The council voted on the final 2011 budget and tax rate tonight.  The tax rate has remained the same as last year.  Because properties were reassessed this year, the tax rate will have different affects on residents based on their tenure in the city and changing home values.  For long time residents, whose taxable values have been limited by the homestead property assessment limitations, you may see an increase in taxes as your assessment catches up to the market value, while more recent purchasers whose assessments went down may actually see a reduction in their taxes.  Overall, taxes relative to home values are equalizing between long time residents and more recent arrivals.

It was a tough budget year that saw the loss of eight city staff positions, increases in city fees for some services, and an outlook for next year that suggests things will be even more difficult. 

I look forward to discussing the budget and options for next year in the coming months.  It is imperative that we have this discussion in our community and that we do it before the budget process begins next winter.  It is likely that more significant changes will be needed next year.  This year there was talk of eliminating and/or restructuring city services versus tax increases.  We will need to have a community wide discussion of city service priorities and taxation.  It is my hope that the Mayor will support a community wide process, but at the very least I would like to have that conversation in Ward Two.

Colleen

It's budget season again and the council is meeting twice a week for the next several weeks.  There are several challenges in this year's budget, the greatest of which is probably the ever moving revenue targets.  While the state budget issues are settled, and our losses in the highway revenues were limited, the level of funding from Montgomery County and from property assessments is unstable.  A couple of big items....Ike Leggett's budget does not include any funding for the Piney Branch Pool, or the two deteriorating bridges over Sligo Creek -- Maple Avenue and Flower Avenue bridges.  The city has placed 50 percent of the funding for these bridges into our 2010 budget, with an understanding from the County that they would fund 50 percent.  The County Executive has now refused to use stimulous funds for this purpose, and has decided to keep all stimulous funds with no share going to cities.  It should be noted that the city receives a minuimal rebate from the county for maintaining the asphalt bridge top -- about two hundred dollars a year -- and the notion that we should have to contribute anything to these bridges is ridiculous in my view, as they span County, not city property (the creek).

There is a fair amount of uncertainty regarding the property and income tax revenues for this year.  The city manager's proposed budget sets the property tax at the same rate as it was in 2009.  For homeowners who will see an increase in their assessment value this year, that will mean an increase in real taxes paid.  For those who have gotten their assessments lowered by challenging the assessment through the county tax assessor's office, they will have a lower real tax payment.

The council is currently looking for ways to reduce the current tax rate, without putting the city's financial stability at risk.

Colleen

The juvenile court mentoring program badly needs mentors to work with court-involved youngsters.  The children are at risk youth who need the consistency and direction a mentor can provide.  The program is looking for a one-year committment and their is training and support for mentors.  There is always a waiting list for adult mentors.  The county currently has only 20 youngsters paired with a mentor.  

We can do better than that.  

Contact Mentoring Coordinator Ottoniel Perez at 301-587-5700 ext. 2574, or email ottoniel.perez@ymcadc.org.

Some of you are a ware I was a foster parent for several years, and am fostering a child this year. I have been fortunate to have worked with two children who had adult mentors during their time in foster care, and found those children had excellent relationships with their mentors, and noted their mentors served as an important support person, sounding board, friend and confident for the kids.  If you'd like to talk about foster parenting or mentoring, please call me.  My partner and I would be happy to discuss our experiences.  There is currently a foster child display up at the community center where you can get information on fostering a child.

Colleen

Welcome to my new website.  I have included as many of the available local resources as I can find, and will be adding additional items as I find them.  Please forward any suggestions to me at colleenc@takomagov.org.  I hope you will use this site to express your positions on issues in the city, to alert your neighbors to important issues, and to gather local information in one site.

Colleen