UPDATE: MC Committee won't discuss furloughs at meeting

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Updates version of earlier today to reflect that MFP Committee WILL NOT be discussing employee furloughs on May 17] Montgomery Council to Discuss Proposed Fuel/Energy Tax Increase, Grants Also on Monday May 17.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 14, 2010—The Montgomery County Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee and its Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (T and E) Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 17, will meet jointly to discuss County Executive Isiah Leggett’s proposal to sharply increase the County’s fuel/energy tax as part of its efforts to achieve a balanced Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Budget. The full Council is nearing decisions on most items impacting the new budget, which will go into effect on July 1. The Council is scheduled to reach a tentative agreement on the budget on May 20 and is scheduled to formally adopt the budget on May 27.

On Monday, beginning at 9:30 a.m., the Council will hold worksessions on several issues that have yet to be resolved. The Council meeting, and afternoon committee meetings, will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The meetings will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon) and also will be available via streaming through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.

During its morning session, the Council will discuss the annual Community Grants program and the new MC 311 Customer Service Center that will radically change how the County addresses requests for services and information. The Council also will get an updated report on the proposed consolidation of the Park Police unit of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission with the Montgomery County Police. Another item on the Council agenda is Department of Economic Development.