Greetings from Chair Turner
Welcome to the June 2019 edition of the 4th District Legislative E-News. Summer started on June 21st, and I hope you are enjoying the season. The County Council has adopted the Fiscal Year 2020 budgets that will go into effect with the new Fiscal Year on July 1, 2019 (see below). The Council continues its work on legislative and other items during the month of July.
Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Adopted
On May 29th, the County Council adopted the $4.3 billion balanced County Budget. FY 2020 Operating and Capital budgets were also adopted for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS); the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning (M-NCPPC), Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and Washington Suburban Transit Commission (WSTC). The approved budgets are subject to the County Executive’s review and additional Council action, prior to the July 1st effective date.
I appreciate the great vision, focus, and diligence of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and her Executive Budget Team in formulating the proposed FY 2020 spending plan submitted to this Council in March - the first of her Administration and this Council. As team leader, County Executive Alsobrooks has continued to work with the Council throughout this budget review process to achieve our shared priorities, especially regarding funding for education, youth initiatives, beautification, and improving public roads and safety.
Here are some of the FY 2020 County Budget highlights:
Education Operating, Construction and School Performance Audit Funding:
The FY 2020 County Budget adopted by the Council (CB-27-2019) fully funds the budget requested by the County Executive by providing over $2.1 billion, or sixty (60%) of the overall County budget, for funding for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). We appreciate the strong support of state lawmakers, especially from Prince George’s County, during this year’s Maryland General Assembly session, particularly with the enactment of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Kirwan Commission’s initial recommendations) for $90 million in additional education funding. Our final budget is $18 million above the State mandated Maintenance of Effort (MOE) amount without an increase in taxes.
The County Council, working with PGCPS and the County Executive, continue to invest in school construction and repairs. In 2019 the General Assembly authorized the Prince George’s County Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) program, supporting a unique pubic private partnership approach to school construction in Prince George’s County. The ACF project presents an historic opportunity for the County, both in Maryland and across the United States, to address aging facilities and ease overcrowding more quickly and hopefully more affordably with the help of a private partner to help finance, build, renovate, and maintain new schools.
The County Council and PGCPS in 2017 completed the first external Continuous Improvement Performance Audit of PGCPS in 18 years. The audit studied how existing tax dollars are being spent and recommend potential cost-savings in existing programs. In the FY 2020 Budget, the County Council continued funding for the second installment of the performance audit.
Public Safety:
The newly-adopted FY 2020 spending plan continues the County’s commitment to the public safety of our residents. The Adopted Budget provides funding for one hundred (100) new Police Officers, forty-eight (48) new Fire/EMS personnel, sixty (60) new Correctional Officers and additional assistance for our Volunteer Fire Departments. The Public Safety budget represents the second highest funding for County services at twenty-two (22%) of the general fund budget.
County Council & District 4 Priorities:
The County Council and I focused on several important quality of life issues, programs and capital projects in the County and District 4 as part of the FY 2020 Budget. Several of them are highlighted below:
- Continued for the third consecutive year, a $3.5 million funding measure for wage gap for Developmental Disabilities (DD) provider organizations directly serving Prince George’s County residents with disabilities to support a cluster of employers and prevent lost jobs for County residents and workers;
- Provided $2.5 million in additional funds for County Housing Investment Trust Fund to support home ownership and build housing in the County;
- Maintained $30 million funding in the Department of Public Works & Transportation capital budget for sidewalks, road construction and repairs;
- Secured $850,000 in added funding to expand Sunday and Friday hours at some County libraries and support bilingual outreach programs;
- Continued funding for the municipal School Resource Officer (SRO) programs in the cities of Bowie and Greenbelt for Bowie High School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School, respectively;
- Increased total funding by $100,000, representing a $20,000 increase each of the five Youth Service Bureaus, including Bowie and Greenbelt.
This was my fifth budget session, first as County Council Chair, and I hope my decisions reflect the right balance between what we want, what we need and what we can afford in Prince George’s County. Please visit the Council’s Budget portal web page for additional information of the FY 2020 Adopted Budget.
The Council and I remain committed to fiscal responsibility and accountability, and a shared priority to ensure residents receive the County services, economic growth and vitality they deserve and expect. I look forward to continuing an important conversation with you about how we move Prince George’s County forward.
Inaugural State of the County
I was pleased to bring remarks at County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ Inaugural State of the County Address on June 12th jointly hosted by the Prince George's Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable at the Hotel at the University of Maryland. The State of the County is strong, and we are hoping to make Prince Georgians Proud.
