Government Neighborhoods  

Elrich Seeks Input from Residents During 10 Upcoming Budget Forums

County Executive Marc Elrich will host 10 hybrid forums in the next four months for opinions on the 2025 Operating Budget.

The county is in the early stages of creating the budget. The final budget will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

Seven of the 10 discussions will be in English. The Sept. 21  forum at the Mid-County Recreation Center in Layhill will be conducted in Spanish. On Oct. 18, the meeting will be in Amharic at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. The date and location for a Chinese language forum will be announced.

The purpose of the forums is to gather input from residents about their priorities for the next fiscal year.  “We hold these community conversations to give people a chance to be heard because their voice matters. Their insight helps drive our decisions and our priorities for the next fiscal year. The budget not only reflects the County’s needs and concerns, but our community’s values and goals,” said County Executive Elrich in a statement announcing the forums.

The first step in the county budget process is the responsibility of the County Executive. Elrich submits a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2024. Then the Council has two months to adopt a final budget by June 1, 2024. The Fiscal Year 25 operating budget will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

The FY25 budget forums will be held:

  • Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7-8:30 p.m.
    Mid-County Community Recreation Center (Layhill), 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. Social hall.
    Join the forum online.
  • Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7-8:30 p.m. in Spanish.
    Mid-County Community Recreation Center (Layhill), 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. Social hall.
    Join the forum online.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7-8:30 p.m.
    BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7-8:30 p.m.
    Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. East West room.
  • Monday, Oct. 15 at 7-8:30 p.m. PTA Forum.
    Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.
    Hybrid link to view online to be announced.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7-8:30 p.m. in Amharic language.
    Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park.
  • Monday, Nov. 13 at 7-8:30 p.m.
    Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring. Spring room.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7-8:30 p.m.
    White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Social hall.
    Join the forum online.
  • Nov. 27 at 7-8:30 p.m. in Chinese language.
    Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery
  • Monday, Dec. 11 at 2-3:30 p.m. Seniors forum.
    Leisure World Clubhouse 1, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Silver Spring. Crystal Ballroom.
    Only Leisure World residents may participate in person. Others may participate online here.

County residents can view the meetings live on Montgomery Community Media (MCM) on Comcast channel 21, 995 HD, RCN Channel 21 or 1055 HD; or Verizon Channel 21. Also, on County Cable Montgomery on Comcast Channel 6 or 996 HD; RCN Channel 6 or 1056 HD; or Verizon Channel 30.

Write a Comment

Related Articles