17/12, County Executive transmitted his FY13 Capital Budget and FY13-18 CIP (Capital Improvements Program) recommendations to Council.
CE TRANSMITTAL MEMO
COUNTY OMB WEBSITE

LEGGETT BROKE THE LAW, SAYS ARBITRATOR

On 4/29/11, labor arbitrator Ira Jaffe ruled that County Executive Leggett broke the law when he recommended an FY2012 Operating Budget which cuts benefits and blocks pay raises for police officers; that same day the County filed an appeal of the ruling in Circuit Court.
■ On 5/6/11, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Ronald B. Rubin reversed the decision of the labor arbitrator, stating, “the County Executive has complied with his obligations under the charter.”

BOE CAN IMPOSE PROPERTY TAX

State Bill HB1352 introduced “authorizing county boards of education to impose, by resolution, a property tax to provide funding for public school operation and expenses,” in addition to county property tax.
VIEW EDUCATION ISSUES

FY12 OPERATING BUDGET

On 3/15/11, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett submitted his recommended FY12 Operating Budget to the County Council.  Leggett sponsored five budget forums throughout the County to seek input from residents about Fiscal Year 2012 Operating Budget priorities.  With a projected $300 million budget gap, Montgomery County again faced a challenging fiscal forecast.
VIEW FY12 OPERATING BUDGET
■ Based on unanimous vote of the MCCF Executive Committee, on 5/2/11 the Federation transmitted a letter to Council seeking retention of existing School Resource Officers (police officers assigned to certain public schools) in the FY2012 Operating Budget.
VIEW MCCF LETTER
■ Based on unanimous vote of the MCCF Executive Committee, on 5/2/11 the Federation transmitted a letter to Council requesting that no more cuts be made in the Public Libraries budget in the FY2012 Operating Budget.
VIEW MCCF LETTER
VIEW CE EMAIL RESPONSE
■ On 5/26/11, County Council approved FY2012 Operating Budget — retained six (6) School Resource Officers, and restored some Libraries funding, among other changes to the County Executive’s Recommended Budget.

FY12 CAPITAL BUDGET | FY11–16 CIP

On 1/14/11, the County Executive submitted his recommended FY12 Capital Budget and FY11-16 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Amendments.  This is an “off year” in the biannual CIP schedule, but the Council is in the course of considering these amendments now and will take a final vote on them, along with the Operating Budget, in May 2011.
VIEW CAPITAL BUDGET BREAKOUTS
■ On 5/26/11, County Council approved FY2012 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY11-16 Capital Improvements Program.

OLO BALANCED BUDGET REPORT

Now available online is Office of Legislative Oversight Report 2011-2, “Achieving a Structurally Balanced Budget in Montgomery County, Part 1: Revenue and Expenditure Trends,” released to the County Council on 11/23/10.
VIEW OLO REPORT
■ “Part 2: Options for Long Term Fiscal Balance” was released to County Council on 12/7/10.  [Use link above to access the Report and Executive Summary of this part, too.]

FY12 MCPS FUNDING

See the Education Committee page on this website for information on the legal wrangling between the county Board of Education and County Council on the FY12 funding level for Montgomery County Public Schools.
VIEW EDUCATION ISSUES

ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM COMMISSION FINAL REPORT

The Organizational Reform Commission (ORC), with members appointed in July 2010 by the County Executive and County Council, released its Final Report on 1/31/11.  Commission members presented a briefing on their Report to the Council on 2/1/11.
VIEW COMMISSION WEBSITE
■ In a letter to Council dated 2/21/11, the County Executive responded to the 28 recommendations made by the ORC and provided justification for his position on each, as required by Council Resolution.
VIEW CE’S ORC RESPONSE
■ In a letter to Council dated 2/28/11, Planning Board Chair Carrier commented on the County Executive’s response to several of the ORC recommendations.
VIEW PLANNING BOARD LETTER
■ The week of 3/7/11, County Council committees began worksessions on ORC recommendations within their purview.

RECORD OF LEGISLATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

■ Bill 2-11 introduced in Council on 3/8/11 to eliminate the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission Director position and require the Police Department to provide staff support to the Commission; Council held hearing 3/29/11; disapproved 9-0 on 5/26/11.
■ Bill 3-11 introduced in Council on 3/8/11 to eliminate the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities and the Interagency Coordinating Board for Community Use of Public Facilities and reassign their functions; Council held hearing 3/29/11; disapproved 9-0 on 5/26/11.
■ Bill 4-11 introduced in Council on 3/8/11 to eliminate the Office of the Commission for Women and reallocate certain of its functions, and to provide staff support for the Commission for Women; Council held hearing 3/29/11; disapproved 9-0 on 5/26/11.
■ Bill 5-11 introduced in Council on 3/8/11 to modify the jurisdiction of the county Human Rights Commission; Council held hearing 3/29/11; disapproved 9-0 on 5/26/11.
■ Bill 18-11 introduced in Council on 6/14/11, Police Labor Relations - Duty to Bargain; Council held
hearing 7/12/11; approved 9-0 on 7/19/11.
■ Bill 19-11 introduced in Council on 6/14/11, Collective Bargaining – Public Access; Council held hearing 7/12/11; vote to take place on 7/26/11.  Council disapproved 7/26/11 [7 noes, 1 yea (Andrews), 1 absent (Leventhal).]
VIEW MCCF LETTER OF SUPPORT
■ Bill 20-11 introduced in Council on 6/14/11, Collective Bargaining - Public Accountability - Impasse Arbitration; Council held hearing 7/12/11; vote to take place on 7/26/11.  Council disapproved 7/26/11 [7 noes, 1 yea (Andrews), 1 absent (Leventhal).]
VIEW MCCF LETTER OF SUPPORT

DEALING WITH IMPASSES IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Legislation to create procedures for dealing with impasses in collective bargaining process introduced on 11/23/10 by Council Vice President Ervin, cosponsored by all 8 other members.
■ Expedited Bill 57-10 was unanimously approved on 12/14/10.
VIEW TEXT OF APPROVED BILL

FY11 MID-YEAR BUDGET SAVINGS PLAN

In a 12/2/10 memo to Council, County Executive Leggett requested $36,201,150 in a FY11 Mid-Year Budget Savings Plan.
■ On 12/14/10, Council approved Resolution 17-17 cutting $32,249,170 from current FY budget.
VIEW COUNCIL RESOLUTION
VIEW 12/16/10 MCCF COLUMN ON THIS ISSUE