MoCo Archives - Page 318 of 605

Press Release: County Executive Elrich Releases Recommended $6.8 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget That Includes 10-Cent Increase in Property Tax Rate Exclusively to Fully Fund MCPS Request  

Published March 17, 2023 at 6:10PM | Updated March 19, 2023 at 7:15AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich this week released his recommended Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Operating Budget of $6.8 billion, which is an increase of 7.7 percent from the FY23 approved all funds budget (County Government plus outside agencies). The recommended FY24 budget reflects record level and significant investments for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, affordable housing, economic development, public safety and efforts to combat climate change. To access the entire recommended FY24 budget, click here.

The County Charter requires the County Executive to present a recommended budget by March 15 of each year. The recommended budget will be reviewed by the County Council over the next two months. The Council will adopt the new County budget in late May. The new budget will go into effect on July 1. “While the Federal funding to assist residents who have been impacted by the pandemic has reached its end, the need for services and assist remain great,” said County Executive Elrich. “County expenditures are higher because we choose to continue funding programs that support residents who need help stabilizing their lives while also facing the realities of the highly competitive labor market and tremendous inflation. This budget is about choosing to maintain services and the social safety net that we created during the pandemic, while also providing record funding for education, affordable housing, combatting climate change and public safety.”

Free Lyft Rides Offered on St. Patrick’s Day to Prevent Drunk Driving

By Patrick Herron

Published March 17, 2023 at 9:28AM

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is offering free Lyft rides from 4pm on Friday, March 17 to 4am on Saturday, March 18. Residents 21 and older can redeem the offer by downloading the Lyft app and entering the SoberRide code in the app’s ‘Promo’ section to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s 2023 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRideⓇ promo code will be posted at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17th on www.SoberRide.com. Full details below courtesy of WRAP:

“Preparing to combat that time of year when according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (45%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, * a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this month’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Montgomery County Executive Elrich, Council President Glass to Join Committee Against Hate/Violence Antisemitism Panel Discussion on Wed., March 22, in Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published March 17, 2023 at 8:43AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Council Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Andrew Friedson are among those expected to join the County Committee Against Hate/Violence (CAHV) panel discussion on “Anti-Semitism in Montgomery County” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22. The in-person event at the County’s Executive Office Building in Rockville also will be viewable online.

The Executive Office Building is located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. The panel discussion can be viewed live online at https://www.facebook.com/CountyCableMoCo.

Residents Asked to Participate in Survey on How to Expand and Improve Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Will Offer Webinars on April 13-14

By Patrick Herron

Published March 16, 2023 at 9:50AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is asking residents to participate in a survey on how the County could expand and improve charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). As part of the initiative, DEP will hold webinars on Thursday, April 13, and Friday, April 14, to share details about the planning process and collect more input. Beginning in 2023, significant funding will be available from Maryland and the Federal government for local governments and private property owners to install EV charging. To take advantage of this opportunity and accelerate the transition to EV ownership, DEP is developing a plan to expand the availability of EV charging throughout the community.

EVs charged in Montgomery County on Pepco’s electric grid reduce emissions by 70-75 percent, demonstrating that switching to an EV is one of the biggest ways to reduce the County’s carbon footprint. The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with plug-in vehicles making up more than 12 percent of newly registered vehicles in 2022. There are currently about 600 EV charging plugs in the County, including 100 “Fast Charging” plugs. However, more charging infrastructure is needed to meet the current demand and allow more residents to feel confident making the transition to electric vehicles. To overcome “range anxiety”—a fear of running out of battery—drivers need to know that they can easily charge their vehicle nearby to where they live, work and visit regularly.

Walter Johnson Announced Aaron Fiddler as New Varsity Football Coach, Replacing Larry Hurd

By MCS Staff

Published March 16, 2023 at 9:17AM

Walter Johnson High School has announced the new varsity football head coach, Aaron Fiddler, a couple weeks after previous coach Larry Hurd made the decision to step down as coach to become the Athletic Coordinator (position previously known as Athletic Director) at the school. Walter Johnson Athletics announced the following:

The Walter Johnson Community would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulations to Coach Aaron Fiddler as our new Head Football Coach. Coach Fiddler brings incredible knowledge, experience, passion, success, and an ability to develop long lasting relationships with all his students/athletes. Coach Fiddler will be meeting with his team for the first time on Friday Morning at 7:30 am in the Weight Room at Walter Johnson High School!

