Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530 or
Robert Kendal, 240-777-2789

For Immediate Release: January 15, 2002

Duncan Emphasizes Homeland Security in
New Capital Construction Budget:
Highlights Long-Standing Priorities of Public Safety,
Education and Transportation

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today unveiled his new six-year $1.73 billion capital construction program for fiscal years 2003 to 2008. Despite fiscal constraints in the aftermath of September 11, the budget expands funding for homeland security and public safety. The budget also supports the Executive's long-standing priorities of education, transportation, reinvestment in the County's infrastructure, and service improvement through a fiscally responsible approach that does not expand the use of current revenue.

Duncan's recommended Capital Improvements Program (CIP) increases support for police and fire and rescue services, focuses on accommodating the County's increasing student population and school health and safety, and fully funds the long-debated Montrose Parkway to relieve traffic congestion. Pedestrian safety initiatives continue to be a priority, and funding is also included to renovate existing libraries and build new ones.

"This budget focuses on our priorities - homeland security, public health and safety, education and transportation - responding to our current needs and those of tomorrow," said Duncan. "Slower economic times and the prospect of reduced State funding mean that we must reassess the pace at which we take on new commitments or reinvest in existing ones. To continue to improve the quality of life for our citizens and strengthen the infrastructure, this budget supports essential services, facilities and projects in a prudent and responsible way."

Homeland Security

Because the past few months have demonstrated the urgency of ensuring that front-line, first responders have adequate resources to deal with emergencies, expanded support for police and fire and rescue services is included in this budget. The CIP will provide for full construction funding of the new Emergency Operations Center that co-locates the Transportation Management Center with a new Emergency Communications Center. The existing Emergency Communications Center will be renovated to create an Alternate Emergency Communications Center. To upgrade communications technology for citizens and public safety staff, the CIP completes full implementation of the Public Safety 2000 communications system.

Public Safety

The CIP includes new district police stations in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village and a new fire station in Clarksburg, in addition to the East and West Germantown stations already approved. A police substation will be co-located with the new Silver Spring fire station to serve downtown Silver Spring. Modern life safety systems will be installed at older fire stations.

The new Montgomery County Correctional Facility will open in mid-2002, and the existing Montgomery County Detention Center will be renovated for use as a short-term holding facility, central processing unit, correctional training facility, and police warrants and fugitive unit.

Children and Schools

Duncan's recommendation for the Montgomery County Public Schools is $625.4 million over the six-year program. School funding will focus on the priorities of increasing capacity to meet expanding enrollments, maintaining infrastructure, and implementing health and safety projects. To meet his commitment to improving education, Duncan's budget contains the entire Board of Education request for fiscal years 2003 and 2004. Duncan also supports the Board's full construction request for fiscal years 2005 through 2008, although on a modified annual schedule that fits within affordability limits.

Significant cuts in State construction aid will necessitate a slow-down in planned school modernizations. State support for public school projects is anticipated to be $197.1 million over six years. The budget proposes increasing local bond funding for schools by $39.5 million to help compensate for the effects of State reductions.

To meet enrollment growth upcounty, a new middle school and new high school in Clarksburg are proposed, as well as improvements at the Damascus High School. Three new elementary schools are also planned in Clarksburg, Germantown and Silver Spring.

For Montgomery College, the CIP fully funds the construction of three new buildings to support the expansion of the Takoma Park campus, with the Campus Health Sciences Building opening during 2004. The budget includes funding for renovations to extend the life of the Macklin Tower on the Rockville Campus, construct and open a new Germantown Child Care Center, and support increases in enrollment on the Rockville Campus with temporary classrooms and parking. A study is included to explore potential sites for a new life sciences center, including one site adjacent to the Germantown Campus.

Several library projects are included in the CIP - accelerating construction of the Germantown Library by one year, to be completed during fiscal year 2005; retaining funds for a new Rockville Regional Library as the County coordinates with the new City administration on downtown plans; and initial funding to renovate the Gaithersburg Regional Library, expand and renovate the Olney Library, and build a new, larger Silver Spring Library.

Transportation

Duncan's $391.8 million transportation CIP maintains an emphasis on congestion mitigation efforts. This budget fully funds the land acquisition and construction for the $57.6 million Montrose Parkway, using $27.6 million in impact taxes expected from the proposed fourth impact tax district to support the Montrose Parkway.

Other transportation items proposed include:

· $3.1 million to extend Citadel Avenue to provide a direct link between the White Flint Metro and nearby business destinations.

· Completion of Norbeck Road Extended by the end of 2002.

· Opening the Shady Grove Metro parking garage in the Fall 2002.

· $27.4 million to fund construction of the Grosvenor Metro garage to open in early 2004 along with the Strathmore Concert Hall.

· $5 million to add a bridge preservation project to prevent long-term structural problems to reduce future repair and replacement costs.

· $2.5 million to study and prioritize noise abatement measures along publicly-owned and maintained roads in Montgomery County.

· Leveraging federal and state funds to implement Federal Aviation Administration recommended air navigation and ground property safety improvements at the Montgomery County Airpark.

