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Leggett’s Capital Budget Includes Increases For Schools, Money For White Flint

By WTOP Staff

Cranes rise from the Pike & Rose construction site in White FlintCounty Executive Isiah Leggett’s proposed capital budget includes increased funding for school construction and roads and good news for fans of redevelopment in White Flint.

Leggett’s recommended Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2015-2020 includes funding of a new Main Street/Market Street, a realigned Executive Boulevard and a reconfigured intersection of Old Georgetown Road, Executive Boulevard and Hoya Street known as the Western Workaround.

The new street grid would pave the way for apartment development from Gables Residential, which would in turn allow Montgomery Parks to expand and rebuild Wall Park near the Shriver Aquatics Center.

Leggett’s proposal also includes another $169 million for the Montrose Parkway East and Chapman Avenue Extended projects and the relocation of the White Flint Fire Station. The county is exploring plans to build a new parking garage on the existing surface lot of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, where a realigned Executive Boulevard would run.

Leggett’s proposal said the garage will include retail and affordable housing and will be forwarded straight to the County Council for approval.

Dee Metz, the county’s White Flint Coordinator, told members of the White Flint Implementation Committee on Monday that she was hoping for upward of $100 million in funding for the new street grid.

Some of those projects will eventually be paid for by the developers in a new White Flint special taxing district, though the county has collected only about $3 million in district taxes so far.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Leggett emphasized the record levels of school construction funding in his proposal.

The $4.49 billion CIP recommends $1.2 billion for school capital projects, $1.1 billion of which would be dedicated to school construction. It’s an increase of 13 percent, or $129.5 million, from the FY 13-18 CIP.

“That’s an unprecedented number for our school system,” Leggett said. “I justify that based on the priorities.”

Together with expected state contributions and a recent effort for more state school construction funding, Leggett’s proposal puts total capital school funding at $1.7 billion over the next six years.

To get to those numbers, Leggett proposed the county increase its borrowing capacity to $324 million a year. The overall CIP would be a 2.3 percent increase from the last CIP.

Leggett’s proposal also includes the addition of the Josiah Henson Historic Park project, which would use $2 million in private funding to help Montgomery Parks rehabilitate the historic Riley/Bolton House and add a visitor center and museum.

The Western Grove Urban Park project, bought through a partnership with Chevy Chase Village, was also added to the CIP.

Also included in the CIP is the new 2nd District Police Station project and funding for the Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, which would connect Purple Line riders to Metro at Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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