FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

The City of Takoma Park Receives GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is pleased to announce that the City of Takoma Park, Maryland, has received GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

• a policy document
• a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award. This has been presented to the City’s Finance Department.

There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

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Contact:
Finance Department
finance@takomaparkmd.gov
301-891-7212

The City of Takoma Park is partnering with BallotTrax, a free service that can send you an email, text, or phone call when we have accepted your ballot or if there is a problem with your ballot.  You can also check to see if a ballot was mailed to you.

If you prefer not to sign up, you can simply check the status on the BallotTrax site.

• Check to see if a ballot was mailed to you.
• Find out if your ballot has been received and accepted by the City Board of Elections.
• Receive a notification if there is a problem with your ballot.***

SIGN UP TODAY!

***Important: if you forgot to sign your ballot envelope, or if your ballot cannot be processed for some reason, you will receive a notification so that you can correct the error. In 2020, many ballots could not be counted because voters forgot to sign the ballot envelope or because of a signature mismatch. Don’t let this happen to you!

• View frequently asked questions about BallotTrax.
• For more informaton, visit: BallotTrax.

Do you have coats, gloves, or scarves that you don’t need anymore… Please consider donating them!

The Takoma Park Police Department, in partnership with Adventist Church, the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department, and others, is collecting clean, gently-used warm coats of any size from infant to adult. You can make a difference in the lives of others by simply donating any coats or jackets that are no longer needed. We will also accept clean, gently used gloves, mittens, and scarves.

Drop Off

Takoma Park Police Department
Police Lobby
7500 Maple Avenue,
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

Deadline: Friday, December 30, at 4:00 pm

A large box will remain in the lobby. The Takoma Park Police Department will ensure that they are given to those in need during and after the drive.

Give warmth to those in need this winter! Thank you for your generosity.

Contact:

Cathy Plevy, Public Information Officer
Takoma Park Police Department
Email Cathy Plevy

A version of this article was featured in the December 2022 Newsletter. Visit the Takoma Park Newsletter webpage to see the full list of past newsletters.

2022 Fall Leaf Collection

Fall leaf collection started November 14, 2022, and continues through December 16, 2022.

• This year’s collection will divide the City into five zones, with one leaf collection vehicle per zone.
• This arrangement is expected to provide at least collections between November 14, 2022, and December 16, 2022.

State Highway routes will receive a collection on the following scheduled dates:

• Monday,  December 12
  Streets affected Carroll Ave, Ethan Allen Ave, and Philadelphia Ave

• Saturday, December 3
  Streets affected Flower Ave (7900 – 8600) and Piney Branch Rd

Leaf Collection Hotline

Public Works has set up a Leaf Collection Hotline at 301-891-7626. Residents may call the Leaf Collection Hotline and leave a voice message to notify Public Works when leaves have been raked out to the curb. Public Works expects to collect the leaves within two weeks.

Important guidelines to be followed for leaf collection

• Place leaves into a pile close to the edge of the curb.
• Avoid piling leaves where cars are likely to be parked.
• Do not rake leaves into the street. Leaf piles create traffic hazards.
• Do not include branches, brush, vines, rocks, or debris. These items damage equipment and delay collection.
• Do not pile leaves near storm drain inlets. Leaves can block the drains and cause flooding problems.
• Do not park your car in front of a leaf pile. Restricting access to leaf piles delays collection.

Learn more about the City’s leaf collection schedule and guidelines for 2022.

A New Chapter Begins…

Great news! We are building a new Library. The new Takoma Park Maryland Library, new Computer Center, and improved Community Center facilities are happening at last. After years of conversations and planning, we have dates on the calendar that will impact Library, Computer Center, and Community Center, and our patrons.

Library Closing:

Wednesday, August 24, 2022, was the last day to visit the Library and Computer Center before the facilities relocate to a temporary space for the duration of construction. For more information, please visit: Library and Community Center Renovation

QR Code:

Use the QR for up to date news and updates on the progress of the Library Renovation

New Email Address

Email:  new library
newlibrary@takomaparkmd.gov

The City of Takoma Park is committed to offering various recycling programs for residents. The newest program now implemented at the Public Works Department is a battery recycling drop-off. Residents can now bring used batteries to be recycled at Public Works. This program is operating in partnership with Call2Recycle, an organization leading the way in battery recycling.

Location

Public Works
31 Oswego Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Acceptable Batteries

A list of acceptable batteries that can be recycled includes the following:

AAA, AA, C, D, 9v, Lithium Ion, Small Sealed Lead Acid, Nickel Cadmium, Button cell, Nickel Metal Hydride, and Nickel Zinc

Batteries That Cannot Be Accepted

The following types of batteries cannot be accepted:

Wet cell batteries, car batteries, rechargeable LI-Ion >300 Wh, Lithium primary >25g LI

Please note the WATTS HUNGRY CRITTER E-Bike recycling program  (through Call2Recycle)

Recycling in Takoma Park

Visit the Recycling Collection webpage for in-depth information about what can and cannot be recycled.

More about Call2Recycle

Call2Recycle is the country’s leading consumer battery recycling and stewardship program. Through a tailored and personalized approach, they offer partners across the U.S. an easy way to address their battery recycling needs, all while ensuring the reduction of hazardous waste in compliance with state and national regulations. Since 1994, Call2Recycle, Inc. has grown from an idea by a group of five battery manufacturers to a leading not-for-profit, product stewardship organization that operates according to the principles of efficiency, transparency, and commitment.