How does Montgomery County spend YOUR money?

Next week the Montgomery County Council will finalize the budget for FY2012.  I can't do full justice to the poor service this does to the taxpayers of Montgomery County, but here are a couple things that really upset me about the budget and budget process:

1.  The entire budget is formulated and presented in terms of "what we did last year." That means that at the highest level, the executive never presents, and the council never approves, a line-item budget. You need to read through each section of the budget and evaluate if you like the changes from the prior year. This totally neglects the need to look at the overall spending levels and determine if there are some things that just shouldn't be included. That's not to say that certain items aren't reduced or eliminated, but each of these decisions is based on "what we did last year" rather than asking if we are doing the right things with our limited government resources. Here’s a link to the Executive’s budget page. I’ll buy you lunch if you can send back a link to a single page listing all spending categories and total amounts.

2.  One of the things that appears will be kept essentially "same as last year" is the budget of the Office of Inspector General. Citizen activist oversight and the political process are one very high-level means to keep our government honest. (You can't count on the media around here.) A strong and independent OIG is a more effective way to ensure taxpayer resources are well managed. In Montgomery County, the budget to carry out this important function is $650,000 or LESS THAN .02% of the total budget. That is not a typo - two one-hundredths of one percent to ensure our $4.35 billion are spent wisely.

3.  Need a point of reference? The county executive has made outlaws of the MC Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association for opposing his fund-raising scheme to charge insurance companies for ambulance rides that are already paid for through our real estate taxes. This organization (MCVFRA) that supports the contribution of $20 million of free services to the county annually - not to mention the free use of privately owned real estate and equipment - is provided about $1.5 million of administrative and other support to its 19 member companies after this year's $1 million of cuts. The county spends $95,000 (follow link and scroll down to pg. 13) to audit the recipients of this administrative support.

I know this is mundane stuff - not very sexy or exciting – but it’s not just about the money you spend in taxes, it’s how that money is invested in your community to return value to your home. I hope to get you angry enough to do something about it: share this information with your neighbors, call your representatives, write the newspaper or join a cause.