Capital budget introduced at $268.9 million

NORRISTOWN >> Members of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners got their first look at financials for the upcoming 2023 budget cycle last week.

Along with the proposed 2023 budget, financial representatives included supplemental information for the $269.8 million 2023 capital fund budget and the 2023-27 Capital Improvement Program.

“At its most fundamental level, the capital improvement program aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens through strategic investments in physical infrastructure including the

county’s roads, bridges, facilities, and land,” said RJ Griffin, Montgomery County’s capital budget manager.

The $269.8 million capital fund budget includes 150 projects in its overall portfolio, according to Griffin. The largest items include roughly $112.1 million for the county campus plan, which accounts for 42 percent of the budget, the Montgomery County Department of Assets and Infrastructure at nearly $73.1 million, or 27 percent, and the Montgomery County Planning Commission at

about $52.7 million, or 19 percent, according to financial documents.

The county campus plan has prompted disagreement among county commissioner in recent years. Commissioner Joe Gale has been a vocal critic of the costs associated with the projects.

Griffin highlighted funds for several ongoing assets and infrastructure initiatives: $37 million in county facility improvements, $20 million for roads and bridges, $12 million for parks and trails, as well as $3 million to renovate the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library.

On behalf of the county

planning commission, the capital budget distributes $30 million for the Ridge Pike Improvement Project, around $17 million for trail projects and $4 million for SEPTA’s capital contribution, which Griffin said helps “keep mass transit running out here in the county.”

“So how will we pay for the 2023 capital fund budget?” Griffin said during the Nov. 17 board meeting.

Several large pieces of the pie were identified. Capital fund bond proceeds were the majority sponsor, with 77 percent covering about $149 million, according to Griffin. Federal grants amounted to roughly $18.3 million, or

9 percent, and nearly $14.9 million, or 8 percent, came from proceeds from the $5 county motor vehicle registration fee.

Looking ahead to the proposed 2023-27 Montgomery County Proposed Capital Improvement Program, the county campus plan accounted for 36 percent of program spending at $318.6 million, the county planning commission is slated to receive 29 percent of the pie, at $257.4, and the county’s assets and infrastructure department rounds out the big-ticket items with $205.2 million over the next few years.

Several projected projects were highlighted over the next five fiscal years,

with Griffin spotlighting the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s $27 million allocation over the next five fiscal years to fund the replacement burn building, renovations to the operations center, upgrades to the public safety training center, 911 upgrades, as well as the emergency operations warehouse.

Other notable projects include a new roof for the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, vehicles for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and implementing charging stations for electric vehicles.

Two public hearings are scheduled where area residents

can share their opinions on the upcoming budget and capital improvement plan. They will take place both virtually and in-person at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, located at 425 Swede St., in Norristown. A vote for the 2023 budget, 2023 capital budget and and 2023-27 capital improvement plan is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 15 during the final Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting for the year.

Visit montcopa.org for more information and the county finance department’s website to learn more about the budget.