County and City disagree
on county rebate for police tax
by Kristina Gawgry
A "difference in opinion" between Montgomery County
officials and City of Takoma Park officials resulted in a
threatened cut of nearly $1 million from the city budget.
The city, which receives an annual rebate from Montgomery
County as compensation for operating its own police department
while paying the county police tax, was informed by the county
that it would receive only $1.13 million. The previous fiscal
year’s rebate was $2.06 million.
Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
Joseph F. Beach explained a little of what went into the formula
to calculate the amount given to the city. Studies on the
amount of proactive versus administrative work police officers
actually accomplished were conducted in both 1993 and 2000.
According to the 1993 study each officer had 570 hours to
respond to calls for service. The 2000 study showed an increase
to 870 hours. The studies also showed that officer’s
administrative work hours, spent on things such as lunch and
roll call, decreased from 31 percent to 16 percent. The county
felt that fewer officers were needed in the city to accomplish
the same amount of service, Beach said.
The city and county have been meeting for weeks to discuss
the issue and come up with a solution. A decision was finally
made by the county to reinstate the original amount.
The intricate formula used to estimate the amount the county
saves by not providing police service to Takoma Park and other
independent municipalities in Montgomery County was detailed
in what is called a ‘memorandum of understanding’
issued by the county.
What Takoma Park’s community and government liaison,
Suzanne R. Ludlow, called a "difference in opinion"
is sure to raise some interesting questions about how the
city and the county work to ensure the amount of money is
sufficient for both ends.
"Both points of view have merit, [but] we just want
to make sure that we get a fair share," Ludlow said.
Takoma Park Police Chief Cindy Creamer was confident that
Takoma Park would receive some answers or changes after the
dramatic decrease in funds.
When asked about what she thought would happen to the Takoma
Park Police Department if dramatic cuts were instituted in
the future, she said: "It’s probably pretty premature
at this time but I know that the county will continue to work
closely with us."
The county council reviewed all payments for all municipalities
on April 26 and concurred with the budget for now. The issue
will be taken to full council in about a month, Beach said.
Takoma Park is the only municipality in Montgomery County
that runs its own police department. Other municipalities
in the county do receive rebates for double payment in other
departments such as road and parking maintenance.
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