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Dr. Monica Goldson Appointed Permanent Public School's CEO
On June 18th County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced the selection of Dr. Monica Goldson to be the permanent Chief Executive Officer for the Prince George’s County Public School system. Dr. Goldson was appointed Interim CEO in July 2018 after serving the school system for over twenty-five (25) years as a teacher, principal and administrator. She is the first native Prince Georgian, a County public school graduate and second woman to service in this leadership position. For a copy of the Council’s statement, visit the following link.
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Free Summer Meals Program
School is out for the summer; however, meals are still available to children in our community.
Beginning June 24, youth under age 18 can receive free summer meals at select schools, apartment communities and libraries throughout the County!
For a complete list of schools and sites offering meals and to find a location near you, visit www.mdsummermeals.org and search by zip code map, or browse '2019 Sites' by county. For more information on the program, please visit the PGCPS website. All open school sites will be offering free meals Monday-Thursday from June 24th thru August 15th.
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Council Seeks Input on Impacts of Toll Lanes Proposal
On June 4th I joined State and County officials from Montgomery and Frederick counties, along with my Council colleagues Dannielle Glaros and Jolene Ivey, to discuss possible alternatives to the Proposed Managed Toll Lanes on I-495/I-270 that came before the Board of Public Works (“Board”). The County Council adopted CR-33-2019 asking the Board to consider the financial viability, to complete all Federal Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and fully consult with the local jurisdictions impacted by the proposal. The Board voted on June 5th, to approve an amended plan that included some aspects of the Council's requests.
On June 10th the County Council received a briefing on the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Study from Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). During the briefing, questions were raised about the environmental impact and a lack of public transportation options included in the study. The Council is closely monitoring this process. To watch the Council briefing, you may click here.
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District 4 Senior Luncheons
Greenbelt Seniors Luncheon.
I was happy to host the annual 4th District Senior luncheons, in Greenbelt on June 7th and in Bowie on June 20th, to recognize and honor the seasoned members of our community. Prince George's County Department of Family Services Director Elana Belon-Butler was the guest speaker at both events and the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education (FAME) Jazz Ensemble provide smooth sounds at the Bowie event. Special thanks to the Bowie-Collington DeMolay youth organization and District 4 teens serving as volunteers to assist the seniors.
Bowie Seniors Luncheon.
District 4 SYEP Intern Spotlight
The 4th District Team is pleased to host Morgan Robinson as our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) intern for 2019. Morgan is a resident of Upper Marlboro, MD and a rising senior at Elizabeth Seton High School.
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District 4 Says Farewell to
Jarryd Hawkins
The Council District 4 Team said farewell to Jarryd Hawkins, our Director of Constituent Services, on June 21st as he begins a new journey as the Prince George’s County representative for United States Senator Benjamin Cardin. We thank Jarryd for almost two years of service to the office and the residents of the 4th Council District. We wish him well in his new position and know he will continue to serve our citizens.
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Upcoming Events
WSSC Adopts New Rate Structure Effective July 1, 2019
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) on June 19, 2019 adopted a new rate structure. A rate structure is how customers are charged for water/sewer usage. This is the first new rate structure for WSSC in more than 25 years and was selected following a transparent and extensive public engagement process. The new rate structure is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2019.
The rate structure is a four-tier inclining block rate structure, meaning that the price increases as customers use more water and enter higher tiers. Under the simplified rate structure, the amount of water in each tier and the price per tier have changed to reflect how customers use water today. With the passage of the Maryland Water Conservation Act of 2002, state guidance specifically identifies an inclining block rate structure as a strategy for encouraging water conservation. The simplified structure will replace WSSC’s existing 16-tier rate structure, which has been in effect since 1992.
Along with the new rate structure, WSSC customers can expect the following customer service improvements:
- Redesigned bills that are easier to understand;
- An online bill calculator so customers can estimate future bills;
- Enhanced customer affordability programs; and
- Easy and accessible options for customers to pay their bills.
To ensure customers were engaged, WSSC held or participated in more than 30 public meetings or hearings since spring 2017, which were attended by approximately 2,500 customers and generated more than 300 total comments. The basis for the new rate structure included the Maryland Public Service Commission’s (PSC) directive to develop a new structure.
For additional information, please contact WSSC's call center on 301-206-4001 (7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays). Please note, WSSC expects heavy call volumes and long wait times to speak to a representative after July 1 and continuing for several months. Residents may also visit the website at www.wsscwater.com or by sending an email to customerservice@wsscwater.com.
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Fourth of July Trash
Collection Schedule
Have a great summer season and safe Fourth of July holiday. As always, please reach out to my office for any assistance you may need.
I am Sincerely Yours in Service,
 Hon. Todd M. Turner
Council Chair
4th Council District |
