Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has formally proposed his FY 2013 $4.56 billion operation budget. According to a county press release, the budget focuses on fully funding education, increasing strategic investments in public safety, restoring services for recreation centers, and maintaining sustainable economic policies.

The overall recommendations include:

• A total County budget (all agencies, all tax-supported and non-tax supported funds and debt service) for FY13 of $4.56 billion, an increase of $199 million from the FY12 approved budget – or 4.6 percent.

• An overall tax-supported budget of $3.97 billion (including debt service) for all County agencies, an increase of $188.6 million from the FY12 budget — or five percent.

• Increasing funding for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) by $50.7 million – a 2.6 percent increase from FY12. The budget funds 100 percent of the Board of Education tax-supported request at the Maintenance of Effort level.

• Funding increases for Montgomery College of $381,823, a 0.2 percent increase, which is 100 percent of the College tax-supported request at the Maintenance of Effort level.

• Funding increases for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) of $5.4 million, a 5.3 percent increase and 100 percent of its tax-supported request.