One of the most compelling elements of the budget drama was its impact on the county’s most important government institution: its public schools.
The School System
The schools are a unique part of county government in four ways. First, their policies are set by a separate group of elected officials – the Board of Education. Second, the Superintendent is extremely powerful both by the nature of his position and, in the specific case of Jerry Weast, by the nature of his personality, intelligence and longevity. Third, the school system’s three unions – the teachers, SEIU Local 500 (which represents support staff) and the supervisors – are very influential and can move the schools’ political agenda in ways that its administrators cannot. Finally, school funding is protected by the state’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) law, which requires counties to match the prior year’s per-pupil local funding to be eligible for state aid increases. For all of these reasons, the school budget is harder for the County Executive and the County Council to cut than the rest of the government. When the system’s needs clashed with the gigantic budget deficit, it was truly a case of an irresistible force colliding with an immoveable object.
This time, the immoveable object gave way under enormous pressure. Soon after the school board approved Weast’s $2.263 billion budget, the school system opened negotiations with the Executive branch over what the Executive’s proposal to the council would be. Weast’s budget met MOE requirements, but the Leggett administration needed a lower number to make the rest of the budget work. The two agreed on a $137 million cut from the school budget and the Executive transmitted this to the council. But then three things happened: a revenue writedown, warnings from bond rating agencies about the county’s AAA rating and the County Council’s reconciliation list. The first two added pressure for more cuts, while the last item requires explanation.
Every year, the budget process begins when the Executive sends a proposal to the council. The council then goes about adding spending items back in, which go onto a document called a “reconciliation list.” The cost of the items on that list must be reconciled, or paid for, by tax hikes or spending cuts elsewhere in the government. This year’s list contained $15 million of spending added to the Executive’s proposal. At one point, it was more than $22 million.
The school system was furious at the prospect that the County Council might take the money needed for its reconciliation items out of the schools’ budget. In the system’s view, they had already agreed to go below MOE by $137 million and to support the county’s application for a state waiver. Now the council wanted even more money to support items that the school system saw as frivolous. This was part of the motivation for Weast’s threat of litigation. He simply believed he had given up enough.
The county came much closer to litigation than most people knew. Last Wednesday at 11 AM, word went out through Rockville that the school board was calling a press conference at 1 PM to announce a lawsuit. The council was scheduled to take a straw vote on the budget at 1:30 PM. This set off a mad scramble among elected officials and school system leaders to cut a deal. At that point, only $1.6 million separated the two sides. The council came down by $600,000 and the deal was set: the schools would suffer an extra $24.4 million in cuts from the Executive’s budget. Weast and the school board GRUDGINGLY accepted it and disaster was averted.
The school system fared decently. It did not suffer nearly as big a cut as most county agencies and its employees will not be subject to furloughs. It now accounts for 57% of the county’s budget, its highest percentage in recent memory. But the conflict has had a steep medium-term cost. One Rockville source put it this way:The threat of litigation was the single most dangerous and stupid miscalculation Jerry Weast has ever made. Had the school system gone ahead and sued the county, it is highly likely the Wall Street rating agencies would have downgraded the county’s General Obligation bond rating. This would have increased the cost of borrowing for the capital budget and slowed the county’s ability to modernize and replace aging school buildings. Even with the litigation threat removed, the county is not out of the woods in terms of the risk of a downgrade…
Another spy added:
While the school system’s legal argument was shaky to begin with, the fact that it now will not sue completely discredits their argument. Never again can they make the dubious claim that the County Council has no right to reduce the schools’ appropriation below the amount recommended by the County Executive because a judge will rightly ask, “But the council did precisely that in 2010. Why didn’t you challenge them then?”Weast so overplayed his hand he almost brought everyone down with him.
For all his talent, record of achievement and force of personality, Jerry Weast has hit the end of the road with the County Council. The council’s Education Committee chair openly calls him a “Rogue Superintendent.” Few if any Council Members trust his budget numbers. When he claims to submit a “bare bones budget,” no one on the council believes him even if it is true. All of them think Weast has squirreled away secret stashes of money in his $2+ billion budget. There is no longer any fear of Weast in Rockville as even his long-time allies at the Washington Post threw him under the bus less than two months after asking the county to keep him on. Whether Weast’s approach is right or wrong, he and the council are now oil and water that will never mix again.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at the unions.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Consequences of the Budget, Part Two
Monday, May 24, 2010
Owings Mailer to Business
Democratic Governor candidate George Owings sent this mailer to business owners on Friday. In it, he says:
Small Businesses are not anywhere near a priority for Martin O’Malley. We all know that Maryland is a reliably blue state, and so there is a good chance that in November a Democrat will be back in Government House. Martin is licking his chops at a second chance to bankrupt our state and our families.Sheesh, folks, Owings is tougher than Ehrlich!
Atterbeary Breaks Campaign Rules – Twice
District 18 Delegate candidate Vanessa Atterbeary has broken two campaign rules in less than a month. She is off to a fast start – at least when it comes to illegal campaigning!
Right at the end of April, Atterbeary sent this robocall to District 18 voters:Vanessa Atterbeary, candidate for Maryland House of Delegates, District 18. This week, I announced my candidacy because District 18 needs a strong advocate for women, children and family priorities. For a real voice, vote for me, Vanessa Atterbeary. Now is the time. Thank you, and remember to vote for Vanessa Atterbeary for District 18 and for Montgomery County.
Section 1-101 of Maryland’s election code defines campaign materials as “any material that… relates to a candidate” and includes “an oral commercial campaign advertisement,” in other words, robocalls. Section 13-401 requires all campaign materials to include authority lines listing the name of the campaign finance entity and the name and address of the campaign treasurer. The address may be omitted if it is on file with the State Board of Elections or if the material is too small to include it, but the name of the treasurer must always be stated.
We have caught many violations of the authority line rule over the history of our blog, and now Atterbeary joins the likes of Delegate Luiz Simmons (D-17), Robin Ficker, the Parents Coalition, Help Save Maryland and various anonymous attack dogs. (Ficker has already endorsed Atterbeary.)
