Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with regional services offices and community partners, will host 11 Community Conversations throughout September and October. These sessions aim to gather public input on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Operating Budget. The first conversation will take place Monday, Sept. 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.
County residents can participate in discussions covering various community concerns. Nine of the sessions will be conducted in English, with one focusing on older adults and another on issues important to Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members. Additionally, two sessions will be conducted in Spanish and Chinese. All 11 forums will be available online, allowing remote participation.
“The Community Conversations are an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard,” said County Executive Elrich. “Their insights help shape our budget and ensure it reflects our community’s values and goals. I encourage everyone to participate and contribute to our path forward.”
The FY26 budget process is in its early stages. Elrich will submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2025. The Council will have until June 1 to review and adopt the final budget, which will go into effect on July 1.
Community Conversation Schedule
- East County: Monday, Sept. 9, 7-8:30 p.m., White Oak Community Recreation Center, Silver Spring.
- Mid-County: Monday, Sept. 16, 7-8:30 p.m., Wheaton Community Recreation Center, Wheaton.
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7-8:30 p.m., Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda.
- African-Caribbean Diaspora: Monday, Sept. 23, 7-8:30 p.m., White Oak Community Recreation Center, Silver Spring.
- UpCounty: Monday, Sept. 30, 7:30-9:00 p.m., BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown.
- Silver Spring: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7-8:30 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Center Building, Silver Spring.
- Older Adults: Monday, Oct. 21, 12:30-2 p.m., multiple locations including Leisure World and Riderwood Senior Living Community.
- Chinese Language: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Gaithersburg.
- MCPS PTA: Monday, Oct. 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Julius West Middle School, Rockville.
- Black/African American: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7-8:30 p.m., Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Rockville.
- Spanish Language: Thursday, Nov. 7, 7-8:30 p.m., Wheaton Community Recreation Center, Wheaton.
These conversations will be broadcast live on various county cable channels, including County Cable Montgomery, Montgomery College Television, and Montgomery Community Media. Viewers can access the sessions through Comcast, Verizon, and RCN channels.
Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids upon request, with at least three business days’ notice. For more information, contact Mark Roper at 240-962-1743 or email mark.roper@montgomerycountymd.gov. TTY users can use Maryland Relay 711.
