We are writing from the Montgomery County Food Council to provide you with food assistance resources to share with your constituents who may be experiencing food insecurity. As you may well be aware, SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) that have been in place since 2020 will come to a close at the end of February due to the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Individuals who had been receiving up to $281 a month during the pandemic could see their benefits reduced to as little as $23. SNAP recipients in Montgomery County will lose an average of $82 a month in SNAP benefits.
We anticipate this loss of benefits will result in more calls to your office from concerned residents wondering how they will be able to feed their families. They may have questions about their SNAP benefits or how they can access emergency food resources. Attached to this email are flyers detailing information about SNAP and food assistance resources in Montgomery County that you can share with constituents.
We also invite you to refer Montgomery County residents directly to the Montgomery County Food Council’s SNAP Outreach Team for assistance. As a Community Based Organization funded by the Maryland Department of Human Services’s SNAP Outreach Program, we are able to file SNAP applications for residents and assist in updating their expense deductions. We provide these services virtually, in both English and Spanish, and you may refer constituents to us by simply emailing us their name and number, or by filling out our referral form. For those constituents living outside Montgomery County, Maryland Hunger Solutions can provide the same services and can be reached at 866.821.555.
We thank you for your attention to this important issue. If you or anyone from your office would like to speak further about SNAP, food access, or any other food systems issues, we would be happy to set up a time to talk.
REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND APPEALS
REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND APPEALS
On 1/31/2023, Delegate Wu’s office invited three people from SDAT, Property Assessment of Howard County and Montgomery County to explain the property tax, appeal process and contact info. Thanks to those 60 people who attended the seminar and hopefully it will be helpful. Attached is the whole slide including contact information for tax departments. In the past, around 3% people appealed and around 40% appeals succeeded.
The whole presentation is here:
Contact:
Howard County
District Court Multi‐Service Center
3451 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(410) 480‐7940
E‐mail: sdat.how@maryland.gov
Montgomery County
30 W. Gude Drive, Suite 400
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(240) 314‐4510
E‐mail: sdat.mont@maryland.gov
Ranked–Choice Voting for Howard County – Board of Education Elections –
Howard County – Board of Education Elections – Ranked–Choice Voting
Here is the bill:
Primer of Ranked Choice Voting
Our team created a four-page PowerPoint slides to explain ranked choice voting.
Here is an article by Frank Hecker which talks about RCV.
A better way to elect the Howard County Board of Education – FrankHecker.com
HB0598-Maryland Education Funding Reform-Enrollment Calculation
HB0598-Maryland Education Funding Reform-Enrollment Calculation
Here is my bill: HB0598. The link is here: Legislation – HB0598 (maryland.gov)
The key idea
is that instead using the previous-year enrollment number as next-year’s funding basis, we should use a projected enrollment for the new fiscal year which is more closely aligned with reality and need.
Simple Analogy:
If your company has two employee and your total budget for them is 200k this year. For next year’s budget, if you know you will hire another employee, will you budget for two people (current student enrollment calculation) or three people (the proposed enrollment calculation in my bill HB0598)?
Majority of school systems will receive more money using this new formula.
Tax Sales in Maryland
Tax Sales in Maryland
Local Revenues Subcommittee Briefing, October 8, 2020
Ranked Choice Voting for BOE
Ranked Choice Voting for BOE
Delegate Jen Terrasa and I proposed the ranked choice voting for BOE.
