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Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy, and healthy communities.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Department of Environmental Protection is $46,713,516, an increase of $3,699,694 or 8.60 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $43,013,822. Personnel Costs comprise 35.30 percent of the budget for 130 full-time position(s) and one part-time position(s), and a total of 133.69 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 64.70 percent of the FY25 budget.

The debt service for the Water Quality Protection Fund is appropriated in the Debt Service Fund and is, therefore, not displayed in this section. To pay for the debt service, a transfer of funds from the Water Quality Protection Fund to the Debt Service Fund of $10,388,020 is required in FY25 for Water Quality Protection Bonds and long-term financing offered by the State of Maryland.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

  • A Greener County
  • Effective, Sustainable Government

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY24 estimates reflect funding based on the FY24 approved budget. The FY25 and FY26 figures are performance targets based on the FY25 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY26.

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Initiatives

  • Enhance efforts to combat climate change by adding funds to build out the County's electric vehicle charging infrastructure, assist under-resourced building owners comply with Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) with subsidized energy audits, and contractual support to help low-income residents access federal incentives and tax credits newly-available under the Inflation Reduction Act. A position and operating funds are added to develop a solar power strategic plan as well.
  • Increase funding for Clean Water Montgomery grants (previously Watershed Grants), which earn credit toward the County's MS4 permit on private property.
  • Create new positions for inspections and maintenance of stormwater management facilities throughout the County, including for environmental site designs, above ground structures, and tree plantings.
  • Add funds to implement a ban on the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers, including outreach to affected retailers and lawn care companies, and to fund an electric leaf blower rebate program.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • The Energy, Climate, and Compliance Division developed and issued Executive Regulations to implement the BEPS Law, a cornerstone County climate policy. DEP also onboarded new BEPS staff and is expanding the software platform to manage benchmarking data to accommodate the expanded scope of the Law.

  • Expand the Charge Montgomery program plan for the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Montgomery County. This program helps the County educate and engage with the public on EV charging, including a survey and GIS map to visualize current and future charging station locations relative to points of interest and equity census tracts.

  • Through its Montgomery Energy Connection program, DEP launched Electrify MC pilot program, a residential electrification help desk and direct incentives to encourage residents to switch from fossil fuels to efficient electric options in their home, in advance of the incentives that will be available through the Inflation Reduction Act.

  • The DEP Communications and Public Engagement team led and participated in more than 80 community events to inform and educate the public about DEP practices and ways the public can help address climate change and reduce, reuse, and recycle more. In order to meet the needs of the entire County, the department held events in and with frontline communities that are traditionally underserved.


Program Descriptions

  Watershed Restoration

The Watershed Restoration Division leads the County's efforts to improve stream health and water quality through the targeted planning, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of best management practices (BMP) built to manage stormwater runoff. The Watershed Restoration Division supports watershed-based monitoring and reporting to achieve County stream protection goals (Montgomery...

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  Energy, Climate and Compliance

The Energy, Climate, and Compliance Division develops and implements policies and programs focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the resilience of the County in the face of a changing climate, and enforces County laws and regulations related to air and water pollution, illegal dumping, noise control, and other...

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  Administration

The Office of the Director provides for overall management of departmental programs to ensure safe and efficient operations, including contract administration management for the department, continuity of operations, oversight of operational programs at the County's Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS), and communications and public engagement. The Office provides strategic...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Vicky Wan of the Department of Environmental Protection at 240.777.7722 or Richard H. Harris of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2795 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY23
Budget
FY24
Estimate
FY24
Recommended
FY25
%Chg
Bud/Rec
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1816289.002981983.00 2493547.00 3218762.007.9
Employee Benefits450149.00792133.00 635808.00 825702.004.2
County General Fund Personnel Costs2266438.003774116.00 3129355.00 4044464.007.2
Operating Expenses5062645.005309731.00 5604731.00 6658811.0025.4
County General Fund Expenditures7329083.009083847.00 8734086.00 10703275.0017.8
PERSONNEL
Full-Time61.0064.00 64.00 63.00-1.6
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs25.6431.65 31.65 30.00-5.2
REVENUES
Other Licenses/Permits13275.0020000.00 20000.00 20000.000.0
Other Charges/Fees114800.0060400.00 60400.00 60400.000.0
Other Fines/Forfeitures20273.0015000.00 15000.00 15000.000.0
Tree Canopy654250.001500000.00 1500000.00 1500000.000.0
County General Fund Revenues802598.001595400.00 1595400.00 1595400.000.0
 