But that is not all. Atterbeary’s campaign has also placed countless illegal campaign signs around the district. State Highway Administration regulations state that political signs “may not be placed in the median or within SHA right-of-way, just as other signs are prohibited.” County regulations also prohibit signs in medians on county roads and mandate their placement at least 100 feet from intersections if they are in the public right-of-way.
Here are a few examples of these illegal signs.
There have been many others placed on the Connecticut Avenue median, at bus stops, at the Connecticut-University intersection and even at the Connecticut-Beltway interchange. At one point, Atterbeary’s illegal signs outnumbered all the legal campaign signs in the district!
Everyone is entitled to run for office, but no one is entitled to break the law. The Atterbeary campaign should apologize to the citizens of District 18 and run a legally compliant race from this moment forward.
Disclosure: The author is the Treasurer of the District 18 Democratic Team.
Police, Fire Fighters Picket Navarro Fundraiser
Council Member Nancy Navarro won last year’s District 4 special election with lots of labor support. But that did not stop members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35 and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1664 from picketing her fundraiser in Silver Spring’s Forest Glen Seminary yesterday. Navarro, along with the rest of the council, decided to furlough public safety workers after County Executive Ike Leggett recommended furloughs only for non-public safety employees. If the police and fire fighters will do this to Navarro, they will take on anyone. We have photos below.
Consequences of the Budget, Part One
The FY 2011 budget passed by the Montgomery County Council is an historic event. Many things that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago happened at the same time: double digit funding reductions in many departments, no pay increases for employees, furloughs, repeal of a negotiated pension benefit, serious questions about the county’s AAA bond rating and an absolute drop in county spending. This was a moment when the unreal became all too real.
Let’s understand that few of the above decisions were made willingly. The nearly billion dollar deficit was created by a horrendous recession and a resulting massive drop in income tax collections. Suddenly, the county’s tax base was nowhere large enough to support the $4+ billion government it had built up in good times over prior years. Some, like County Executive Ike Leggett, Council Members Marilyn Praisner and Phil Andrews and a few merit staffers had warned that the big spending increases approved during Doug Duncan’s last term would be unaffordable over the long run. But no one believed the crash would hit with such acute and devastating force.
The County Executive proposed a Fiscal Year 2011 budget that reduced county spending by 3.5%. The budget passed by the council contained an overall reduction equaling that amount, but there were differences with the Executive’s proposal. For the record, here is a comparison between the Executive’s last budget of April 22 and the final budget passed by the council.
The events of the last few months will have wide-ranging implications in a variety of ways. First, the specific tax hike chosen by the county to help close the deficit will have dire competitive consequences. Second, the County Council’s relationship with the school system and the unions has fundamentally changed over the medium term. Third, the extremely serious challenges for the county’s long-run financial viability are becoming impossible to put off. And finally, all of the above will have political impact. Over the course of this week, we will examine each of these items in turn.
Taxes
The most consequential decision in the budget process was one that was made by both the County Executive and the County Council very early on: not to break the charter limit on property taxes. The county’s charter requires a supermajority vote by the council to raise property taxes above the rate of inflation. The council voted to break that limit four times in seven years (FY 2003-2005 and FY 2009) in fiscal times that were not nearly as bad as now. The voters replied by passing the Ficker Amendment, which raised the supermajority required to break the limit from seven council votes to all nine. County elected officials perceived pushback from the electorate and vowed not to break the limit again – especially not in an election year.
This decision had a powerful impact on the budget. Property taxes account for 51% of all local tax revenues. The county already charges the maximum amount allowed by state law – 3.2% - on its income tax and that accounts for another 39% of local taxes. So now 90% of the county’s revenues were off the table for increases. The energy tax, which accounts for just 5% of local taxes, was the biggest remaining revenue item and so the executive branch targeted it for a hike.
But the problem with the energy tax is that it disproportionately impacts business customers, who pay 73% of the total levy. The Executive originally proposed increasing the tax by 39.6%. But warnings by bond rating agencies prompted him to revise the increase to 63.7% and a revenue writedown caused him to propose doubling it.
A council memo illustrated the devastating competitive consequences of that idea. Here is a comparison of the rates commercial customers would pay between different jurisdictions if MoCo’s energy tax had been doubled.
In the end, the council increased the tax by 85% but split the increase 50-50 between residents and businesses. Business customers faced a 58% tax hike. One council source explained it this way:I think the decision to reduce the energy tax for the business community was a significant move for a council that is often thought of as anti-business. We reduced it by 42% from what Ike originally proposed through a combination of reallocation to residential customers (i.e., voters) and reduction of the overall tax by 15%. Ike’s proposal was almost obscene in terms of its impact on small business.
That may be true, but because the county made a political decision to avoid the property tax, it instead chose to rely on a job-killing measure that targets employers to help close its budget gap. (Fairfax chose to raise its property tax rate to deal with its own budget crisis.) Even with the reduction in the energy tax hike passed by the council, MoCo charges a FAR higher rate than its competitors. And MoCo raised this tax right after losing Northrop Grumman. Here is a transcript of a conversation between two business owners that will almost certainly take place at the next board of trade networking luncheon.Business Owner A: “I’ve maxed out on my office space and am looking to move. What do you think about Montgomery County?”
This sort of talk will go on for a long, long time and will be a BIG problem in attracting jobs. No new economic development authority will compensate for it.
Business Owner B: “They have a big, liberal government that spends a lot of money. And when they get into trouble, they sock it to business.”
Business Owner A: “Guess I’m not moving there!”
We’ll look at the schools tomorrow.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Roger Manno's Defining Moment
Folks, you are not going to see very many campaign videos like this one from Manno's Senate kickoff.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Valerie Ervin Endorses District 18 Democratic Team
Council Member Valerie Ervin issued this statement in endorsing the District 18 Democratic Team of Senator Rich Madaleno and Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez, Jeff Waldstreicher and Al Carr:
As the Vice President of the Montgomery County Council and the member who represents this community, I know how important it is to work with elected leaders who get up every day to fight in Annapolis on our behalf. They advocate for those who have no voice and they understand the issues that are important to all of us here in the district.
