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How It Works: The Budget Process in Montgomery County, Maryland
The Council is the final authority on spending by the departments of County Government as well as the independent County and bi-County agencies such as Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, and the Montgomery County Planning Board. The County Executive has responsibilities for proposing a County Government budget to the Council and makes recommendations on the independent agency budgets.
It is the Council's task to review all of these spending proposals comprehensively and craft a budget that provides the services that the people of Montgomery County need and want at a cost that they can afford. It is the Council's role to listen to the people of Montgomery County and understand the impact of spending and taxes on all of the residents of Montgomery County.
The County Executive submits proposed capital and operating budgets to the Council by January 15 and March 15, respectively. The Council then holds public hearings and deliberates on the spending and revenue proposals. By June 1, the Council must take final action on the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The Executive has an item veto which the Council may override by six votes. As a result of a 1996 Charter amendment, a six-year CIP is prepared every other year in the second and fourth year of an Executive/Council term.
The capital budget includes spending for construction projects such as schools and roads and is financed largely through bonds. The operating budget includes expenses for personnel, programs and capital budget debt service (principal and interest payments on the bonds).
Click here for Nonprofit Montgomery's "2012 Message to Our Elected Leaders."
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