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages7389471.008884109.00 8357478.00 9519933.007.2
Employee Benefits2135085.002785666.00 2611303.00 2924749.005.0
Water Quality Protection Fund Personnel Costs9524556.0011669775.00 10968781.00 12444682.006.6
Operating Expenses20660749.0022260200.00 22260200.00 23565559.005.9
Water Quality Protection Fund Expenditures30185305.0033929975.00 33228981.00 36010241.006.1
PERSONNEL
Full-Time60.0065.00 65.00 67.003.1
Part-Time1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
FTEs96.84101.84 101.84 103.691.8
REVENUES
Bag Tax2904096.002500000.00 2500000.00 2700000.008.0
Water Quality Protection Charge45003919.0045794760.00 45794760.00 49639440.008.4
Investment Income1409687.001266820.00 2241260.00 1987000.0056.8
Other Charges/Fees369929.0047500.00 47500.00 47500.000.0
Water Quality Protection Fund Revenues49687631.0049609080.00 50583520.00 54373940.009.6
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Operating Expenses239395.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures239395.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
REVENUES
State Grants118855.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Federal Grants123423.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues242278.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures37753783.0043013822.00 41963067.00 46713516.008.6
Total Full-Time Positions121.00129.00 129.00 130.000.8
Total Part-Time Positions1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
Total FTEs122.48133.49 133.49 133.690.1
Total Revenues50732507.0051204480.00 52178920.00 55969340.009.3
FY25 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION908384731.65
Changes (with service impacts)
Add: Bill 18-22 Implementation for Electric Leaf Blower Incentive Program [Energy, Climate and Compliance]6250000.00
Add: New Position and Operating Support for Solar Strategic Plan Development (Senior Planning Specialist) [Energy, Climate and Compliance]3453541.00
Add: Energy Audits for Under-Resourced Buildings Subject to BEPS [Energy, Climate and Compliance]2750000.00
Add: Technical Support and Incentives for Electric Vehicle Community Charging Infrastructure Deployment [Energy, Climate and Compliance]2000000.00
Add: Inflation Reduction Act Incentive Energy Ambassadors [Energy, Climate and Compliance]2000000.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs4093090.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment1771480.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases1539550.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Lapsed Positions577530.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment155290.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment154970.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts [Administration]115090.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail63550.00
Re-align: Elimination of Long-Term Vacancy (General Fund) [Administration]-51053-0.40
Decrease Cost: Reduce Contractual Support for Climate Communications and Data [Energy, Climate and Compliance]-979680.00
Shift: Transfer Position to Office of Grants Management to Increase Climate Grants Capacity [Energy, Climate and Compliance]-114576-1.00
Re-align: One-time Adjustment to General Climate Program Funding for Capacity [Energy, Climate and Compliance]-1363450.00
Shift: Realign Positions Based on Workload [Administration]-188678-1.25
Decrease Cost: Lapse Adjustment-2843610.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED1070327530.00
 
