Naomi Bloch represented the Trachtenberg office last night at the fifth and final County Executive’s FY 11 Operating Budget Forum. Last night’s forum was co-sponsored by the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board and held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda.
This event was broadcast LIVE on County Cable Montgomery and was heavily attended with many people having to stand. After an overview presentation of the FY 11 Operating Budget by Ms. Beryl Feinberg from the County Executive’s Office of Management and Budget, County Executive Ike Leggett took questions from the audience as well as one question that was emailed in during the live broadcast.
The questions and concerns expressed covered a wide range of topics from pedestrian safety to saving bus routes and cuts to library funding. Several audience members advocated for the continuation of funding for critical health services. There were advocates for people and families dealing with mental illness as well as comments from several people who have received significant help from the Latino Health Initiative. Many of the people who spoke told personal stories that related directly to programs sponsored by the County. At least three of the speakers made their comments via a Spanish-speaking translator provided by County Cable Montgomery.
While discussing the serious challenges facing the County, the Executive brought up once again his belief that if an Ambulance Fee had been implemented when he first urged it three years ago, the County would today have $45 million more in revenues that could have been used to help save some of the very programs and services the audience had been advocating for. Mr. Leggett explained that Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in the Washington, D.C. Region that hasn’t imposed this fee which would be paid for by billing the insurance companies.
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