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The county also received more than $327 million in state aid for programs that supplement Montgomery's tax-supported operating budget, a 12.2 percent increase over last year. Much of that money went to schools and was driven by state formulas that take into account Montgomery's growing enrollment. Montgomery County Community College also got a boost, with a 15.3 percent increase in state aid over last year.
Duncan and some lawmakers were disappointed that the budget did not address a state commission's recommendations to significantly increase funding for special education.
"We got nothing," said state Sen. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D). "The other area thing is that some of us were disappointed that we didn't get more for K-through-12 education funding."
Overall, though, officials cited statistics to argue that the days when Montgomery County did not get a big enough slice of the state budget pie are long gone. From the 1996 to 2002 budget cycles, state funding for non-transportation construction has increased 315 percent, and direct state aid the county can use to supplement its operating budget and pay for programs has more than doubled from 1995.
"We get our fair share," Del. Kumar Barve (D) said at the delegation's press conference Tuesday.
Some of the big ticket items this year included:
$42.4 million to build the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology at the University of Maryland's Shady Grove campus.
$28 million to build a 2,000 seat Strathmore Concert Hall in Bethesda, which will be the summer home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
$18 million to build a district court in Silver Spring.
$13.2 million to expand Montgomery County College's Takoma Park campus.
$3 million to rehabilitate Glen Echo Park.
In other legislative action, Montgomery County judges, lawmakers and court officials succeeded in their effort to transfer juvenile cases from the lower District Court to Circuit Court, a move state Sen. Ida Ruben (D) said is long overdue.
Since the late 1970s, Montgomery has been the only county in Maryland to keep juvenile cases in the lower District Court. Because Circuit Court handles other family matters, such as divorces and child custody issues, families facing myriad problems can find their cases split between two courts with inconsistent and potentially harmful results, according to a report by the court administrator. The county will get three more judges to help handle the cases, Ruben said.
A local effort to allow youths to bring cell phones to public schools also succeeded, with lawmakers passing a bill to lift a statewide prohibition against them. Parents had pushed the measure, calling it a matter of safety.
© 2001 The Washington Post Company
MARYLAND LEADS THE WAY TO FUNDING METRO'S NEXT 25 YEARS
Maryland Transportation Secretary Commits to State's Share of $9.8 Billion for System Preservation and $2.5 Billion to Expand Metro's Capacity
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2001
BWI AIRPORT, MD (April 18, 2001) -- In another effort to reach Governor Parris N. Glendening's goal of doubling transit ridership by 2020, Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari today announced the State is committed to supporting the future infrastructure and expansion needs of Metro over the next 25 years. At today's meeting of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Secretary Porcari pledged Maryland's share of $9.8 billion for system preservation and $2.5 billion to expand existing capacity on Metro.
"As we look to our next 25 years as a region, transit remains key to meeting the transportation needs of the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area," said Transportation Secretary Porcari. "I am proud to say Maryland is leading the regional effort to fund the preservation of Metro while accommodating its unprecedented ridership growth. Under Governor Glendening, Maryland has made a commitment to doubling transit ridership over the next 20 years and these investments will help us meet the challenges of our success."
This commitment comes on the heels of the General Assembly's recent passage of Governor Glendening's $500 million transit initiative that focuses on making transit more convenient and accessible.
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