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION FUND
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION33929975101.84
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Clean Water Montgomery Grant [Watershed Restoration]1500000.00
Enhance: Bag Tax Outreach [Watershed Restoration]1000000.00
Enhance: New Position for Above Ground Maintenance Split with Capital Budget (Construction Representative III) [Watershed Restoration]694040.50
Enhance: New Vehicle for Reclassed Position Within the Environmental Site Design Program [Watershed Restoration]300000.00
Enhance: New Position for Tree Montgomery and MS4 Inspections (Construction Representative II) [Watershed Restoration]170921.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Maintenance and Inspections for Growing Best Management Practice Inventory [Watershed Restoration]8583570.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment3566270.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases3217430.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs2039100.00
Increase Cost: Support for M-NCPPC Water Quality Efforts [Watershed Restoration]1825680.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Lapsed Positions1339930.00
Shift: Move Position from Gneral Fund to Water Quality Protection Fund [Administration]758650.50
Increase Cost: Office of Agriculture Chargeback [Watershed Restoration]677770.00
Increase Cost: Follow-up Inspections for the Tree Montgomery Program [Watershed Restoration]670000.00
Shift: Adjust Position from General Fund to Water Quality Protection Fund [Watershed Restoration]369480.25
Increase Cost: Information Technology Support Contract [Watershed Restoration]313000.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts [Watershed Restoration]286220.00
Increase Cost: Department of Transportation Chargeback [Watershed Restoration]70460.00
Increase Cost: Adjustment to Wheaton Office Building Expenses [Watershed Restoration]66590.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail39980.00
Increase Cost: Agreements with Metropolitan Council of Governments [Watershed Restoration]25570.00
Increase Cost: Arlington ACCS contract [Administration]17310.00
Decrease Cost: Retirement Adjustment-128800.00
Decrease Cost: Dept. of Finance Chargeback [Watershed Restoration]-150570.00
Re-align: Elimination of Long-Term Vacancy (Water Quality Protection Fund) [Administration]-51053-0.40
Decrease Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment-543290.00
Decrease Cost: Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY24-700000.00
Decrease Cost: Lapse Adjustment-4696120.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED36010241103.69
Program Summary
Program NameFY24 APPR
Expenditures
FY24 APPR
FTEs
FY25 REC
Expenditures
FY25 REC
FTEs
Administration19356939.7020451849.05
Energy, Climate and Compliance557824821.01717869821.01
Watershed Restoration35499881102.7837489634103.63
Total43013822133.4946713516133.69
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY24
Total$
FY24
FTES
FY25
Total$
FY25
FTES
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION FUND
CIPCapital Fund262756618.40291271718.90
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY25FY26FY27FY28FY29FY30
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended10703.00000010703.00000010703.00000010703.00000010703.00000010703.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Annualization of Positions Recommended in FY250.00000032.00000032.00000032.00000032.00000032.000000
New positions in the FY25 budget are generally assumed to be filled at least two months after the fiscal year begins. Therefore, the above amounts reflect annualization of these positions in the outyears.
Elimination of One-Time Items Recommended in FY250.000000-394.000000-394.000000-394.000000-394.000000-394.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY25, including for funds for a pilot program for outreach surrounding federal energy incentives, implementing a electric leaf blower incentive program, and development of a solar strategic plan, will be eliminated from the base in the outyears. A one-time reduction to climate programs accounting for prior year capacity is restored as well.
Electric Leaf Blower Incentive Program and Outreach0.000000-80.000000-430.000000-550.000000-550.000000-550.000000
Restore One-Time Lapse Increase0.000000284.000000284.000000284.000000284.000000284.000000
Restores in FY26 the one-time lapse increase made in the FY25 budget.
Labor Contracts0.00000079.00000079.00000079.00000079.00000079.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures10703.00000010624.00000010274.00000010154.00000010154.00000010154.000000
 
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended36010.00000036010.00000036010.00000036010.00000036010.00000036010.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Annualization of Positions Recommended in FY250.00000041.00000041.00000041.00000041.00000041.000000
New positions in the FY25 budget are generally assumed to be filled at least two months after the fiscal year begins. Therefore, the above amounts reflect annualization of these positions in the outyears.
Elimination of One-Time Items Recommended in FY250.000000-110.000000-110.000000-110.000000-110.000000-110.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY25, including outreach regarding the County's bag tax program and vehicles for three new positions, will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
Restore One-Time Lapse Increase0.000000470.000000470.000000470.000000470.000000470.000000
Restores in FY26 the one-time lapse increase made in the FY25 budget.
Labor Contracts0.000000177.000000177.000000177.000000177.000000177.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures36010.00000036588.00000036588.00000036588.00000036588.00000036588.000000
Additional Documentation

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