Montgomery County residents have learned the grass isn’t greener two months after filling a $1 billion budget gap.
That grass is also taller, and the county’s roads are rougher, parking garages are dirtier and library lines are longer.
Welcome to the “new normal” in the affluent suburb, so-dubbed by elected officials, bracing for the elimination of services long considered routine.
Budget documents reviewed by The Washington Examiner show a bounty of cuts that might seem marginal by themselves, but amount to millions of dollars in savings — and rising frustration among residents accustomed to lofty levels of service financed by their tax dollars.
In the transportation department alone: Fewer tree branches will be removed and less greenery planted to save $1.17 million; disabled vehicles will remain on the roads longer, with the elimination of the county’s service patrol program; contractual mowing cycles have been cut in half for a savings of $160,000; fewer roads will be patched; and 31 fewer traffic signals will be re-timed this year.
Even gypsy moths are cheering the development. Nearly $50,000 was removed from the budget for suppression of the pest.
There also will be fewer job fairs and, fittingly, copies of budget books will be reduced to save another $50,000.
“If you cut spending, there’s stuff you’re not going to do anymore,” explained County Council President Nancy Floreen. “I’m sure there are situations where people will start seeing the effects of those cuts.”
Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large, said the most common complaints he hears about budget cuts involve tree maintenance and library hours.
County officials have blasted Pepco for recent, prolonged power outages, while slashing money devoted to trimming trees around power lines.
And library hours will be cut 8.7 percent countywide to save nearly $2 million this fiscal year.
In the recreation department, all nonaquatic facilities will close at least one day a week, the hours at senior centers will be reduced, and support to the Maryland Senior Olympics will be $50,000 less this fiscal year.
Even booze, perhaps the most recession-proof industry, was hammered. The Department of Liquor Control closed its Twinbrook store in July, saving the county $500,000.
With the primary two weeks away, candidates are honing in on the politically lethal combination of higher taxes and fewer services.
“The general sentiment I’m hearing is that elected officials took the easy way out,” said council candidate Ilaya Hopkins, referring to furloughs and other “short-term Band-Aids” employed by officials instead of widespread, permanent administrative cuts.
Some county officials called the service cuts unavoidable, considering the state of the county’s finances.
“We don’t like these reductions any more than anyone else,” said Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for County Executive Ike Leggett. “This is the price of putting together a balanced budget. We hope to bring some of those services back to where they ought to be when the fiscal pressure eases a bit.”