Pedestrian fatalities in 2001 were down, but making further improvements continues to be of the highest priority. The budget funds over $117 million in pedestrian safety measures, with $1.2 million in new programs. To implement recommendations from the County's Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, the CIP recognizes the importance of "walkability" as a much-desired feature of the County's neighborhoods. Building on the success of similar programs in residential communities, this budget introduces a new Main Street Montgomery initiative to improve safety and spruce up selected business district roadways.

Ecosystems and Environment

To protect and rehabilitate the County's natural resources, the CIP funds continuing improvements to damaged stream channels and tributaries in stream valley parks and priority watersheds. To ensure adequate stormwater controls throughout the County, Duncan supports expanded stormwater management programs by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Duncan also recommended using revenues from the recently approved Water Quality Protection Charge to fund rehabilitation and structural maintenance of County stormwater management ponds. Local watersheds will be protected by the funding of stormwater facilities in County parking district garages during fiscal year 2004.

To improve water quality, the budget includes $500,000 in new funds to reforest nearly nine acres a year. About 6,000 acres of agricultural land will be preserved by leveraging $10.3 million in State funds for the purchase of agricultural and conservation easements in fiscal years 2003 and 2004.

As part of an integrated strategy to reduce air pollution, funding is included to build a permanent "fast-fill" fueling station for Ride On buses using compressed natural gas.

Neighborhoods and Business Centers

A new program, Main Street Montgomery, will revitalize 900 miles of streets in selected business districts to improve safety, ease of use, and appearance.

The County remains fully committed to reinvestment in the vitality of Silver Spring, and this budget will complete additional steps towards revitalization, including:

· Complete the Silver Theatre and Round House Theatre during fiscal year 2003.

· Start of construction of the Silver Circle and Town Square Garages. The Silver Circle Garage will be funded with outside bond financing, rather than General Obligation bonds.

· Start of design of the Silver Spring Civic Building.

In addition, streetlights will be installed in various underserved residential areas of the County.

Recreation, Parks, and Culture

Duncan recommends funds to begin construction on the Strathmore Hall Arts Center, a 2,000 seat concert hall and arts education center (totaling $88.9 million), that will open in 2004. Strathmore will provide Montgomery County with a regional landmark and cultural centerpiece. The CIP also includes funding to continue major renovations at Glen Echo Park.

To meet growing demand for new recreational facilities, the CIP includes several pools and community recreation centers. The budget funds the opening of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. outdoor pool in White Oak and the renovated Bethesda pool; construction of the Germantown Indoor Swim Center and the Damascus Community Recreation Center; and funds the North Bethesda, North Potomac, White Oak/Kemp Mill, and Mid-County Community Recreation Centers. Development also begins for the 50 acre Laytonia Recreational Park in the Derwood area that includes ballfields, an in-line hockey rink, plan and picnic areas, trails, and paths. To improve current recreation facilities, the budget provides funding to add safety features at the South Germantown Recreational Park, renovate the Jesup-Blair Park, and reconstruct Concord Local Park in Bethesda.

Fiscal Highlights

The total tax-supported portion of the recommended CIP is $1.69 billion, a decrease of $280.4 million. No increases in property or income taxes, or water and sewer rates are necessary to fund Duncan's recommendations. Tax supported borrowing stays within prudent limits.

In this budget, Duncan has redirected $4.5 million approved for fiscal year 2003 PAYGO to fund fiscal year 2003 CIP current revenue requirements. He has recommended investing $135.6 million in tax supported current revenues.

The budget increases County investment in public schools by $39.5 million over six years and uses $7.7 million from fiscal years 2003 to 2004 to partially offset an anticipated $99.1 million decrease in State aid for schools. The General Obligation Spending Affordability Guidelines established for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 will be raised, consistent with the provisions of Charter section 305, by adding an additional $14.2 million in each of those years in order to meet the Board of Education's request. Park and Planning bonds will meet the Spending Affordability Guidelines set by the County Council in October.

The budget recommendation maintains conservative debt levels necessary to ensure continuation of Montgomery County's AAA credit rating. Duncan recommends retaining modest but prudent set-asides of bond-funded fiscal capacity for upcoming requirements.

The budget assumes state and federal aid will cover increases for the Emergency Communications Center; land acquisition, easements, and obstruction removal to ensure safe operations at the Montgomery County Airpark; purchase of agricultural easements and parkland; increased construction costs at the Montgomery County correctional Facility in fiscal year 2004; and renovation of the Montgomery County Detention Center in fiscal year 2004. Continued State aid is expected for the Silver Spring redevelopment, Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Glen Echo Park, Silver Spring Innovation Center, Conference Center, and expansion of the Montgomery College Campus in Takoma Park.

As is required in even-numbered calendar years under the biennial Capital Improvements Program, Duncan's recommendation for this year is a full capital program.

The recommended CIP will be accessible to the public via the Internet. Internet users can access CIP information by logging onto the County's homepage (http://www.co.mo.md.us), clicking on Budget, and then clicking on CIP/Capital Budget.