That is why I enthusiastically endorse the District 18 Democratic Team of Senator Madaleno and Delegates Carr, Sol Gutierrez and Waldstreicher. Together, they have provided the unwavering leadership to create jobs and educational opportunities for working families in Montgomery County.
Leggett Celebrates a “Vision to Reality”
County Executive Ike Leggett is holding a fundraiser entitled “Celebrate Vision to Reality with Ike Leggett.” That’s right, folks:
Vision
To
Reality
Can anyone explain what that means??
Here’s the solicitation.
The Caretaker
By Marc Korman.
On May 12th the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, pursuant to the Maryland Constitution, forwarded the name of Karen Britto to Governor O’Malley for appointment as delegate for District 16. I have had the opportunity to get to know Karen over the past seven years as a District 16 resident, Young Democrat, and now as a fellow member of the Central Committee.
Karen Britto is sworn in as Delegate from District 16.
Last month, the Central Committee adopted a rule stating a preference for a caretaker, someone who would pledge not to run for a full term in the fall, for vacancies in circumstances such as these where the final legislative session of a term is over and the filing deadline has not yet passed. Karen Britto publicly pledged not to run for the Delegate seat in the fall. She also pledged to donate her legislative salary to community service organizations.
Karen’s professional resume, largely working as an advocate and lobbyist in Washington, could match any freshman legislator’s. But her political involvement is how most of us know her. Karen was first appointed to fill a vacancy on the Central Committee in the 1990s. When George Leventhal, then chair of the committee, stepped down to run for the Council, Karen stepped up and was appointed chair. She has held that role for approximately nine years.
Those nine years have been very successful for Democrats in Montgomery County. It is easy to assume that our strongly progressive community will automatically vote Democratic. But that is not the case. Under Karen’s leadership, our local party has: an office open year round with staff; a full precinct organization; a vibrant community service program; active voter registration activities; and much more. And those are just the ongoing activities and do not include the Party’s many election season activities. The County is also now represented on the Council and in Annapolis entirely by Democrats. By comparison, after the 1998 election three of nine council members were Republican and there were three Republican State Senators and four Republican Delegates representing the County (to be fair, many of those were districts split between counties we no longer have).
But all of that work is the public Karen Britto. I have also gotten a chance over the past seven years to work closely with Karen. Behind the scenes, Karen is broadly and correctly viewed as an excellent political strategist and advisor to many local politicians (and aspiring politicians). She is always generous with her time and insightful suggestions.
When I moved home to Maryland in 2003 and became involved in the Montgomery County Young Democrats, Karen was a regular presence at our events and meetings. When I served as president of that organization in 2006, no one was quicker to offer suggestions or donate to our annual summer dinner than Karen. The next year, when Paul Mandell stepped down from the Central Committee, Karen was supportive of my effort to win the appointment to succeed him. Since being appointed, I have tried to follow Karen’s example of local engagement, dedicated progressivism, and hard work.
I do not want to overstate the role Karen will play as a caretaker Delegate. District 16 is ably represented by Senator Frosh and Delegates Lee and Frick and there is little work to be done for a new Delegate with no desire for reelection between now and January. But both as an honor for her, and in case her services are needed for legislation and constituent service, Karen Britto is a great pick for the caretaker role.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Delegate Anne Kaiser Announces Campaign Kickoff
District 14 has two open Delegate seats, but no one believes that Delegate Anne Kaiser is in any danger. She is the district's most popular and effective state legislator. But Kaiser is taking nothing for granted. She is running on a slate with Senator Rona Kramer and Delegate candidate Craig Zucker and has scheduled a campaign kickoff event headlined by County Executive Ike Leggett. Following is her announcement.
The pleasure of your company and the honor of your support is requested at the
Eighth Annual Jazz Reception & Dinner & Election Kick-off
In honor of
Delegate Anne Kaiser
Featuring the Dave Cosby Trio
With special guest:
The Honorable Isiah “Ike” Leggett
COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Thursday, June Third
TWO THOUSAND TEN
SIX THIRTY TO EIGHT THIRTY IN THE EVENING
The Olney Theatre
2001 OLNEY SANDY SPRING ROAD
OLNEY, MD
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: $1,000
PLATINUM: $500
GOLD: $250
SILVER: $150
BRONZE: $75
NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE
E-MAIL
NUMBER OF GUESTS (INCLUDING YOU)
THE FAVOR OF A REPLY IS REQUESTED BY JUNE 1.
REMIT CHECKS PAYABLE TO KAISER FOR DELEGATE TO:
3100 NORTH LEISURE WORLD BOULEVARD, SUITE 501, SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20906.
FOR DIRECTIONS, PLEASE CALL: 301-890-4422.
BY AUTHORITY: KAISER FOR DELEGATE, DOUG WALLICK, CHAIR; MARIAN KAISER, TREASURER.
County Council Passes Budget
The County Council voted to approve a new operating budget today by 7-2, with Council Members Phil Andrews and Mike Knapp dissenting. Following is the council's press release.
Montgomery County Council Agrees to $4.3 Billion Total Operating Budget for FY11
4.5 Percent Decrease for All-Agencies Budget Is First Since Adoption of County Charter in 1968
Tax-Supported Budget of $3.66 Billion Is 4.9 Percent Decrease; Approximately 450 County Government Positions Eliminated
Schools, Public Safety, ‘Safety Net’ Are Priorities; Property Tax Stays Within Charter Limit; $692 Tax Credit for Homeowners
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 20, 2010—In an austere year caused by the deep recession, the Montgomery County Council today approved a $4.3 billion total County operating budget for Fiscal Year 2011, which begins July 1. The budget is 4.5 percent less than the approved budget for FY10, marking the first decrease in a total budget since the adoption of the current County Charter in 1968.
Since March 15, when County Executive Isiah Leggett presented his recommended budget, the Council has worked to achieve equity in the allocation of limited funds. On Wednesday, the Council unanimously agreed to reduce the budget for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) by $24.4 million, 1.3 percent less than proposed by the Executive. These funds will be used to mitigate deep cuts in the safety net and other vital services, including Montgomery College.
