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* * Urge Governor * * O'Malley to VETO S.B. 745, which will allow "Alcopop" drinks to be sold and marketed as beer products.
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| PUBLIC SAFETY |
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Public safety is one of the most critical services that government can provide. I am pleased to report that the Council restored funding, proposed for elimination by the County Executive, for the following items:
- $1.8 million for the Hillendale Ladder Truck;
- $623,000 for 12 community outreach police officers;
- $688,000 for the January police recruit class of 20 officers; and
- $429,000 for 10 fire recruits. |
| ENVIRONMENT AND PARKS |
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This spring the Council passed groundbreaking legislation to improve the environment and reduce the County's carbon footprint. During the budget, I supported the creation of a $1 million account to be used specifically for programs and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I lead the Council conversation to ensure that these programs included incentives for renters and landlords.
The Council also added $200,000 to the Clean Energy Rewards Program to increase purchases of clean energy and restored $3.8 million to the Parks Department, to keep our trails, courts, camping, activity buildings, Brookside Gardens, the Agricultural Farm Park, and the Wheaton Ice Rink open at current levels. These funds will also continue programs for non-native invasive plants and deer management. |
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Quick Links
Summer 2007 Newsletter | |
| Dear Resident,
Despite the national, regional, and local economic downturn, I am pleased to present the County's $4.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2009. I fought hard to keep property tax increases equitable for homeowners, renters, and businesses, maintain our high-quality education services, and retain essential public safety services. I was also able to secure increased funding for pre-kindergarten programs, small business assistance, the arts, pedestrian safety, mass transit, and the environment. |
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Education
 As Chairwoman of the Education Committee, I fought to maintain essential funding for Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College. The Council was able to provide Montgomery County Public Schools with a 4.3 percent or $85 million increase from Fiscal Year 2008; however, faced with funding shortfalls, the Council was forced to make program reductions totaling $27 million. MCPS has to serve more special education students and children who are eligible for free and reduced meals. These are serious challenges. I will continue to advocate for programs that work for all of our County's children, such as universal pre-kindergarten, universal breakfast, and projects aimed at ending the achievement gap. The School Board will now allocate how these resources are spent. The Council approved a Fiscal Year 2009 Operating Budget for Montgomery College of $257 million, which is an 8 percent increase from 2008. Many essential services were restored including funding for 18 faculty positions, educational programs, and campus bus services. With federal and state aid decreasing and enrollment increasing, the County must step up to close the funding gap so that our students can continue to get the quality education that they deserve and that our residents expect. We have to do more with less, but continue to ensure that our children receive a top-notch education. | |
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Transportation and Pedestrian Safety
Transportation improvements for all modes of transit are critical to improving our quality of life and the environment. For fiscal year 2009 I secured funding for:
- Design and construction of the up-county bus depot, which will allow for 150 new Ride On buses ($60 million).
- Design and construction of the South Entrance to the Bethesda Metro Station ($55 million).
- Improved pedestrian safety along the County's four highest incident corridors, three of which are in District 5 ($800,000), and funds to re-assess pedestrian signal timing at all County intersections ($175,000). Both of these items were included in the County's Pedestrian Safety Initiative, which I proposed with the County Executive. - Bikeway maintenance ($250,000) and the RideOn super fareshare program ($490,000). - Study to improve access to Nolte Park as part of the Dale Drive sidewalk project from Mansfield Road to Hartford Avenue. |
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Local Small Business Assistance
This past year, I met with local small business owners and community leaders throughout District 5 to learn about their needs. I am proud to have secured funding for two important programs.
- $68,000 to work with the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) to expand the Local First Wheaton program and create a Local First program for Silver Spring.
- Secured an additional $50,000 to assist local small business impacted by re-development. |
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Community Service and the Arts
District 5 and the County has many unique community and arts orgaizations. It was my pleasure to work to ensure that these organizations recieved the funds necessary to conduct their vital work in our community. These efforts included:
- $344,000 for Mobile Medical Care (Medical services for the under and un-insured) - $228,000 for Adventist Community Services and the Department of Recreation to operate the Piney Branch Pool - $165,000 for Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center - $110,000 for Class Acts Arts- $92,000 for Proyecto Salud (Project Health) - $80,000 for Community Bridges- $72,000 for the Jewish Social Service Agency- $64,000 for the Long Branch Athletic League- $55,000 for Emerging Communities ($11K for the Silver Spring Regional Service Center) - $53,000 for the Spanish Catholic Center - $50,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society- $50,000 for the Jubilee Association of Maryland- $42,000 for the YMCA of Greater Washington- $35,000 for the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition- $30,000 for Liberty's Promise- $27,000 for Inwood House- $25,000 for Ministries United of Silver Spring/Takoma Park- $22,000 for CASA of Maryland (Wheaton Workers' Center) - $20,000 for the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation- $18,000 for the Somali American Community Association | |
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Thank you for all of your letters of support this budget season. I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood this summer.
Sincerely, 
Valerie Ervin
240-777-7960 |
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County Council Approves FY 09 Budget: Councilmember Ervin secures funding for education, transportation and pedestrian safety, and local initiatives to improve District 5
