"We can balance this budget without doing it on the backs of our most essential employees," said Councilmember Ervin.  "We are talking about our County's most valuable resources--police officers and firefighters, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our community, and teachers and support staffs who educate our children." 

A recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Economic Policy Institute study[1],  reports that Maryland experienced the 7th-largest increase in income inequality among the 50 states over the last 20 years.  In addition, Census Bureau data shows a real per capita income change in the five richest Montgomery County neighborhoods and the five poorest neighborhoods between 1989 and 1999, extrapolated in 2007 dollars.  The five richest neighborhoods saw a 15 percent increase in real per capita income during those 10 years while the five poorest neighborhoods saw a 12 percent drop.

"As County Government continues to implement regulations which drive up the cost of housing, policy makers need to make sure that our workers are being paid a fair wage," according to Councilmember Ervin.  "Now more than ever, we need to support our employees.  Many workers in lower pay categories are living pay check to pay check, and we can't afford to push these individuals over the edge financially."    

According to Councilmember Ervin, these workers include people that we rely on every day, but often take for granted, such as bus drivers, library assistants, correctional and security officers and janitorial staff.  "These workers pay their fair share of taxes like other residents of this County," said Ervin.  "It's not an all or nothing situation.  We have to find the right balance between the services all of our residents need and the workers we rely on every day who make our County great."     

Forty-two percent of MontgomeryCounty's Public School teachers live outside of the county.  Councilmember Ervin believes that this indicator shows that individuals who work in MontgomeryCounty's Public School System cannot afford to live in the County.  Councilmember Ervin believes that the proposed salary reductions threaten the  County's tradition of excellence in public education.  According to Montgomery County's Collaboration Council's 2007 Data Book, of the 25 counties with the highest median incomes in the United States, Montgomery County has the highest percentage of poor children.

In many parts of District 5 (Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton and Kensington), which Councilmember Ervin represents, people are suffering financially, and this is not a new trend.  Census data shows that residents living in Silver Spring-Oakview had their per capita income go down by 20 percent.  In Langley Park, incomes went down 13.7 percent during this same period.  These numbers show that wage disparity is not a new phenomenon in this County.
 
These factors, combined with the regional slow down in the economy that is expected over the next 6-8 months, will dramatically impact working families.  The current rate of growth for 2008 is estimated at 2.9 percent, which is the lowest rate since the recession of 2001.    

"Like many people who live in our County, I know what it means to struggle to make ends meet," said Councilmember Ervin.  "Early in my life, when I was raising my son on my own, I worked at Safeway as a grocery checker.  It was hard work but it paid a fair wage.  At the time, I was also a member of a union, which enabled me to get excellent health insurance benefits.  I would not have been able to afford these benefits on my own.  From this experience, I know how important a fair wage and benefits package is for our employees and their families."