At today’s meeting, the Council voted to restore a number of significant items to the budget, including key additions that address health and human services needs. Items added today include additional funding for the Montgomery Cares, the Patient Navigator program, MCPS school health room aides, residential treatment providers, the Community Vision program, Parent Resource Centers, residential treatment provider supplements and the Mental Health Association suicide hotline. Funds also were restored so that contracts for health services would be reduced by 5 percent, instead of the 7 percent recommended by the Executive.
The budget re-establishes the reserve at 6 percent, which should help maintain the County’s AAA bond rating. The reserve was reduced to 5 percent in FY10.
The overall tax-supported budget of $3.66 billion reflects a decrease of $190.3 million from the FY10 adopted budget, a decrease of 4.9 percent. This is the second consecutive year the tax-supported portion of the budget has decreased.
“In this austere budget year, we are all in this together,” said Council President Nancy Floreen. “Despite a record drop in revenue, we have worked to develop a budget that is fair – fair to our residents who rely on County services, fair to taxpayers and fair to employees. We have also increased our reserve, and we are working on a balanced fiscal plan for the next six years.
“In allocating sharply reduced resources, we have given top priority to our school children – the MCPS share of total agency spending is 57 percent, up from 55 percent in FY10 and over the last decade – as well as Montgomery College, public safety and the safety net.”
The Council also approved the total Fiscal Years 2011-16 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) of $3.9 billion. The six-year CIP plan for all agencies (excluding the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) addresses major projects. The approved CIP is an increase of $167 million (4.5 percent) from the previous CIP. The $3.86 billion for the tax-supported part of the CIP is an increase of $197.5 billion (5.4 percent) from the previous CIP. The CIP for Montgomery County Public Schools increased by about 10 percent, including funds for 28 new schools and additions (including 11 projects new to this CIP).
In a budget year complicated by the national and regional economic downturn, the Council’s budget protects core services and “safety net” programs, but does not exceed the County’s Charter Limit on property tax revenue. The budget includes a $692 property tax credit for owner-occupants of principal residences. It freezes pay for employees of County government, Montgomery College, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and MCPS.
Employees at all agencies except MCPS will be asked to take unpaid furlough days in FY11. Furloughs for County Government employees, including elected officials, will be progressive: three days for employees whose salaries are less than $50,000; five days for those with salaries of $50,000 to $100,000; and eight days for those with salaries greater than $100,000.
The budget includes a plan to consolidate recreation facility and athletic field permitting, class/program registration and additional recreation programs into County Government from the Department of Parks to create a more streamlined and user-friendly system for County residents. The Council believes this consolidation, over time, will lead to budget savings and operational efficiencies.
Councilmember statements on the budget agreement:
Councilmember Phil Andrews: “Although I strongly support the Council's decisions to eliminate pay increases and furlough employees to minimize layoffs, I cannot vote for an operating budget that most unwisely relies on revenues from ambulance fees that will likely be rejected on referendum and that hikes energy taxes on homeowners by 150 percent."
Councilmember Roger Berliner: “In the most difficult and painful year in our County’s history, our task was to allocate pain equitably. If we are measured by that standard, I believe we performed well in respect to our responsibility.”
Councilmember Marc Elrich: “Today the Council ended an extraordinarily difficult budget process in which we reduced spending from last year’s budget by 4.5 percent. This could not have been done without the very close collaboration of my colleagues. But most importantly we had the cooperation of the County employee unions who gave up cost of living raises, length of service step increases and will get an average of five furlough days. In addition, 450 County employees will lose their jobs. Even with these sacrifices, we have been forced to make major cuts to county services while raising new revenues to address the challenges of an almost $1 billion deficit. I will continue to push efforts to reorganize and restructure County Government because our long-term sustainability depends on our ability to achieve all possible efficiencies.”
Council Vice President Valerie Ervin: "As a former member or the Board of Education and Chair of the Council's Education Committee, I know there has been a lot of anxiety about the additional $24.4 million in cuts to the school system; however, I am confident that this reduction will not impact the classroom. We always put children first, and this Council has protected the services that children need each day. In addition to providing a top-notch education, many children and their families rely on Montgomery County for health care, housing assistance, and transportation.
"We are partners with the Board of Education, and we must work together to repair any damage to our working relationship that has occurred over the last several weeks. The future of our County depends upon our leadership and this collaboration."
Councilmember Mike Knapp: “While this budget is significantly more responsive to the needs of our residents than the one proposed by the County Executive, it still relies too much on tax increases, tenuous assumptions and one-time solutions—which all but guarantees that we will be addressing many of the same issues a year from now. I appreciate the work that has gone into this budget, but regret that, ultimately, I cannot support it.”
Councilmember George Leventhal: “In his 1996 State of the Union message, President Bill Clinton said, ‘The era of big government is over.’ Many of his liberal supporters were dismayed, but we face a similar moment in Montgomery County today. President Clinton said further, ‘The era of big government is over. But we can't go back to the era of fending for yourself. We have to go forward to the era of working together as a community, as a team, as one America, with all of us reaching across these lines that divide us—the division, the discrimination, the rancor—we have to reach across it to find common ground. We have got to work together if we want America to work.’ In Montgomery County today, we know we must reorient our expectations and reinvent county government so that our taxpayers can afford it. As we look ahead to the years to come when we must develop a long-range plan for economic sustainability, I am optimistic – just as President Clinton was -- that our future will be bright if we work together.”
Councilmember Nancy Navarro: “In order to create this budget, my colleagues and I had to make many difficult decisions and some important changes to the County Executive’s proposed budget. Recognizing the importance of our public school system, we approved a final budget for Montgomery County Public Schools that amounted to only a 1.3 percent reduction from its FY10 budget, while increasing its capital budget by 10 percent. I am confident that our School Board and Superintendent Jerry Weast will institute any necessary reductions in a manner that minimizes any impact on schoolchildren. My two daughters are MCPS students and I served on the Board for five years, so I know that their education is in good hands.”
Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg: "Serving on the Montgomery County Council has been a continuation of my life's work to represent our most vulnerable citizens and to give them a voice in policy and budget decisions. As I've often stated, they are not strangers to us, for they are the neighbors and friends and sometimes family members who ride our buses, receive a free meal at the senior center, or seek shelter and refuge in time of crisis. In this year's budget, the Council has once again demonstrated its commitment to putting people first. Despite the reversal of economic fortune, we have prioritized the needs of our citizens and there is no wiser investment in our future than that.
