About Finance
Mission and Vision
Legal Mandates
Department Services
Budget Information
Department of Finance Public Records
Mission and Vision
The mission in the Department of Finance is to prudently manage financial operations, recommend and implement sound fiscal policies, safeguard public assets, and encourage a safe environment on public property.
We will accomplish this by adopting the County's Mission Statement as our own, and by:
- Adhering to the highest professional standards
- Promoting employee growth & development
- Being timely
- Providing thorough, accurate, and objective analysis
- Being proactive and informed
- Practicing organization loyalty
The vision of the Department of Finance is to become a world-class financial operation by promoting accountability, efficient services, and sound financial decision-making. The Montgomery County Department of Finance will be the benchmark by which local government financial operations are measured.
Department Services
- Director's Office
- Fiscal Management Division
- Controller Division
- Treasury Division
- Risk Management Division
Director of Finance, Michael J. Coveyou
Information Technology
This program provides overall direction for the development of automated systems and technology to support effective and efficient achievement of the Department's mission. Activities are proactively coordinated with the Department of Technology Services, other County departments, and department staff to ensure consistency of department systems with Countywide automation policies and standards. The program oversees development, selection, procurement, implementation, and maintenance of the Finance Department's automated systems and components. The Information Technology section is also responsible for directing, planning, coordinating, and evaluating resources, processes, and procedures related to data integrity, security, and controls within the County's financial and procurement systems, including timely and comprehensive completion of financial systems upgrades, effective education of County financial systems users, timely and comprehensive response to customer Help Desk questions, proactive trouble shooting and system maintenance, and timely availability of internal financial reports.
Operations and Administration
This program includes operational support for the department as well as the administrative portions of the Director's Office, the Division of the Controller, the Treasury Division, and the Division of Risk Management. The program provides support for efficient, effective, and timely accomplishment of the department's mission, including budget development and oversight, personnel administration, strategic planning, and contract administration. The program also provides effective management of the financial aspects of economic development initiatives; proactive development of intergovernmental policy alternatives and impacts; and high quality consulting services for County agencies, managers, staff, elected officials, the press, and citizens.
This program provides support for effective debt management with the goal of maintaining the County's AAA General Obligation Bond debt rating, and the active investment of the County's working capital to generate investment income. The program's objectives include managing the timely and economic issuance of short- and long-term financial obligations; developing and maintaining strong rating agency and investor relations; preparing accurate and timely financing documents, including the County's Annual Information Statement; ensuring strict compliance with disclosure requirements; coordinating bond counsel review; providing high-quality consulting services for County agencies, managers, staff, elected officials, the press, and citizens on issues related to debt and investment management, and management of the County's relationship with the banking community.
Controller Division ( 240-777-8801 )
Accounts Payable
This program is responsible for timely and accurate payments to vendors for goods and services provided to the County; for complying with County policies and procedures; and carrying out State and Federal reporting requirements. Payments to vendors are initiated and approved by individual departments. The Accounts Payable program is responsible for review and final approval of payments of $10,000 or more, as well as most refunds and other non-expenditure disbursements. Payments under $10,000 are individually reviewed and approved by operating departments and potentially subject to post-payment audit by Accounts Payable.
General Accounting
This program is responsible for the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of the County's financial position and results of operations through timely, accurate, and professional financial reports. These reports provide public assurance as to the accountability and integrity of the use of County resources; adherence to budgetary policies established by management; and compliance with Federal, State, and County mandates. The program prepares the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Debt Service Booklet, Single Audit Report of Federal Grant Programs, and State Uniform Financial Report, as well as numerous other standardized and specialized reports. This program also provides high quality, timely service to County departments through technical assistance and through preparation, review, and approval of County financial transactions.
Payroll
This program is responsible for managing and maintaining the County's payroll system and functions as prescribed by Federal, State, and County laws, and local regulations. The program provides timely and accurate payroll disbursements to County employees, accounts for payroll deductions, issues W-2 statements to account for pre-tax and post-tax benefits, maintains official payroll and leave records, and responds to internal and external inquiries. The program proactively operates in conjunction with other County departments to maintain the Human Resources Management System and to develop efficient and effective improvements to this system.
