For Immediate Release: Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

 

Montgomery County Executive Elrich to Hold the First of 11 ‘Community Conversations’ to Seek Input on Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget on Monday, Sept. 9

 

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, will host 11 Community Conversations throughout September and October to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Operating Budget. The first conversation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, in the Social Hall at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.

The White Oak Community Recreation Center is located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring.

Nine of the 11 conversations will be conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older adults and another focusing on issues of importance to Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members. Two non-English language forums will be held, one in Spanish and another in Chinese. Each of the 11 forums will be held online so the public has the option to participate remotely.

The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY26 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2025. The Council then will have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY26 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.

“We hold these community conversations to give people a chance to be heard because their voice matters,” said County Executive Elrich. “Their insight helps drive our decisions and our priorities for the next fiscal year. The budget reflects not only the County’s needs and concerns but also our community’s values and goals. I encourage every resident to participate in these conversations because their voice shapes our path forward. When I started my administration, we started with five community conversations; since then, we have more than doubled the number of sessions to 11. I am glad that we are providing more opportunities to reach diverse communities within the County.”

The Community Conversations are scheduled as follows:

• East County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 9. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Social Hall, Silver Spring. Hybrid. Click here to view online.
• Mid-County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Hybrid. Click here to view online.
• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Community Conversation. Wednesday, Sept. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Cafeteria, 4301 East West Highway, Bethesda. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• African-Caribbean Diaspora Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 23. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Social Hall, Silver Spring. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• UpCounty Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 30. 7:30-9:00 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Silver Spring Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Older Adults Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 21. 12:30-2 p.m.
  • Leisure World, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Clubhouse 1 Crystal Ballroom, Silver Spring (Only Leisure World residents may attend in-person at Leisure World)
  • Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.
  • Satellite viewing location: Damascus Senior Center, 9701 Main St., Damascus
  • Satellite viewing location: Wheaton Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Social Hall, Wheaton.
  • Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Chinese Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 23. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• MCPS PTA Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 28. 7-8:30 p.m. LOCATION TBD. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Black/African American Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 30. 7-8:30 p.m. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 608 North Horners Lane, Rockville. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Spanish Language Community Conversation. Thursday, Nov. 7. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).

The Community Conversations will be televised live on the following cable channels, subject to channel availability:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM): Comcast channel 6 HD 996, RCN channel 6 and HD 1056 and Verizon channel 30
• Montgomery College Television (MCTV): Comcast channels 998 & 10, Verizon 10 and RCN 1059 & 10
• Montgomery County Public School (MCPS TV): Comcast channel 34, Comcast HD 1071, Verizon 36, RCN 89, RCN HD 1058
• Montgomery Community Media (MCM): Comcast channel 21, HD 995, RCN 21 HD 1055, and Verizon 21 
• Montgomery Municipal Channel (MMC): Comcast channel 16 HD 997, RCN 16, Verizon 16
• Takoma Park City TV: Comcast channel 13, RCN channel 13 HD 1060, and Verizon 28

Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request -- with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before the event. For more information, contact Mark Roper at 240-962-1743 or send a request to mark.roper@montgomerycountymd.gov. In all situations, a good-faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations. TTY users can use Maryland Relay 711.

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Media contact: Mark Roper, 240-962-1743, or mark.roper@montgomerycountymd.gov