Community E-News

Together Strengthening Our Community

 

                  March 2009

Eric Olson - District 3
Prince George's County Council

 

       News You Can Use

Foreclosure Prevention
The Department of Housing and Community Development is providing residents with three new brochures, one from the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation to assist with foreclosure prevention.  Links to all three brochures are provided below.

 Foreclosure Laws

 Foreclosure Worksheet

 Foreclosure Worksheet
 SPANISH

 Foreclosure Tri-fold Brochure

 Foreclosure Tri-fold Brochure
 SPANISH

Superintendent’s School Boundary Survey
The Board of Education has initiated a county-wide review of school boundaries which could result in adjustments to school boundaries or even temporarily closure of some schools.  It is therefore very important for residents to be involved in this School Board process.  Boundary proposals for District 3 schools will be presented in the Spring.

Go to http://www1.pgcps.org/pasb/forms.aspx?ekfrm=75296 to review and complete an online survey.  A series of meetings for public input will be held throughout the Spring semester related to elementary and middle school boundaries and in the Fall related to high school boundaries.

 

Prince George’s County Public School Alert System

Sign up for the email/cell phone alert system that Prince George's County Public Schools uses to notify parents and others when there is a change in school schedule or to announce and emergency at www.schools-out.com.

 

Help Plan Future Parks and Recreation Facilities
Here’s your chance to let others know what kind of community centers, recreation programs, parks, trails and ball fields you want in your community. Prince George’s County wants to hear from you as it develops a plan for future parks and recreation projects and open space acquisitions from the year 2010 to 40 years in the future.  

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is asking county residents to fill out a survey by mail or online during January. The written survey takes about 15 minutes to fill out, or you may answer the questions online at the site . Questions ask about your family's parks and recreation interests, even if you do not currently use Park and Planning facilities and programs. All answers will be kept confidential, and will be part of the comprehensive parks and recreation needs assessment study for Prince George’s County.

To encourage your participation, everyone who responds will be entered in a drawing for the chance to win one of ten $100 Giant Food gift cards. To enter the drawing, simply enter your first name and daytime phone number or e-mail at the end of the survey. For more information about the Parks & Recreation: 2010 and Beyond project , contact M-NCPPC’s project manager John Henderson at 301-864-6957.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince George's
County Council
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive
Second Floor
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772
Phone: (301) 952-3060

 

 

 

 

olson.jpgDear Friends, 

I hope everything is going well in your community and with you.  I know that this is not an easy time for some in our community and I encourage you to continue to contact our office if you need assistance and please continue to share information with your neighbors such as the foreclosure prevention information on the sidebar of this e-newsletter.  Given that the County Council will be beginning its formal budget process in mid-March, I wanted to share with you more about my approach to this year’s budget.  If you could please distribute this to your community members and encourage them to directly sign up for the e-newsletter, I would greatly appreciate it. 

 

  Olson_signature1.jpg
 
Eric Olson
 Council Member District 3

District 3 Website
(301) 952-3060

Back to top


FY2010 Budget

On March 16th, the County Executive will formally present his budget to the County Council and the public.  I will then have an opportunity to review the budget in committee hearings, ask questions, and make recommended changes.  There will be several public hearings in May on the budget, which I encourage you to participate in.  Dates for those hearings have not yet been established, but I will include them in my next e-newsletter. 

The budget for FY 2010 as well as future budget years will not be easy.  Revenue from the state as well as revenue from other sources like the Transfer and Recordation taxes on home sales have dropped dramatically.  Even this current year’s budget is facing a shortfall.  The County Executive had indicated his desire to increase the Homestead Tax Credit by 10% for two years (PG 414-09) and increase the Washington Suburban Transit Tax on property tax bills (PG116-09 and HB 1132) and submitted legislation for review in Annapolis.  I voted no on both of these bills when they were presented to the County Council during its regular review of Annapolis legislation.  I opposed the legislation because there were too many unanswered questions and it was not clear that cuts to county expenses had been made.  As of today, it appears that PG 414-09 is on hold, but that PG 116-09 may still be moving forward.

As the formal budget process moves forward, I will continue to thoroughly question the budget proposal to make sure that County Government is focused on its core mission and to ensure that unnecessary expenses are eliminated.  Several of you have sent me your thoughts on the budget; please continue to do so.  I can be reached directly at eolson@co.pg.md.us.  My Chief of Staff, Dannielle Glaros, can also help you on budget matters and she can be reached at dmglaros@co.pg.md.us or 301-952-3060.

 

Back to top


Board of Education Community Meeting

 

The Board of Education will be hosting a community meeting in our area on Monday, March 9th at 7pm at Parkdale High School at 6001 Good Luck Road.  Board Members will be reporting on school system programs and initiatives.  For more information, call 301-952-6115.


US Census 2010

The next U.S. Census is coming up in 2010.  There will be hundreds of jobs available during this process. 

Please visit http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/
to apply or for more information. 


Scholarship Opportunities

State Delegates and Senators are currently offering scholarships to residents of their Legislative District who are attending or will attend college in Maryland.  For more information, please contact your Senator or Delegates office.  Each office has their own deadline.

Distirct 22:
Senator Paul Pinsky                 Delegate Justin Ross     
Delegate Tawnanna Gaines    Delegate Anne Healey

District 23A:
Senator Douglas J.J. Peters  - Call (301) 858-3631 to request an application.

Delegate Gerron Levi - Call (301) 858 3103 to request a scholarship
packet.  

Delegate James Hubbard - Call (301) 858-3103 to request a scholarship packet.

District 47:
Senator David Harrington              Delegate Victor Ramirez

Delegate Jolene Ivey                      Delegate Doyle Neiman


 Prince George 's County Summer Youth Employment 2009

Summer employment opportunities are available for youth ages 15-21 living

in Prince George's County. Applicants can register online starting February

2, 2009 at: http://www.co.pg.md.us/Government/ExecutiveBranch/summeryouth.asp.  For additional information, please contact Prince George's County Youth Employment Services at 301-883-5993.

Back to top

These periodic email updates are sent to public officials, town managers, civic association leaders, and residents upon request.  If you are not  interested in receiving this update, please email Thomas Mayah at tsmayah@co.pg.md.us.