The Montgomery County Council is asking residents to give testimony on County Executive Marc Elrich’s recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) on Feb. 7 and 9. The deadline to sign up to speak is Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.
Elrich sent his $5.4 billion recommended Fiscal Year 24 Capital Budget and amended CIP to the county council on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The recommendations are a $136.7 million increase, or 2.6% from the previous budget. Council President Evan Glass spoke about the budget process Monday during his media briefing.
The council will hold three public hearings in February. County residents may sign up to testify in-person or virtually over Zoom or submit written, audio or video testimony.
Elrich sent the $5.4 billion budget on Jan. 17 to the county council. Over the next two months, the council and its seven committees will analyze the recommendations, hold public hearings and will take action on the budgets by June 1. The budget adopted by the council will take effect on July 1.
The public hearings will be held on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 1:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.
The registration deadline for the hearings is Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. Residents who need help signing up are encouraged to call 240.777.7803.
The meetings will be aired on the County Cable Montgomery channel as well as live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube and the council website.
Residents can sign up to testify by clicking the “sign up” button for public hearings on the Council’s calendar. Individuals will receive a confirmation email with the appropriate video and dial-call in information to participate in the remote meetings. Help is available by phone at 240.777.7803 for help with the sign up process.
In addition to speaking at a public hearing, residents can send either written or prerecorded audio or video comments throughout the council budget deliberations. All of the comments provided will be reviewed by councilmembers and will be available to the public on the council’s webpage. A form is available for residents to upload their comments. The deadline to submit testimony is midnight two business days before Council action.
Comments and suggestions are welcome online at http://tinyurl.com/zrbwh5v; via email at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov; via regular mail to: County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850; or by calling the council budget hotline at 240.777.7802. Residents can also provide comments on the operating budget via social media using #MoCoFY23.
Information on the budget can be found online at the Montgomery County website here.