Council President Evan Glass Releases Statement on the FY24 Recommended Operating Budget

By Patrick Herron

Published March 15, 2023 at 8:45PM

“Reviewing and approving the budget is one of the most critical responsibilities of the Council. Every budget brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, and it’s the Council’s obligation to ensure that this budget positions the County for long-term success and economic prosperity.

“As we undertake this important task, the Council will provide thorough oversight to ensure taxpayer investments are used prudently. We must balance the needs of today with those of tomorrow, which include supporting our schools, our teachers, our first responders, our healthcare professionals and other frontline workers.

County Executive Recommends 10-Cent Increase in County’s Property Tax Rate to be Used Exclusively to Fully Fund MCPS Budget Request

By Patrick Herron

Published March 15, 2023 at 8:11PM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today released his recommended Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Operating Budget of $6.8 billion, which is an increase of 7.7 percent from the FY23 approved all funds budget (County Government plus outside agencies.) The recommended FY24 budget reflects record level and significant investments for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, affordable housing, economic development, public safety, and efforts to combat climate change.

To access the entire recommended FY24 budget, click here. To watch the County Executive’s FY24 recommended budget presentation, click here.

Results of 2022 County ‘Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign’ Document That Extreme Heat Has Greater Impact on Areas with Less Green Infrastructure

By Patrick Herron

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:59PM | Updated March 15, 2023 at 8:32PM

Per Montgomery County: The results of the 2022 Montgomery County “Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign” document that neighborhoods with less green infrastructure and more concrete experienced temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than nearby cooler areas. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the results of the campaign in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Climate Adaptation Planning and Analyst (CAPA).

A StoryMap created by DEP provides a comprehensive overview of the campaign. Among its findings were that areas with low-income households and people of color have higher temperatures than other areas in Montgomery County due to a lack of green spaces and trees, indicating that extreme heat is a social justice issue.

WSSC Water’s Watershed Recreation Areas Now Open from Sunrise to Sundown

By Patrick Herron

Published March 15, 2023 at 12:06PM

Per Montgomery County: WSSC Water’s Patuxent Watershed recreation areas are now open from sunrise to sundown for all permitted activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. The recreational areas span more than 4,000 acres along its two reservoirs, Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett, in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties. The reservoirs serve as drinking water sources for WSSC Water.

Visitors of the watershed who are 16 years or older must have a valid permit, which can be purchased online at wsscwater.com/watershed or in person at the Brighton Dam Visitor Center, which is located at 2 Brighton Dam Road in Brookville. Complimentary permits are available for visitors 65 or older, active military and disabled veterans.

Healthy Drink Option for Kids Now Required in Montgomery County Restaurants

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 7:35AM

Last March, Healthy Meals for Children, which requires restaurants in Montgomery County that offer a children’s meal to provide a healthy option (meal and drink) for their youngest customers, was passed. The requirements are phased in with a default healthy beverage being the first (now in effect) followed by a healthy meal option six months later.

Councilmember Craig Rice spearheaded the legislation, and Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Will Jawando, Nancy Navarro and Tom Hucker are cosponsors. The bill was enacted by a vote of 8-1, with Councilmember Friedson voting against the legislation. “Childhood obesity remains a longstanding problem in our nation and the rate continues to climb impacting our children’s health and quality of life. Especially in a time when our busy lifestyles have more families eating out, it is imperative that as a County we encourage healthy options in our children’s meals,” said Councilmember Rice, who serves as chair of the Council’s Education Committee and as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. “I applaud the many restaurants, large and small, in our community that are already providing healthier selections. This bill lays out a minimum threshold over an extended period to ensure that our children have a healthier beverage and meal option available to them, all in order to promote more healthful eating habits throughout their lives.”

New 227 Area Code Coming to Maryland in June

By MCS Staff

Published March 14, 2023 at 12:59PM

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers, the Maryland Public Service Commission has approved an all-services area code overlay for the 240/301 area code region which serves all or portions of Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Bowie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Hagerstown, Potomac, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Wheaton, and many other small communities. The new 227 area code will serve the same geographic area currently served by the existing 240/301 area codes.

What is an Area Code Overlay? An overlay is the addition of another area code (227) to the same geographic region as an existing area code region (240/301). The overlay does not require you to change your existing area code or phone number, or how you dial your calls. You will continue to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, as you do today, within and between the 240, 301, and new 227 area codes.