Treasury Division ( 240-777-0311 )
Property Taxes
This program is responsible for collection of property taxes, which are the County's largest revenue source. The program provides accurate calculation and timely distribution of tax bills, accounting and distribution of tax collections to municipalities, and timely collection of delinquent accounts through the tax sale process. This program manages numerous tax credit, deferral, and assistance programs and is responsible for the accurate recordation and processing of all excise taxes. The public tax information portion of the property tax program has a significant customer service objective of providing accurate and timely tax information to attorneys, title companies, and the public for preparation of property settlements and other uses.
Transfer and Recordation Tax/Public Advocate
The primary responsibility of this program is the timely and accurate processing and collection of the transfer and recordation taxes associated with Real Property transfers and Recordation of Instruments of Writing. The Public Advocate for Assessments and Taxation provides an independent review of State-determined property tax assessment valuations for fairness and accuracy.
Treasury Operations
This program is responsible for providing coordination and oversight of treasury operations, and customer services through the cashiering function. It is also responsible for the accurate revenue and economic forecasting, and publishing reports on economic and revenue analyses on a monthly and quarterly basis for dissemination to the County Council and public. In addition, Treasury Operations administers the County's Working Families Income Supplement program.
Risk Management Division ( 240-777-8920 )
Insurance
County Code 20-37 established the Montgomery County Self-Insurance Program. The program provides comprehensive property and casualty insurance for the County and participating agencies. The program is funded through contributions from the agencies, which are based upon an annual actuarial analysis of outstanding and projected future claims filed against the participants. The program provides accurate and timely insurance and risk management advice to participating agencies and reduces County and participating agency exposure to risk by: comparing the cost of commercially-available coverage to evaluate the best method of funding exposure to loss; transferring contractual risk under indemnification/hold harmless agreements; avoiding risk; operating proactive safety programs; and purchasing commercial insurance.
Legal Services
This program funds activities of the Office of the County Attorney, which provides legal services including investigation, negotiation, and litigation on behalf of the County and agencies that participate in the Self-Insurance Program.
Occupational Safety and Health
This program coordinates reporting to Federal and State regulatory agencies on health and safety issues. The State-required injury reports and the mandated safety training and record keeping are completed on schedule. The program responds promptly to inspections and queries from the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Accident prevention programs are conducted, and continuous training in loss prevention and loss control is provided to promote a safe and healthy work environment for County employees.
Legal Mandates
The following links will take you out of the Department of Finance website. To return, please use your browser's back button.
The County Charter specifies the Department of Finance as a principal department (Montgomery County, Maryland Charter Section 212), and outlines the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Department of Finance and the Finance Director ( Montgomery County, Maryland Charter Section 214).The County Code contains several references to responsibilities of the Director of Finance and the Department of Finance. Chapter 20 of the County Code describes the duties of the Department and the Director.
Budget Information
The following links will take you to the Department of Management and Budget's website. To return, please use your browser's back button.
Montgomery County, Maryland - Executive Branch Online Publication of the Operating Budget
Montgomery County, Maryland - Online Publication of the Operating Budget
Department of Finance Public Records
As part of the openMontgomery initiative, public records, including certain Finance Department records, are available on the homepage of the Montgomery County, Md., website under the following links:
- spendingMontgomery
- openMontgomery
- dataMontgomery
- Real Property Tax Account Information and Bill Payment System
- Personal Property Tax Account Information and Bill Payment System
Other requests for Department of Finance Public Records under the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) should be emailed to Rahela Majidi at [email protected]. Click here for the new Executive Order regarding the extension of MPIA response deadlines. If you do not have access to email, please send the request to 101 Monroe Street, 15th floor, Rockville, MD 20850 attention Rahela Majidi (phone 240-777-8877).
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/finance/about.html
Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Finance, Director's Office
101 Monroe Street · 15th Floor · Rockville, Maryland 20850
240-777-8860 · Fax: 240-777-8857