May 31, 2019
Dear Friends,
The Prince George's County Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget on Wednesday afternoon, with our General Fund budget totaling $3.63 billion.
The Council continued our record investment in education. This year we invested 60.1% of the County General Fund dollars to the Prince George's County Public Schools operating budget. This includes
$18.8 million above the state required maintenance of effort.
With funding from our state partners, the total education budget is over $2.1 billion dollars--an increase of 6.6% over the current year!
In addition to crucial operating dollars, we increased funding in the capital budget for much-needed school building improvements including funding to move forward the following:
- Complete replacement of William Wirt Middle School, which will break ground this year and open in 2021
- Brand new Glenridge Middle School, which will open in 2022
- Major modernization projects at Berwyn Heights Elementary, Margaret Brent Elementary, and several other schools across the county
The FY2020 budget also includes:
- Additional dollars to grow the County's curbside composting program
- More DPIE inspectors to increase code enforcement
- Resources to address dumping and litter -- more enforcement cameras and additional trash/recycling bins
- An increase in funds for our Public Safety departments to continue to attract new recruits
- Increased funds for the 311 call center and for greater community outreach for emergency preparedness
- Funding for the State's Attorney to support the Teen Court program
- Additional funding for Employ Prince George's to assist returning citizens and veterans in accessing training and finding jobs
- The creation of a new Youth & Countywide Sports Division within M-NCPPC to support the new Youth Sports Initiative
I'm also extremely proud of these investments which I personally advocated for and which the Council was able to negotiate to be added to the overall budget:
- An additional $17.1 million over three years for roads, curbs and sidewalks, bringing the total investment for county road improvements to $84 million over the next three years.
- Funding to Prince George's Community College to expand their COAST counselors to additional PGCPS High Schools, expanding to all high schools in County have them. Parkdale HS and Bladensburg HS are just two of the schools which will benefit from this expansion.
- Funding for the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) to expand hours during the week and/or add Sunday hours at branches
- $100,000 to PGCMLS to increase bilingual outreach and programming
- An increase of $100,000 for our County Youth Service Bureaus to provide behavioral health services to additional children across the County
- An increase of $136,000 for homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing
- Additional funding to support the Maryland Market Money program
- Funding to purchase additional cameras to catch and prosecute illegal dumping and littering
- $150,000 for DPIE to purchase noise meters and train additional inspectors in their use
- Funding of $150,000 to support businesses along the Purple Line during construction and position them for success when the light rail opens
- Increased funding for additional agricultural preservation through the HARP program
- Additional funding to assist immigrants who need legal assistance
- Additional funds of $250,000 to the Department of Housing and Community Development to support policy and technical assistance to implement Housing Opportunities for All plan
- An initial $500,000 to begin the implementation of a short-term expansion of service by TheBus. In total we need to invest more than $7.5 million in future years to fully implement the short-term plan for expansion as outlined in the Transit Vision Plan. I will continue to advocate for this in the future.
In addition, in District 3, funding for crucial large stormwater management projects including those in the College Park Calvert Hills neighborhood and in Seabrook along Franklin Avenue were included.
In the M-NCPPC budget I was able to ensure funding is in place to conduct a feasibility study for the Good Luck Community Center expansion, which was postponed several years ago due to funding challenges, as well as feasibility studies for new, large multi-generational recreation facilities in Hyattsville, Glenridge/Woodlawn/Landover Hills, and Glenn Dale, as outlined in the 2040 Recreation plan. These would serve Northern area residents by providing greater access to recreation amenities similar to the newest facilities built in the southern part of the county. There is also funding for improvements at Woodlawn Park, the College Park Woods Trail construction, increased Trolley Trail lighting, and new West Lanham Hills playground. We also have funding in place to maintain our historic assets such as Riversdale House Museum, College Park Airport, Seabrook Schoolhouse, and Marietta Mansion.
The Council continued it's support of local agencies which support our developmentally disabled adult community until the state minimum wage increases catch up to the County's minimum wage requirements; increased funding for the Arts and Humanities Council; and added additional funding to provide support for nonprofits making a difference in the county.
I hope you join me in a sense of pride in this Fiscal Year 2020 budget which invests heavily in education, public infrastructure, and quality of life improvements for all Prince Georgians.
I am extremely grateful to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Council Chair Todd Turner, and all of legislative branch and agency staff who worked hard over many months on this budget.
Please join the Prince George's County Council sitting as the Board of Health at our upcoming Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, June 11 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.
We need to hear from you on the County's health and social service needs for our seniors, families, veterans, and children. This will be an interactive evening with multiple opportunities to provide your thoughts and opinions with us, so please come! Spanish translation will be provided.
Prior to the Town Hall, I will host an open house from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in my District 3 office on the 2nd Floor of the County Administration Building. Please come early and join me for some light refreshments on the 2nd Floor!
As always, feel free to reach out to a member of my District 3 team or me if we can help you in any way. #onlytogether
Together Strengthening Our Community,
