Leggett Unveils a $4.8 Billion Montgomery County Budget Proposal

The plan holds the line on property taxes and schools aid and boosts aid for public safety.

A $4.8 billion county operating budget plan unveiled by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Friday holds the line on property taxes and schools spending and adds more than 100 new jobs in public safety and libraries. Leggett (D) presented his budget plan for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1, at a news conference in Rockville. The plan would keep property taxes within the limit allowed by the county charter and below the rate of inflation. Average monthly property taxes would increase by $6.67. Tax-supported government spending would increase by 3.9 percent—less than half the increase in fiscal 2013—to $1.3 billion. Leggett also proposed a slight increase in aid for Montgomery County Public Schools to meet Maryland's maintenance of…

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Fred Foo

10:27 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

It's not as simple as you say. It's important to recognize that while good schools attract people, high taxes repel people. And the people who can most easily afford the taxes can also afford to send children to private schools.   more ›

Report: Councilwoman Valerie Ervin To Join Crowded Race For County Executive

The Silver Spring Councilwoman joins Councilmembers George Leventhal and Phil Andrews, former County Executive Doug Duncan as Democratic candidates, The Washington Examiner reported.

Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, of Silver Spring, announced plans to join an already crowded Democratic field for the 2014 county executive race, The Washington Examiner reported. Ervin joins County Councilmen George Leventhal (At Large) and Phil Andrews (Gaithersburg/Rockville), along with former County Executive Doug Duncan in the race, according to the report. Current County Executive Ike Leggett could still announce a run for re-election. Ervin, 55, said she'd had "serious discussions" with multiple community members, pollsters and media consultants about starting her campaign, according to the report. Read the full story on The Washington Examiner.

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Leggett Hosts Virtual Town Hall Meeting Nov. 21

What questions do you have for the county executive?

  Montgomery County’s virtual town hall meetings kick off again on Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. For an hour, County Executive Isiah Leggett will answer questions through a live chat online. To participate in the question and answer session, residents should enter questions before or during the hour-long chat online here. What questions do you have for Leggett? Will you participate in the discussion?

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Avocado

4:13 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanks for your note about this! I just submitted a question about better enforcing speed limits on Arcola, University, & Georgia. I wish people wouldn't speed through there while I'm trying to be a pedestrian in Wheaton!   more ›

Montgomery County: 'Back To Normal Operations'

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett says the county was spared significant damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett said the county was spared significant damage from Hurricane Sandy and the county's emergency operations and shelters would come to a close at 5 p.m. Tuesday. "News for us today is we're going back to normal operations," Leggett said from the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center in Gaithersburg. "We fared very well compared to other locations." Approximately 10,000 Pepco customers remain without power, with numbers nearing 23,000 at the height of the storm. "Compared to previous events, that's significantly lower," Leggett said. The county executive praised Pepco for its proactive efforts in preparing for the storm. The utility service provider brought in a considerable amount of help, and …

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Parsons on Politics

Lemonade Warriors

With so many issues left unresolved, you'd think Montgomery County could do a better job at picking its battles.

Sometimes you just have to wonder about the politics of this place. Our local economy is sputtering again, the housing market is flirting with a double-dip, our transportation system is getting more congested and crumbling around us, and local and state budgets are showing years of red ink ahead. Yet, amid all of these truly important issues, what has prompted the most vigorous response from Montgomery County officials lately? Prohibiting fire and rescue personnel from "passing the boot" to raise money for muscular dystrophy and cracking down on illicit lemonade stands at the U.S. Open.  Wow, I sure feel a lot better, how about you? I have always wondered about this "passing the boot" issue. As I understand it, such solicitations are not …

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Residents Give Feedback on 2012 Budget in Anticipation of Shortfall

The meeting with County Executive Ike Leggett in downtown Silver Spring was the second of five planned budget forums throughout January.

Montgomery County's public schools and other county services were high on the list of concerns of Silver Spring residents who attended Thursday evening's public forum on the 2012 budget. More than 100 people packed into two rooms at the civic center in Veterans Plaza for Thursday's meeting, the second of five public meetings with County Executive Ike Leggett about the FY2012 budget and the county's expected $300 million shortfall. Before hearing from residents, Joe Beach, the director of the Montgomery County Office of Management and Budget, offered a brief visual presentation that outlined the current budget situation, including an explanation of how the budget process works, a breakdown of the FY11 budget and the shortfall challenges …

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tony hausner

6:16 pm on Friday, January 14, 2011

I also feel leggett gave very good responses to comments. well handled session   more ›