Neighbors —
Today, my colleagues and I took final action on the County’s budget for next year. This budget funds everything from early childhood education programs, K-12 schools and roads and buses to police, firefighters, dental care, parks, Montgomery College, rental assistance, and much more.
Because there are so many critical items in the $7.1 billion budget, I am going to focus this first (of two) budget newsletters on public schools, economic development, housing and parks. Next week we will tackle transportation, environment, health and human services, and public safety.
Record investment in MCPS
I would like to start by reminding folks: we have an incredible Montgomery County Public School system. The teachers, the administrators, the support staff, parents, and students all contribute to a place we can be proud of.
But like any large institution, we have significant challenges to overcome. We need to close the achievement gap – made worse by the pandemic – faster. Reading and math scores are not high enough to get our students to be career-ready. Drug use and violence in schools must be eliminated. I have visited most schools in my District and many others throughout the County, and without fail, I always hear from staff, students and parents who share their frustrations and needs. Indeed, three of the four schools that will lose Title I funding on July 1st, 2024, are in my District. Losing the status does not mean the need is no longer there; it means there are now schools with more significant needs.
This brings us to the Council’s role in providing the necessary resources to achieve excellence in education.
My colleagues and I approved $3.3 billion in funding for MCPS. That’s a $157 million increase (or 5%) from last year. It’s also $29.6 million more than the County Executive recommended. I fought hard to get as much funding for MCPS as possible in a very tight fiscal climate with elevated needs all across our community.
While I strongly support these record investments in MCPS, I also believe the Council needs to be more proactive in holding MCPS accountable. I look forward to the Council working closely with MCPS in the coming year to make sure there is transparency, accountability and ultimately better educational outcomes to build the next generation of workers.
Economic Development Victories
Since the Economic Development Committee, which I chair, was formed last year, we have been hard at work identifying new and creative ways to support our local economy. Much of this effort has culminated in funding some new initiatives (and existing projects that are delivering results) in this year’s budget. They include:
- My effort to fund two new restaurant permitting inspectors with an innovative funding model that will 1) dramatically speed up restaurant reviews and 2) save the County general fund money
- $6.3 million to support UM3 – Institute for Health Computing. UM3, a partnership of the County and statewide educational institutions, is exploring how artificial intelligence, machine learning and clinical analytics can facilitate knowledge discovery for human health and wellbeing
- $560,000 to support BioHub, an innovative workforce training facility for the life sciences industry. As a side note, these investments towards a strong life science industry in North Bethesda are critical for District 6, particularly as we advocate for the pedestrian trail over the CSX tracks to connect the Randolph Hills neighborhood with the North Bethesda metro station
- $4 million to build out the retail space of the Wheaton M-NCPPC Headquarters, so it can attract tenants. This project is key to revitalizing the Wheaton Urban District and fulfilling the commitment made to residents and local businesses when the Park and Planning building was built
- $450,000 to help spur the redevelopment of the Glenmont Shopping Center. The Council has included funding to purchase a small parcel of land at the Shopping Center that will be aggregated into the larger redevelopment. More to come on this soon!
- WorkSource Montgomery funding in the amount of $2.2 million; it includes their dual-track reentry program at the Clarksburg Correctional Facility that offers participants with the opportunity to engage in transitional employment opportunities
- $4.7 million for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
- More than $2.4 million for Montgomery County’s business incubators to help grow businesses
- $900,000 additional dollars for grants to businesses impacted by the purple line construction
Reversing painful underfunding at Park and Planning
As a former member of the Planning Board, I know well the critical roles the Parks and Planning Departments play in our community. Unfortunately, the County Executive’s recommended budget dramatically underfunded these departments. I fought hard to restore as much funding as we could, and I am pleased that the Council has found a way to restore some vital programs, including:
- Restoring $450,000 to Montgomery Parks for an additional Event Funding position for Park Activation, a Data Analyst to work with all divisions to translate data into actionable information, PROS Plan Implementation Research, and a Grants Administrator
- Restoring nearly $400,000 to Montgomery Planning to support an additional development review position to handle increased activity in the UpCounty and a new Planning Academy to help residents learn about land use and zoning and develop tools to effectively engage in advocacy
Investing in housing affordability
It is far too expensive for far too many folks to live in Montgomery County. That is why I am particularly proud of the investments the Council approved for housing affordability this year. The Council has approved $169 million in FY25 alone to expand and preserve affordable housing, which includes $56.2 million in the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF) and $114 million in capital projects. Some other noteworthy investments are:
- $100 million Housing Production Fund
- $50 million Non-Profit Fund
- $22 Million for Rental Assistance
- Funding to set up the Rent Stabilization Office
- $4 million for the Homeownership Assistance Program
Other key highlights:
- Funding to add two positions to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for increased oversight of MCPS as part of the OIG’s more than $3.6 million overall budget
- $6.8 million for the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County to distribute grants to organizations and individuals to help fund enriching cultural activities in our County and provide the infrastructure and support to maintain a robust creative community
- $52 million for Montgomery County Public Libraries
- $334 million for Montgomery College
- Over $1.9 million in funding for the KID Museum, which is the region’s largest center for maker learning for youth, families and educators
Onward,
Natali Fani-González
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Economic Development Committee
Red Line Station Closures Start on June 1
Folks, we are only a week away from the closing of the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Takoma Metro stations, for scheduled maintenance work. Learn more the project and your transportation options here.
For more background: When I learned that these stations would be closing this summer for maintenance, I spearheaded a letter, signed by the County Executive and my colleagues Council President Friedson, Council Vice President Stewart and Chair of the Transportation & Environment Committee Glass that urged WMATA and the Maryland Department of Transportation to assist commuters by providing a comprehensive shuttle plan and importantly, providing bus-only lanes. Read the letter.
I am thrilled to report that WMATA and Maryland DOT have met the moment and presented a great plan. Some highlights are:
- 7.5 miles of bus only lanes on Georgia Avenue from Glenmont to the DC Line
- Free shuttle buses will run every 4-8 minutes, providing frequent connections to the closed stations
- MARC will offer discounted tickets
Taste of Wheaton returns on June 2
Please join me and the rest of the Wheaton community to get a “taste” of everything Wheaton has to offer. In addition to the delicious food on offer, there will be live music, kids’ rides, art and craft projects and beer and wine garden. Learn more here.