“In the months ahead, the Council will need to define a sustainable fiscal plan; an improved reserve fund policy; a collaborative effort to address our very large compensation and benefit obligations; and a constructive approach in consolidating and restructuring our County service delivery. We must succeed in these efforts for our residents deserve nothing less."
Key Council Actions Regarding FY 2011 Montgomery County Operating Budget:
Police
§ Increased the July 2010 candidate class from 30 to 36 at a cost of $278,100. This would allow those who have already received job offers the opportunity to move forward in the hiring process, since the January 2011 class has been abolished.
§ Restored $126,920 to retain the four Police satellite facilities at Olney, Piney Branch, East County and Clopper Road
Montgomery College
§ Restored $2.5 million for enrollment growth and $1.9 million for operation of new facilities
Health and Human Services
§ Restored $112,000 for the Patient Navigator program
§ Restored $462,340 for the Montgomery Cares program, allowing for an additional 70,000 primary care visits retaining the current reimbursement rate of $62
§ Restored $183,300 for Fund 3 Eligibility Screeners
§ Increased funding $70,000 for Respite Care
§ Restored $1,541,340 for School Health Room Aides
§ Restored $66,530 for residential treatment providers
§ Restored $218,790 for the Community Vision program
§ Restored $48,120 for Parent Resource Centers
§ Provided $487,010 so contracts to health providers would be reduced by 5 percent instead of 7 percent
§ Provided $165,000 so contracts for development disability service providers would be reduced by 5 percent instead of 7 percent
§ Provided $20,250 so contracts for residential treatment provider supplements would be reduced by 5 percent instead of 7 percent
§ Restored $25,000 for the Mental Health Association’s suicide hotline
Children Youth and Families
· $21.4 million for Child Welfare Services
· $15 million for income supports for low-income families and individuals in need of food, medical and other assistance
· $4.1 million for services that support youth involved in or at risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system or in need of substance abuse of other services.
· $4.8 million for Linkages to Learning
· $3.8 million for Child Care Subsidies
· $3.5 million for evaluation, assessment, and early intervention services to families with children under age three when there is a concern about development
· $3.1 million for services focused on increasing the quality early care and education programs available to young children
· $1.8 million for positive youth development and gang prevention and intervention for youth at risk of joining or involved in gangs
Arts and Humanities
§ Provided $500,000 for Olney Theatre, available if the theatre meets certain conditions
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
· Voted to consolidate recreation facility and athletic field permitting, class/program registration, and additional recreation programs into County Government from the Department of Parks to create a more streamlined and user-friendly system for County residents. The Council believes this consolidation, over time, will lead to budget savings and operational efficiencies.
· Voted to consolidate the Park Police and the Montgomery County Police communications and dispatch operations
· Restored 95,000 for consulting services for Route 29 Corridor Plan
· Restored $81,900 for the deer management program
Community Grants
§ Approved $968,300 (approximately half of the $1,845,800 approved for Council grants in FY10) for a total of 33 grants to nonprofit organizations to support a variety of programs and services, including food, eviction prevention, utility assistance and other safety net services to help low income families facing severe economic hardships.
This includes programs such as Manna Food Center’s weekend food program for low income school children and A Wider Circle’s donated furniture distribution to low income families.
§ Funded several youth development proposals from community nonprofit organizations working to prevent teen pregnancy, help low income first generation students get into college and provide needed after school programs for County youth.
§ Provided $100,000 to assist with capital improvements for the Ivymount School, a special education school for students with disabilities.
Municipal Tax Duplication
§ Provided $748,820 to restore half of the cut in payments to municipalities recommended on April 22 by the County Executive
Working Families Income Supplement
§ Provided $1 million to restore part of reductions recommended on April 22 by the County Executive
Recreation
§ Restored funding for Summer Teen Programs
Historic Preservation
· Restored $109,420 for the Historic Preservation Commission’s responsibilities
Environment
· Voted along with Prince George’s County Council to increase water and sewer charges for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission by 8.5 percent
· Increased the Water Quality Protection Fund budget to cover the inspection and maintenance of stormwater management facilities transferred into the program
· Increased the Water Quality Protection Fund budget for additional staff to assist in the implementation of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Highlights FY 2011-16 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for MCPS
The FY11-16 CIP adopted by the Council will be just under $4 billion, about 6 percent higher than previous approved CIP. The Montgomery County Public Schools CIP will increase by more than 10 percent. The key changes are:
§ Funds 28 new schools and additions, including the 11 projects new to this CIP: Bradley Hills Elementary addition, Clarksburg/Damascus Middle addition, Clarksburg High School addition,,Clarksburg Village Elementary (new school), Darnestown Elementary addition, Georgian Forest Elementary addition, Somerset Elementary addition, Viers Mill Elementary addition, Waters Landing Elementary addition, Westbrook Elementary addition, Wyngate Elementary addition
§ Adds $6.6 million for one or more additions to elementary schools in the Richard Montgomery Cluster, where MCPS forecasts overcrowding within the next 5 years. In the next year or two the Board of Education will identify where the addition(s) will be built
§ Keeps all 27 school replacement/modernization projects on the Board of Education’s requested schedule
§ Funds $11.3 million in FYs11-12 to build gyms in the remaining 7 elementary schools that do not have them
§ Increases HVAC Replacement funding by $9.4 million (168 percent) in FY11
§ Increases Planned Lifecycle Asset Replacement funding by $1.9 million (45 percent) in FY11
§ Increases funds for ADA Compliance by $0.9 million (87 percent) annually
§ Increases funds for Indoor Air Quality projects by $0.8 million (61 percent) in FY11
§ Adds $6 million to renovate restrooms in 71 schools during FYs11-16
To achieve a balanced budget, the Council took action on several proposals to increase revenue. These actions included:
§ Approved Bill 13-10 that creates the Emergency Medical Services Transport Fee (or ambulance fee) proposed by the County Executive. Bill 13-10 authorizes the County to charge the health insurance companies of those transported by County ambulances between $300 and $800, depending upon the level of care needed. They also will be charged $8.50 per mile of transport. Residents without health insurance will not be charged. It is estimated the fees could raise approximately $12.9 million annually for the County. Fees could be charged as early as July 1.
