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Leggett’s Budget Goes Above Schools Minimum, Adds 23 Police Officers

By WTOP Staff

County Executive Isiah Leggett, with county safety officials at an event in November (file photo)County Executive Isiah Leggett on Monday revealed a $4.97 billion recommended operating budget that goes over the minimum required for school funding, adds 23 police officers and would mean $17 less in property taxes from the average homeowner.

The portion of the FY 2015 budget dedicated to schools looms over other services, with a record $2.16 billion dedicated to MCPS, an increase of $79.8 million, or 3.2 percent, from last year’s budget. It would also fund the schools at $26 million over the state-mandated maintenance of effort minimum, while putting another $11 million in the MCPS fund balance to fund 99.3 percent of the Board of Education’s request.

“I believe that we have made a good-faith effort to get as close as we possibly could,” Leggett said, referring to the BOE’s roughly $2.2 billion request, which would be $51.7 million over the minimum.

Leggett again said former County Executive Doug Duncan’s budget increases meant he inherited unsustainable spending when he took over in 2008.

He also again said his administration’s fiscal stewardship during the Great Recession paved the way for budget increases today. He cited a reduction in the county government workforce and other belt-tightening measures in employee benefits and contracts.

“I can think of no county executive, no governor in the region, no mayor who did as much for as long as I did those things,” said Leggett, who spoke about the budget after introducing it to the County Council on Monday morning.

Leggett’s recommended budget, which would start July 1 this year, is a 3.3 increase overall from last year’s budget. Last year’s increase from the FY 2013 budget was 4.3 percent.

While talking about a funding recommendation for a new fire station in Glenmont, Leggett made clear his intention to be around for next year’s budget. Leggett is running against Duncan and Councilmember Phil Andrews for this June’s Democratic nomination for county executive.

“I plan to open a sixth station in Glenmont next year,” Leggett said. “Let me repeat that. I plan to open a sixth station in Glenmont next year.”

Leggett’s budget would add 23 police officers and drop the property tax value from $1.01 per $100 of assessed value to 99.6 cents. Leggett said that would mean $17 less in property taxes paid next fiscal year by the average homeowner.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which runs the county’s Parks and Planning Departments, would see a 5.2 percent increase in tax-supported funding compared to last year’s budget.

The County Council will review Leggett’s recommendations over the next few months.

The Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) quickly put out a response to Leggett’s recommendations commending him for going over the maintenance of effort minimum but saying the group was disappointed Leggett’s recommendation fell about $15 million short of the BOE request:

“We commend the County Executive for looking at the needs of our students and schools, rather than a legal minimum, and proposing an operating budget that goes above MOE for the first time in six years. We recognize that politics require compromise, but insist education should not,” wrote MCCPTA Janette Gilman. “With the needs and numbers of our students on the rise and the imperative of closing the achievement gap, Montgomery County — led by County Executive Leggett — must go further. We must go the distance. We need to be able to both compensate teachers and staff fairly and support new programs specifically designed to close the gap.”

The Council’s public hearings on the operating budget are scheduled for April 8-10. Residents should call 240-777-7803 to sign up to speak. Input can be submitted via email at county[dot]council[at]montgomerycountymd[dot]gov or via regular mail to: County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.

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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