Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultants: Potts Hall line in governor's budget and more bills to watch in Annapolis
Summary
GreenWheel Consulting briefed Mount Rainier leaders on Annapolis priorities, flagged a $700,000 appropriation for Potts Hall in the governor's proposed budget and urged monitoring of several bills (bottle bill, redistricting, face-covering restrictions and funding changes).
Consultants Jonathan Carpenter and Leslie Feliz of GreenWheel Consulting told Mount Rainier's mayor and council on Feb. 3 that several statewide measures and the governor's budget could affect the city's priorities this year.
Carpenter summarized the fiscal picture in Annapolis: "The governor has put forth a budget... $70,800,000,000 with an expected, structural deficit this year of 1,400,000,000," and said negotiations between the governor and the two chambers will determine what remains in the final plan. He flagged an item of local interest: a proposed $700,000 allocation for Mount Rainier's Potts Hall that the consultants said they will continue to monitor and defend in conference committee.
Feliz outlined legislative activity to watch, including immigration-related bills that produced "hours-long debates," a redistricting bill, and a container-deposit "bottle bill" being pursued as a priority for the city that would place reverse-vending machines across the state to return about 10 cents per container. She noted that one immigration-related measure had been made an emergency bill and that other bills had passed or been laid over to future session days.
Councilmembers asked for updates on specific measures they follow (Senate Bill 255 on voters' rights; SB49 concerning unhoused individuals) and were told by GreenWheel that SB255 had passed committee with technical amendments and was laid over on the floor the same day, while SB49 had not yet reached a vote and the consultants would follow up. GreenWheel emphasized the importance of the city's weekly reports so council can flag priorities for the consultants to advocate for or against on the council's instruction.
The firm also advised the council to submit project proposals and grant-ready materials for potential DHCD funding lines and to be mindful of looming introduction and crossover deadlines (Feb. 9 for the Senate; Feb. 13 for the House) and the final budget passage around April 6.
No formal council positions were taken at the meeting; GreenWheel reiterated they will not lobby for or against bills without an explicit council position.