§ Approved Expedited Bill 29-10, which will make Montgomery County the first County in the nation to create a carbon emissions tax on major emitters of carbon dioxide. The carbon tax, whose chief sponsor is Councilmember Roger Berliner, will require a major emitter of carbon to pay an excise tax of $5 per ton of carbon emitted. Currently, the only impacted emitter would be the Mirant Corporation power plant in Dickerson.
§ Approved a resolution that reflects the County Executive’s proposal to increase the County tax on energy use, including on home heating oil, electric and natural gas. The Executive proposed doubling the energy tax, but the Council reduced the increase to 85 percent. The measure will split the increase between residential and commercial users. The average County household will pay $13 more per month than it currently does, depending upon the type of energy primarily used in the home and the amount of energy used. The bill will sunset after two years.
§ Approved an increase to the current tax on cell phone lines from $2 to $3.50 per line per month.
Ariana Kelly Recruiting for District 16 Delegate Campaign
Former NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland Executive Director Ariana Kelly is recruiting interns for her upcoming campaign for District 16 Delegate. One of our spies spotted the following on a Democratic jobs list.The Ariana Kelly for Delegate campaign is looking for qualified interns who are interested in helping elect Ariana to the Maryland General Assembly. We are looking for Fundraising, Communications, Political and Field Interns. This is a great way to get the needed experience to get started with a career in politics. The internship is unpaid but we will work with you to get school credit. Hours are flexible but we ask that you plan to commit at least 20 hours a week to the campaign. Anyone who is interested should email a cover letter,a resume and hours of availability to Brian Young at [email address withheld].
Leventhal Opens Campaign with Community Conversations
Council Member George Leventhal is kicking off his re-election campaign with a series of twelve “community conversations” around the county. He is also boasting a geographically and demographically diverse list of 85 supporters – and that’s just a start. Following is his mailer.
Pictures of Manno
MPW reader Edward Kimmel has graciously shared his pictures of Roger Manno's Senate campaign kickoff with us. They reveal what a good event this was.
The restaurant Manno's campaign picked for the event was too small for the crowd. They had to occupy multiple rooms and so no photo could capture them all. But here's a sample.
There were about 150 RSVPs. We hear many more came.
From left: Former District 19 Senator Len Teitelbaum, former District 19 Delegates Carol Petzold and Adrienne Mandel and Manno.
Council Member Valerie Ervin.
Delegate Susan Lee (second from left), Council Member Nancy Navarro (center), Delegate Brian Feldman (right).
Diverse district, diverse crowd.
Who knows the candidate better than the woman who used to change his diapers? Manno's mom tells all!
Gold-Plated Executive Pensions at the Washington Post
The Post has been on a tear lately about Maryland’s teacher pension program, calling it “untenable” and a “budget-busting system.” But the state has nothing on the Post’s own pension program for its executives, which is far better than any government employee could ever hope to have.
Washington Post executives qualify for FOUR different pension programs. First, they are enrolled in The Retirement Plan for Washington Post Companies, which is the defined benefit plan in which many company employees are enrolled. Second, they participate in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), which the company says “was designed to retain and recruit key executives. Participants in the SERP, including named executive officers, are selected by management as employees whom management most wants to retain, because of their superior performance, and approved by the [Compensation] Committee.” Unlike the retirement plan for other employees, the SERP uses bonuses in its benefit formula. Third, the SERP contains a supplemental defined contribution plan which functions much like a 401(k), with the company matching executive contributions. And fourth, executives can participate in a deferred compensation plan, which allows them to delay receipt of pay and invest it in their choice of investment indexes until they retire.
Post executives do not need pensions as badly as most people. Their top five executives have collectively been paid $22.6 million over the last three years.
Even so, the company has committed a total of $21.5 million in pension benefits to its top five executives.
Chairman/CEO Don Graham does not participate in the defined contribution or deferred compensation plans, but his family does have the right to elect 70% of the company’s Board of Directors through its nearly exclusive ownership of Class A stock. That means the family controls the company regardless of how much stock is owned by outside investors.
The Post does not detail salaries and benefits for all of its executives in its SEC filings, but it does mention compensation for Katharine Weymouth, the Post’s publisher since February 2008. Weymouth’s salary was $220,000 in 2007, $500,000 in 2008 and 2009 and will be $550,000 starting in April 2010. She received performance bonuses of $108,167 in 2007, $33,263 in 2008 and $462,630 in 2009. The Post’s newspaper division lost $193 million in 2008 and $164 million in 2009, probably the two worst years ever in the history of the paper. As the company cannot possibly be rewarding Weymouth for the newspaper’s financial returns, they must be rewarding her for the infamous “Dinnergate” scandal.
Additionally, the company gave “incentive compensation awards” of $8.0 million to 94 executives in 2007, $5.2 million to 50 executives in 2008 and $16.2 million to 75 executives in 2009. The average size of these awards was $85,106 in 2007, $104,000 in 2008 and $216,000 in 2009.
The Post loves to rant about pay and pensions for public employees while simultaneously showering unending riches on its executives. If the Post truly wants to see Maryland restrain employee pensions, its bosses should lead by example.
Ali and King Debate on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV in MoCo
The debate on "Political Pulse" between MD State Delegate Saqib Ali and MD State Senator Nancy King, who are running for State Senate in the Democratic Primary in Legislative District 39, will air on:
Thurs, May 20th at 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun, May 21st-23rd, at 6:00 p.m. and
Tues, May 25th at 9:30 p.m.
Political Pulse is on Montgomery Municipal Cable on Ch. 16 TV.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Students for Saqib Ali
By Tim Hwang.
In the 2008 Election, unprecedented numbers of youth got involved in the political process to rally around a leader that truly engaged them in the political process - somene that truly valued and weighed their beliefs and opinions as heavily as his own. In these tough times, youth need someone who is willing to stand up for them, casting aside politics, and fight on their behalf even when they have no voice of their own.
