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In an effort to reduce police overtime, Gaithersburg officials will seek to amend a state law that automatically generates a court date for traffic offenders.

A large percentage of defendants do not appear in court, and local governments bear the costs, while the state receives all traffic citation revenue.

The amendment is among the city's nine legislative priorities for the General Assembly's legislative session beginning in January.

Protecting municipal revenue is the city's top priority, Mayor Sidney A. Katz told members of the Montgomery County Joint House and Senate Delegations on Nov. 19.

While the General Assembly restored the majority of $3.5 million in highway user funds cut from municipalities' budgets in 2009, the state's Board of Public Works ended up cutting the funds by 90 percent, then reduced police aid by 35 percent.

Monica Sanchez, an intergovernmental associate for the city, will replace former Assistant City Manager Fred Felton in pushing the city's legislative agenda in Annapolis.

Transportation is on city officials' minds, she said. Key is securing future funding for the future Watkins Mill Road Interchange at Interstate 270 and Watkins Mills Road. The interchange is expected to reduce congestion on Route 124 and jumpstart two development projects on hold.

"That's something that we'd really like to keep at the forefront because it involves a lot of economic development for the city," Sanchez said.

The county has suggested advancing construction of the interchange's bridge first, but the city has maintained that developing the ramps and bridge together is critical and complete funding is needed. There is no official construction estimate for the bridge and interchange, Sanchez said.

The city also supports funding the Corridor Cities Transitway.

Two measures are aimed to save the city money. State law requires public hearings be advertised in local newspapers, a costly measure for municipalities, and Gaithersburg wants an amendment that would allow governments to post hearing notices on their Web sites. Gaithersburg spends $25,000 to $30,000 annually on the advertising, Sanchez said.

The city will also keep pushing for funding to help build a senior center in Gaithersburg, Sanchez said. In 2008, Gaithersburg received a $200,000 bond bill towards design and construction.

Gaithersburg also supports funding of the Maryland Heritage Structural Tax Credit Program, which would benefit the Olde Towne Central Business District and Historic Districts. The program ends June 30, 2010, and a bill to extend the program failed in 2009. The city had pushed for it to be extended until June 30, 2014.

City officials will also push for a bond bill to help pay to move a historic house in Olde Towne to make way for the Archstone project, expected to bring more than 300 residences.

Gaithersburg is also supporting a bill that would change how diminution, or good-behavior, credits are calculated to reduce prison sentence for violent offenders. Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village and Del. Ben Kramer (D-Dist. 19) of Derwood introduced joint bills last year following the murder of a Gaithersburg resident.

The General Assembly convenes Jan. 13 in Annapolis. City leaders will host Gaithersburg Day in Annapolis on Feb. 11. For details on the city's legislative agenda, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov and the "Office of the City Manager" page.