5/12 County Council Meeting -- Gutting MCPS Budget Request to the Tune of $180M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

It was mostly MCPS teachers and staff. I suspect they felt like the session was cancelled to avoid scrutiny from them. I hope it was actually because they are working behind the scenes to come up with solutions that limit the cuts, but I don't blame folks for being suspicious and feeling upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the Section G list of the operating budget. You won't find it in the proposed budget - it's created by Council after they vote on the operating budget. So, you can see the list for last year, but not this year.

The Section G list is a list of nonprofits who are to be awarded non-competitive contracts by the County for the upcoming fiscal year. For fiscal year 26, it totaled $131,933,975.

A lot of what is on there is really important. But there is absolutely room for cuts/consolidation/reduction to preserve other essential services. Some examples from the fiscal year 26 budget:

- $2.3 million to promote tourism in the County

- $2.48 million for 2 community media cable channels

- A total of $4.5 million to various nonprofits for coaching and training to small and/or minority business owners.

- $61,798 for online real estate information for the County business community

- $50,605 for outreach to businesses in the Asian-Pacific and Hispanic communities to increase awareness of the various business assistance programs available (so not even the actual assistance)

- $47,206 for promoting economic development between the County and Israel

- A total of $957,315 to various nonprofits for providing legal services to residents involved in removal proceedings.

The above are just from the first 3 pages of the list. Flipping forward several pages (and bypassing all the HHS stuff), I see a total of $700,249 across several nonprofits for tenant education services. Maybe that can be halved? We could record the info sessions and put them online?

$7 million to the Arts and Humanities Council for support of the art community, including grants to artists. Another $400,000 into the public arts trust fund to purchase and maintain artworks in public buildings. Nice to have, sure, but not an essential government service or worth several people losing their jobs.

No one talks about this because Council is loathe to cut the Section G list. The nonprofit community has enormous political sway in Montgomery County. But there's no doubt that there is money to be had, if you look into the details.

Can you provide a link to Section G? I'm having trouble digging to this document. TIA.

Wow thanks for sharing this. Certainly should not cut 200 middle school positions without considering cuts to some of this and the poster said there were 14 positions in the SSL office? Is that right?

DP, yes there is fluff in there but also services for populations with very high needs. They should look at it but either way MCPS does not have to cut these positions. They will be getting plenty of money to fund them and give employees decent raises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

It is hilarious you think principals don't get paid enough to live in MoCo. They may not want to live here but they make much, much more than most residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

It was mostly MCPS teachers and staff. I suspect they felt like the session was cancelled to avoid scrutiny from them. I hope it was actually because they are working behind the scenes to come up with solutions that limit the cuts, but I don't blame folks for being suspicious and feeling upset.

Per the Banner:

Fani-González said, minutes before Thursday’s expected 1 p.m. vote, she was asked to provide more time for members to deliberate.

“If one person needs more time,” Fani-González said, “I’m going to give it to her.”

https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/montgomery-county-budget-vote-postponed-V7ZPAA7HNVGJNG3EFNRAGPB7EY/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

It is hilarious you think principals don't get paid enough to live in MoCo. They may not want to live here but they make much, much more than most residents.

someone else posted this link elsewhere. Data is from 2024 but it's interesting to look at. Feel free to search up your principal--assuming they were employed by MCPS 2 years ago.

[Anonymous]

oops, forgot the link

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/MD/montgomery-county-public-schools?employee=Jeanie+Dawson

[Anonymous]

So the straw vote is tomorrow (Fri)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

It is hilarious you think principals don't get paid enough to live in MoCo. They may not want to live here but they make much, much more than most residents.

+1. Our principal makes what my husband and I make combined. If he doesn't live here, it's not because he can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

It is hilarious you think principals don't get paid enough to live in MoCo. They may not want to live here but they make much, much more than most residents.

+1. Our principal makes what my husband and I make combined. If he doesn't live here, it's not because he can't afford it.

Right but principals often start as regular teachers and work their way up. SO maybe they bought the house in Frederick, etc. when they were a lower pain teacher. It doesn't always make sense to move once you have more $$ if you're own kids are already in school, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

It is hilarious you think principals don't get paid enough to live in MoCo. They may not want to live here but they make much, much more than most residents.

+1. Our principal makes what my husband and I make combined. If he doesn't live here, it's not because he can't afford it.

Right but principals often start as regular teachers and work their way up. SO maybe they bought the house in Frederick, etc. when they were a lower pain teacher. It doesn't always make sense to move once you have more $$ if you're own kids are already in school, etc.

Lady federal workers and other workers also have to work their way up. The federal workers I know didn't even start in the government until their 30s, they were working nonprofit or contractor jobs before that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they can put off the giant elementary school redistricting consulting project too.

With the secret machinations of MCPS contracts, I wonder just how much money we save using consultants. Anybody know the final dollar amount for the high school boundary study consultant that was employed, but lightly used?

[Anonymous]

With few exceptions I'd say most of our teachers at our school live in Frederick for any number of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they can put off the giant elementary school redistricting consulting project too.

With the secret machinations of MCPS contracts, I wonder just how much money we save using consultants. Anybody know the final dollar amount for the high school boundary study consultant that was employed, but lightly used?

Which one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Chaos at the Council today as they waited 40 minutes into their Budget Work Session to announce that the Work Session was delayed until tomorrow as there are more discussions to be had. The room revolted and they silenced the audio as the crowd booed.

Montgomery County government needs a reset.

How many of those people screaming live in Montgomery County?

Considering it's most MCEA and SEIU folks, a good portion of them definitely don't live in the county, since we know a lot of the MCPS workforce can't afford to live in the county.

there is no data on this

Yes, there is: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/05/county-report-reveals-that-highest-paid.html

The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

So the higher paid employees are less likely to live in MoCo, while the vast majority of lower paid employees do live in MoCo

I bet transportation plays a significant role. If you have to take public transit often because you can't afford a car, or it broke down, or you only have one car and someone else in the household needs it, you have to live in the county, because good luck trying to commute from Frederick or Howard or Baltimore to get here at 6:30am. So you live in a crummy MoCo apartment or share a house with 2-3 other families. Meanwhile the employees that have 2 cars and can afford a $450,000 house but not a $600,000 house move to Frederick or Carroll County.

There are 450 homes here. Some of us live in them.