Costco Subsidy, Budget Top Concerns at Leggett Town Hall

With Montgomery County Cable cameras rolling, Leggett answered questions from Wheaton and Kensington residents Wednesday night for a little over an hour at Crossways Community. 

While residents asked Leggett about everything from the to to , the two issues most on attendees’ minds was the subsidy planned for the construction of the new Costco in Westfield Wheaton and school system’s budget.

The two concerns dovetailed in the first question for Leggett, where a resident and a employee of Stephen Knolls school wondered why the County was giving out $4 million to Westfield when staff hours were being cut at schools.

Leggett’s answer was not surprising, giving his previous statements on the Costco subsidy and other incentives the county has given to developers for other projects in the county: the $4 million investment in Costco would be repaid back through expanding the county’s tax base.

Judy Higgins, land use chair of Kensington View Civic Association, noted that Macy’s in Wheaton had been given a $6 million subsidy in 2005, and wondered what sort of return on its investment the County had seen in that case.

“Directly I can’t say to you we got the $6 million back,” Leggett said, adding that the shopping center was in worse condition, and the county had “come out ahead” on increased taxes from the mall, “But not giving Costco the subsidy now, you jeopardize that $6 million.”

One woman simply wanted to know when the Costco would be open.

Leggett also responded to many of the questions from teachers and media specialists about cut hours by reiterating his support of education, and noting that while he did not support a school budget that would match with the state’s maintaining of effort formula, he did recommend a three percent increase from last year's overall school budget.

“But enrollment is going up as well,” one questioner said.

Leggett’s response was that libraries and other services the county provided were in more demand than ever, but their budgets would likely decrease.

He also took some time at the end of questions to remind residents that the rejection of the ambulance fee bill had cost Montgomery County much needed revenue. 

“I pushed and I said to this community, ‘We’re going to regret this’” Leggett said, adding that now, “I’m going to deal with the hand I’ve been dealt with.”