Joint ED/HHS Committee Work Session—April 30—FY11 Operating Budget

A joint meeting of the Education (ED) Committee and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will be held on Friday, April 23, at 9:30AM in the 7th Floor Council Hearing Room to discuss the following item within the FY11 Operating Budget:

• CIP Cost Sharing Project: Old Blair Auditorium
• Early Childhood Services, School Health Services, and Public Private Partnerships - SHARP Street Suspension Services
• Conservation Corp

Should you have any questions, concerns, or issues regarding this joint PHED-HHS Committee session, please contact Saschane Stephenson, Legislative Aide for Health and Human Services, at 240-777-7963 (direct dial) or saschane.stephenson@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Discusses County Budget Issues at Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg attended the monthly meeting of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board held at the Long Branch Community Library on Garland Avenue in Silver Spring.

In her remarks to the Board, Councilmember Trachtenberg discussed a broad range of issues including the recently approved FY10 Savings Plan recommended by the County Executive and the FY11 Operating Budget to be transmitted to the County Council next week. She described the range of possible types of cuts that might be recommended by the Executive and commented that the Montgomery County Government would look very different after the County closes its $761 million budget gap.

With regard to Silver Spring issues, Councilmember Trachtenberg discussed the Silver Spring Library, the Sligo Creek Golf Course Task Force Report, the progress of the Silver Spring Civic Building and Veterans Plaza, the Fillmore Project, the Old Blair Auditorium Project, and the Purple Line. In response to questions from Board members she discussed ambulance fees, transit needs, the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and ways to increase ground level retail in downtown development.

Before the meeting, Councilmember Trachtenberg toured the Long Branch Community Library and observed the very high demand for computer use by residents in the diverse neighborhood. After the meeting, she had dinner at Samantha’s, a popular restaurant near the intersection of Piney Branch Road and University Boulevard. Alan Bowser, our Chief of Staff and a former member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, accompanied Councilmember Trachtenberg to the Long Branch event.

Trachtenberg Office Attends County Executive Budget Forum in Long Branch

The Trachtenberg Office was represented at County Executive Isiah Leggett’s fourth Budget Forum at the Long Branch Community Center in Silver Spring.

At the Budget Forum, the County’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Joe Beach, outlined the challenging budget environment confronting the County for the FY11 fiscal year.

The County Executive discussed the range of revenue and expenditure options that he will consider before he transmits the FY11 Operating Budget to the County Council in mid-March. He reiterated his budget priorities as support for public safety, schools and aid to the most vulnerable.

The Executive also responded to a number of questions from residents regarding support of the MCPS budget, sports academies, the Old Blair Auditorium project, proposed cuts to library services, and a pedestrian bridge to the Silver Spring library.

Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser attended the Budget Forum on behalf of Councilmember Trachtenberg.