Today's youth are facing unprecedented problems in the context of a battered and struggling economy. They face problems of increasing demands in school, an ever decreasing amount of jobs and opportunities in the workforce, and a multitude of other issues as diverse as the county itself. Today's teen has so much on his/her mind (Gangs, Academics, Bullying, Healthcare, Poverty, the Environment) that it can often get overwhelming. Yet, instead of being welcomed by open arms, they have been shut out by the politics of a county and state that continues to operate in the shadows and disrespect the opinions of the student body. In fact, there are those who have even tried to minimalize the student voice in this county as seen by the recent attempt to strip the Montgomery County Student Member of their ability to vote on certain issues and deny their opportunity to be heard (MC 709-07, Requested by Del. Nancy King).
In these difficult times, we need a leader that can stand up for transparency, stand up for the county's largest disenfranchised group, and fight for the futures of every single one of their futures. Saqib Ali has done just that. His work on spearheading increased voting rights for the State Student Member of the Board of Education is a testament to his commitment to youth and his fundamental belief that the system should empower the future of our workforce and our society. His work on protecting youth both in our world-class public schools and in the community and expanding opportunities for students in the workplace while spearheading efforts to offer transparency in Annapolis further exemplify these unwavering ideals.
It was truly a sad day in Montgomery County when the Senate Delegation chose to disenfranchise the student voice by not allowing the Montgomery County Student Member to vote on an expanded list of issues (MC 12-10) even after 30 years of activism and involvement by the students of Montgomery County and overwhelming support from the County (MCEA, Board of Education, MCR, MCJC, etc.). Yet despite the politics and the powerplays of Annapolis, Saqib stayed true to his ideals by not only being an outspoeken supporter of the bill, but also by going above and beyond and co-sponsoring the State Student Member's fight for student rights. He sided alongside a minority in the Senate Delegation not because it was "right for politics" but because it was "right for students". With this determination and commitment in mind, not only am I confident that the Montgomery County Student Member will gain expanded voting rights, but I am confident that the voices of the youth will truly be represented at the State level.
Thomas Jefferson once stated that "Every generation needs a new revolution". The youth of Montgomery County and Maryland need a revolution. They need a revolution for progressive ideals, for new leadership, and for fresh ideas that aren't inhibited by the inner-politics and power struggles of Annapolis. It has been a pleasure to work with Saqib in the House advocating for student rights, and I look forward to seeing him in the Senate as an even more powerful and more outspoken advocate for youth. With this in mind, I wholeheartedly support Saqib Ali for State Senate!
Tim Hwang is the Student Member of the Board of Education.
County Budget Basics in Place (Updated)
The basic items in the FY 2011 budget were settled this afternoon. Here's the rough outline.
Furloughs: All non-school employees, including the police and fire fighters, will be taking furloughs. They will be progressively structured. Employees making $50,000 or less will have to take three days, employees making between $50,000 and $100,000 will have to take five days and employees making over $100,000 will have to take eight days. School system employees will not be furloughed.
School Budget: The schools will be getting $25 million less than the County Executive proposed. MCPS will have to allocate the cut and the county's maintenance of effort waiver application will be amended to reflect it. The school system will not be suing the county.
Energy Tax: The tax will go up by 85%, not 100% as the County Executive proposed. The increase will be split 50-50 between residents and businesses, not 73% towards business as the Executive wanted. The overall increase will be 58% on business. The tax will sunset in two years. Phil Andrews was the only vote against it.
Carbon Tax: Roger Berliner's bill to tax Mirant's Dickerson power plant $5 per ton of carbon emitted passed 8-1 with Mike Knapp voting against.
Ambulance Fee: The council passed it 5-4, with George Leventhal, Mike Knapp, Nancy Floreen, Marc Elrich and Duchy Trachtenberg voting in favor. Trachtenberg had opposed the fee previously.
Reserve: Will be 6% in Fiscal 2011, not a lower amount as the school unions had wanted.
We believe the above budget outline will attract support from at least eight Council Members at the straw vote on Friday.
Update: Here are the Gazette's reports on the school budget and the ambulance fee.
Update 2: The straw vote on the budget is now scheduled for tomorrow at 1:30 PM.
Scott Goldberg Sets Campaign Kickoff for District 16
Scott Goldberg, President of the Montgomery County Young Democrats, is running for Delegate in District 16. He has set his campaign kickoff for Sunday, May 23 in Downtown Bethesda.
Goldberg briefly ran for the District 16 Delegate appointment when Marilyn Goldwater stepped down in 2007. He joins Obama campaign staffer Kyle Lierman and former NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland Executive Director Ariana Kelly in seeking the open seat vacated by retiring Delegate Bill Bronrott.
Hey Scott – we thank you for linking to our blog. But don’t you think you should have at least one picture of yourself on your website? You won’t scare any voters away by doing that!
Elbridge James Endorses District 18 Democratic Team
Elbridge James, Board President of Progressive Maryland and former Vice-President of the Montgomery County NAACP, has endorsed District 18 Senator Rich Madaleno and Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez, Jeff Waldstreicher and Al Carr. Following is the team's press release. (Disclosure: your author is their Treasurer.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adam Fogel, Deputy Campaign Manager
Adam@district18democrats.com
Monday, May 17, 2010—Wheaton, MD—The District 18 Democratic Team announced the endorsement of civil rights activist and Montgomery County community organizer Elbridge James.
Mr. James, a Montgomery County resident since 1971, has had a distinguished career championing civil rights and social justice issues. He serves on the Maryland ACLU’s Legislative Committee, is a former Vice President of the NAACP-Montgomery County Branch, and is Board President of Progressive Maryland. He has also worked closely with Equality Maryland and the Maryland State Education Association. Mr. James is a respected statewide leader, advocating for issues such as living wage, expanded healthcare for working families, and increased funding for secondary education. Mr. James is retired from the University of Maryland-College Park, where he was a human resources specialist. He is currently the Director of the Maryland Black Family Alliance.