Here are some discussions by Frank Hecker: https://frankhecker.com/2023/01/28/a-better-way-to-elect-the-howard-county-board-of-education/?fbclid=IwAR1YphWYDT3u1MOfF-4XTwznze1U6fkhSrzNff45FA-sbl2SjjuDnxDlZkY&mibextid=uc01c0
Briefing on Montgomery County’s Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) Plan and Associated Transit
Projects
Briefing on Montgomery County’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Plan and Associated Transit Projects
Special Virtual Info Session on Property Assessment & Taxation
Special Virtual Info Session on Property Assessment & Taxation, Hosted by Delegate Chao Wu and Delegate Natalie Ziegler, District 9A
Time: Tuesday 7-8 PM, 1/31/2023
How: Register at the following link and you we receive the meeting details:
Quick Look at Fiscal 2024 Budget
Quick Look at Fiscal 2024 Budget
UPDATE ON STATE REVENUES AND THE EARNED INCOME CREDIT
UPDATE ON STATE REVENUES AND THE EARNED INCOME CREDIT
Maryland’s Revenue Structure
Maryland’s Revenue Structure
Blueprint Update
Update from AIB board and Maryland State Department of Education
Accountability and Implementation Board
Dr. Isiah (Ike) Leggett, Chair
Ms. Rachel Hise, Executive Director
Maryland State Department of Education
Dr. Clarence C. Crawford, Chair of the State Board of Education
Mr. Mohammed Choudhury, State Superintenden
Presentation by State Department of Assessments and Taxation
The Ways and Means Committee had a presentation from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Here is the presentation ppt.
The SDAT has a very old computer system and received many paper applications from Montgomery County which led to their slow response.
In general, 3% homeowners appealed. And 40-50% appeals were successful (tax was reduced) in the past.
You don’t need an attorney during the appealing process.
Homeowner Protection Program
Federal Internship Opportunities
Federal Internship Opportunities
Launching in January 2023, The Federal Internship Portal is a new internship opportunities page on USAJOBS (intern.usajobs.gov) that will serve as a one-stop shop for #internship postings across the federal government, allowing prospective interns to easily find #opportunities at any agency.
If you or someone you know is looking for an internship at a federal agency, keep an eye out this #newyear! More details coming soon!
2023 Maryland Affordability Report
2023 Maryland Affordability Report, prepared by Department of Legislative Services, Nov. 15, 2022.
There is a lot of information shared in the report.
My reflection on BOE
As Vicky Cutroneo and Chao Wu end terms on Howard school board, they say last four years were challenging and rewarding
Apply for JROTC, Through Jan. 3, 2023
Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs are offered at Atholton (Army), Howard (Army) and Oakland Mills (Air Force) high schools. Each JROTC program provides an introduction to career opportunities in the United States Armed Forces and teaches principles of leadership, discipline and civic responsibility.
Any student who wishes to participate in JROTC but does not attend one of the schools that offers the program may apply for participation. Each school has a limited number of additional spaces available. T
o apply for participation for the 2023-2024 school year, students must contact a JROTC official between November 16, 2022 and January 3, 2023 to schedule an interview. Only students who are interviewed during this designated period will be considered for enrollment.Letters of approval/denial/wait list will be sent home January 19-20, 2023.
To schedule an interview, contact the JROTC official for the program of interest:
Air Force JROTC at Oakland Mills High School: CMSgt, (USAF, Ret) Robert Castellano, Aerospace Science Instructor, robert_castellano@hcpss.org or (410) 313-6945
Army JROTC at Atholton High School: LTC (USA, Retired) William Reinhart, Senior Army Instructor, william_reinhart@hcpss.org or (410) 313-7076
Army JROTC at Howard High School: LTC (USA, Retired) Patricia Marshall, Senior Army Instructor, patricia_marshall@hcpss.org or (410) 313-2878
An application essay or other pre-interview materials may be required by each individual JROTC program. Contact your school counselor for additional information.Find more information about the JROTC program on our website.
Issue Papers 2023 Legislative Session
Issue Papers 2023 Legislative Session
Winning the general election
After nearly all the mail-in and provisional ballots were reported today, I am very excited and humbled to be elected as one of the Delegates for District 9A.
Our team effort is paramount to the success of this election. I am so grateful to our supporters, volunteers and donors who placed their trust and confidence in me and worked so hard on the campaign trail for me.
I am so proud and grateful to have the support from Team 9. Congratulations to Delegate-Elect Natalie Ziegler, Delegate Courtney Watson and Senator Katie Fry Hester for their respective wins! Together we made it! I am honored to join them in Annapolis to work for our constituents.
Just last week, I had my last public board meeting after my four-year service on Howard County Board of Education. These four-year public service experiences have taught me to actively listen, seek common ground, be practical and be a visionary at the same time.
It will be a distinct honor and privilege to serve as your representative in Annapolis. I promise that I will do my best to be the champion of your voice.