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DGS proposes apprenticeships and cuts porter service; committee to add items to reconciliation list
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Summary
The Department of General Services requested a $3.7 million increase and proposed a state‑certified apprenticeship program (6 FTEs, $274,000) while moving to reduce porter services ($625,000), and staff explained a $200,000 state grant flow for a Takoma Park car wash. The committee supported adding the apprenticeship item and BlackRock/Takoma items to reconciliation where noted.
The County’s Department of General Services (DGS) told the Government Operations Committee on April 23 that its FY27 operating budget recommendation includes a $3,700,000 increase (about 6.75%) and several program adjustments with direct service impacts.
Council staff said the DGS FY27 increase includes both general fund and internal fund shifts; the increase in the county’s printed mail fund portion is driven by higher postage and shipping costs. Among items called out in the packet was a proposed apprenticeship program—$274,000 and 6 FTEs to start mid‑year—modeled after an existing fleet apprenticeship. DGS described the 6 positions as two plumbers, two electricians and two HVAC apprentices. Deputy director Gregory Boykin said certification by the state makes the program eligible for grant funding. The committee asked staff to place the apprenticeship item on the reconciliation list for fuller review.
DGS also proposed a $625,000 reduction described as a cut to porter services that handle event‑cleanup and extra custodial tasks. Director David Dice told the committee the change "is not directly impacting the daily custodial functions" but will remove after‑event porter support, meaning cleanups that currently happen the same evening likely will shift to the next day and could require overtime or extra contractor charges for faster turnaround. Deputy Gregory Boykin warned the committee that busy libraries and rec centers "are going to look worse and they're going to draw more insects and rodents" if the extra cleanup is not preserved or replaced with targeted measures. Councilmembers pressed for sanitary exceptions and asked DGS to identify options and costs.
On a separate item, staff explained a $200,000 state small business revitalization award for Nguyen Nguyen Car Wash (7551 New Hampshire Ave, Takoma Park). The work paid for by the state is complete, but county staff said several administrative steps remain—grant agreements with the state and county and Board of Public Works approval—before the money reaches the business. The committee agreed to recommend the CIP appropriation and continue facilitation.
Next steps: committee placed the apprenticeship proposal and the BlackRock/DGS reconciliation requests on the reconciliation list and recommended the operating and CIP items to full council for consideration.