Mr. James released the following statement to announce his endorsement of the District 18 Democratic Team:As Board President of Progressive Maryland, past Vice President of the NAACP Montgomery County Branch, and Director of the Maryland Black Family Alliance,* I know it’s critical to have hard-working, progressive leaders. That’s why I’m proud to endorse the District 18 Democratic Team: Senator Madaleno and Delegates Carr, Gutiérrez, and Waldstreicher.
* Identification purposes only
Working together, these four Democrats have achieved great things. They have fought for social justice and kept faith with our progressive values, ensured fiscal responsibility and corporate accountability, and invested billions in our schools to make sure all our kids have the opportunity to learn. I’ve lived in Montgomery County for 40 years and fought for civil rights my entire life. When it comes to standing up for social justice, equality, and civil liberties, I stand proudly with the District 18 Democratic Team.
###
By Authority: District 18 Democratic Team Slate. Co-Chairs: Carole Brand & Steve Lawton. Treasurer: Adam Pagnucco.
Progressive Maryland Announces Early Endorsements
Progressive Maryland has announced its first round of endorsements for state and county offices. The organization will make more endorsements in July.
Here are the group’s early endorsements in Montgomery County.
Incumbents
Delegate Anne Kaiser, District 14
Senator Rob Garagiola, District 15
Delegate Kathleen Dumais, District 15
Delegate Brian Feldman, District 15
Senator Brian Frosh, District 16
Delegate Bill Frick, District 16
Delegate Susan Lee, District 16
Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez, District 18
Senator Jamie Raskin, District 20
Delegate Sheila Hixson, District 20
Delegate Tom Hucker, District 20
Delegate Heather Mizeur, District 20
Delegate Charles Barkley, District 39
Delegate Kirill Reznik, District 39
Challengers
Delegate Karen Montgomery for Senator in District 14
Eric Luedtke for Delegate in District 14
Bonnie Cullison for Delegate in District 19
Jay Hutchins for Delegate in District 19
Progressive Maryland has not yet endorsed anyone in the contested District 17, 19 or 39 Senate primaries. Nor have they yet endorsed in any county-level races in Montgomery.
Following is their full statewide release.
Maryland Blogdom, January – April 2010
Here’s an overview of how Maryland blogs have done from January through April, 2010.
In the first four months of this year, the 45 Maryland state and local blogs that release their site statistics recorded a combined total of 629,307 visits. That is 27% higher than the first four months of 2009 (when they collectively totaled 495,179) and 69% higher than the first four months of 2008 (when they totaled 373,312). The last nine months have been the best period ever in the Maryland blogosphere.
Since 2009, all of the growth in the state’s blogosphere has been in liberal blogs and blogs that cover local areas. Readership in conservative blogs has fallen by 3.4% between the first four months of 2009 and the first four months in 2010.
Here are the top ten state and local political blogs in Maryland, as well as the monthly site visit trend of the top five (MPW, Red Maryland, Annapolis Capital Punishment, PG Politics and Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack) since June 2007. The counts show combined totals over the first four months, while the chart shows monthly visits.
April 2010 produced a temporary spike in MPW’s traffic due to national interest in the blogoscabbing story. Our regular traffic is now on track to be roughly twice the levels of the leading local blogs and three times the levels of the second-ranked political blog.
Here are the top ten locally-focused blogs in Maryland, as well as the monthly site visit trend of the top five (Inside Charm City, Just Up the Pike, Tales of Two Cities, Rockville Central and Rethink College Park) since June 2007.
The big story here is the end of Inside Charm City’s streak as the most-visited local blog since January 2008. Howard County’s Tales of Two Cities passed it in both March and April 2010 and Just Up the Pike passed it in March. These three are now effectively tied as the leading local blogs in the state.
No mainstream media “blogs” release independently verifiable site visit statistics. Neither do Marylandreporter.com or Center Maryland.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Francoise Carrier Named as Next Planning Chair
Following is the press release from the County Council.
Francoise Carrier Named New Chair of Montgomery County Planning Board
County Council Votes Unanimously for Rockville Resident
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 18, 2010—The Montgomery County Council on May 18 voted unanimously to name Francoise Carrier of Rockville to a four-year term as the new chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board. She will fill the seat of Royce Hanson, whose term will expire on June 14. Dr. Hanson did not apply for reappointment.
The appointment will now go to County Executive Isiah Leggett for approval. If approved, Ms. Carrier will take office on or after June 14.
Ms. Carrier is a director and hearing examiner with the Montgomery County Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings. She has worked for that office since 2001, carrying out the functions of an administrative law judge in land use and human rights cases, presiding over approximately 15-25 trial-type hearings per year and managing pre-hearing procedural matters. She issues detailed recommendations in cases decided by the County Council or another agency, and opinions in cases decided directly by the County’s hearing examiner.
A graduate of Stanford Law School with a background in economics and land use law, she previously worked for three Washington, D.C., law firms over a period of 17 years.
“This is a tremendous honor,” Ms. Carrier told the Council following her appointment. “I am excited about serving the County in this challenging position.”
Prior to appointing Ms. Carrier, the Council set the salary for the position at $160,000.
A total of 16 people originally applied for the position. In addition to Ms. Carrier, the Council also interviewed Peter Fosselman of Kensington, Tedi Osias of Chevy Chase and John Robinson of Kensington.
No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and all members must be residents and registered voters of Montgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. The position could have been filled by a Democrat, a Republican; a voter who declined to affiliate with a party; or by a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Ms. Carrier is a Democrat. Other members of the Planning Board are Joseph Alfandre, Democrat; Norman Dreyfuss, a Republican; Amy Presley, a Republican; and Marye Wells-Harley, a Democrat.
The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as Commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The Planning Board’s responsibilities with regard to planning include preparation and amendment of County General Plan; preparation and amendment of Master Plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of or recommendations on text amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; advice on the planning implication of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting, under its Mandatory Referral authority, on plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies; and approval of the work program and the annual operating budget for the Planning Department and the Commission’s bi-county offices.
The Planning Board sits as the Park Commission and approves the annual Parks Department operating budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget; land acquisition contracts and major development contracts for parks; development plans for individual park facilities; policies for park operations; and park user fees.
The Montgomery County Planning Board meets all day every Thursday and often meets on one other evening a week. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month.
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