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4.3% Budget Increase Passes in Montgomery
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"I couldn't ask these guys to do what nobody else was willing to do," said council member Marc Elrich (D-At Large).
Even if the school system had been willing to bend, some council members had reservations about tampering with contracts.
In the compromise approved yesterday, the council agreed to leave the contracts untouched; hold the property tax rate at the current level; and trim an additional $16 million from county government and school system operations.
The council voted to exceed Montgomery's charter limit on property tax revenue, which ties increases to the rate of inflation. Although the rate remains 90.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, bills from homeowners will increase on average 13.4 percent because of rising assessments. To ease the effect on homeowners, the council approved a $579 credit for primary residences.
Reversing cuts made by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), council members restored funding for police recruits, community outreach officers and evening staffing at the Glen Echo and Laytonsville fire stations. It put off debate on Leggett's proposal to create an ambulance transport fee and instead increased the local energy tax rate to raise an additional $11 million.
The council also recommended that Leggett consider changing county policy in order to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays at county-operated liquor stores.
The school system will eliminate 66 positions, including 54 central office jobs, Weast said. Only 12 positions will be lost at the county's 200 schools, he said.
Weast said he will recommend that the school board retain about half of the $10 million proposed for new or ongoing academic initiatives in the next academic year, programs that will largely shape his legacy in the county. Weast is in his third four-year term and has said it will be his last.
Work will continue on expanding an academic magnet program at Poolesville High School and introducing the college-preparatory International Baccalaureate program at Kennedy and Seneca Valley high schools. Nearly $1 million will go toward providing more special education staff at neighborhood schools.
