|
Dear Friends,
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing how the work of the Council can positively impact the lives of people across the county. It’s the smile of a resident in our innovative MoCo Boost program who is building a financial pathway to stable housing. It’s the high school student who is empowered to ask for what they need.
When we invest in our community, we invest in people. The County Council plays a key role by creating policy and setting the budget for the entire county. Earlier this month, the County Executive transmitted his budget to the Council, which funds essential priorities for housing, education, mental health, transportation, the environment, and public safety.
Learn more about the budget at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/omb/
Some critical education and culture highlights of the FY24 Operating Budget include:
🔵 $3.2 billion for Montgomery County Public Schools
🔵 $345 million for Montgomery College
🔵 $121 million for libraries, culture, and recreation
The operating budget also invests $707 million in public safety and $484 million in health and human services. Due to increased costs and demand for county services – especially for education, the County Executive is proposing a $0.10 property tax increase to solely fund the increased budget for our public school system.
As the Education and Culture Committee Chair, I am committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in directing and using funds to improve our schools and create more opportunities for residents to thrive. Over the next several weeks, I will closely review the $6.8 billion budget to ensure our budget aligns with our priorities and needs as a county.
The Council will hold operating budget public hearings on April 11 and April 13, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The investments we make together will shape our county for the next decade or more. As the Council works through the budget process, your voice is essential. I look forward to hearing from you at upcoming hearings and forums.
Rent Stabilization Update 🏠
Earlier this month, I was joined by Councilmember Kristin Mink, County Executive Marc Elrich, and community organizations to make our case for the Housing Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) Act.
I’ve received hundreds of messages from residents across the county urging the Council to take action to address rising rents. A senior in Silver Spring shared that her rent rose 50%, and she may have to move out of the county. A resident in North Bethesda had his rent go up 10% and wrote, “to increase my rent over $200 per month all at once is just too much.” This week, a Montgomery Village resident and landlord wrote, “the only moral option is to err on the side of protecting existing tenants.”
The HOME Act is not only necessary but the right bill to create stability and predictability for tenants and landlords. The Council will have public hearings on our bill on March 28th. I encourage you to submit written testimony to ensure all councilmembers understand the issues renters face today.
 Councilmember Jawando speaks about the HOME Act alongside Councilmember Kristin Mink and County Executive
Recordation Tax Proposal
I’m joining my colleague Councilmember Kristin Mink to introduce Bill 17-23, Taxation - Recordation Tax Rates. In this year's amended Capital Improvement Program budget, Montgomery County Public Schools has requested $165 million in cost increases through FY27, including $62 million in FY24 and $46 million in FY25.
The legislation would increase the recordation tax rate for certain property transactions and allocate the revenue solely to capital improvements for our public schools and to the Montgomery Housing Initiative Fund (HIF).
A public hearing for Bill 17-23 will occur on April 11, 2023, at 1:30 pm.
View my full introductory remarks here:
Councilmember Jawando delivers remarks during Council session about Bill 17-23
Celebrating Women 🚺
March is Women’s History Month! A month is not an adequate amount of time to recognize women's social, economic, cultural, and political contributions in this county. We must continue to work toward embracing equity and ensuring women have a seat at the table. I’m proud to serve on this historically diverse Council with an impressive group of women and men dedicated to making our county a true representation of our diversity.
March 14th marked Equal Pay Day, commemorating how much extra time women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. We have made significant progress in pay fairness. Still, we acknowledge that we have much work to do to close the pay gap between men and women. I will continue working toward full equality for women across the board. Our nation’s women deserve equal pay.
Equal Pay Day
|
