MOCO Recommended Budgets Under Review: Housing, Police, Libraries

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County Council committees will spend time Tuesday going over individual sections of the recommended operating budget for next year, according to its schedule.

The budgets were put forth by County Executive Marc Elrich and the Council has until the end of May to approve budgets that will be implemented in July. The recommended budgets include suggestions for funding for police, libraries, transportation projects, Montgomery College, and arts and cultural center and more.

Elrich's proposed budget includes an increase in police salaries and a record investment in Montgomery County Public Schools, at $2.9 billion.

"Due to the pandemic over the last two years, our children have suffered significant learning loss and it is critical that we increase our investment in their education opportunities," Elrich said in a news release when he announced the recommended budget. "I am proud to have funded MCPS $117.4 million above the State's Maintenance of Effort Requirement, and fully funded student needs."

The recommended budget would also prioritize building more affordable housing in the county.

"In Montgomery County, we have approximately 20,000 families spending 50 to 60 percent of their income on their housing – this is not acceptable nor sustainable," said Elrich. "Creating and expanding affordable housing opportunities is one of our County's toughest, complicated and long-lasting challenges."

Read More: MOCO 2023 Budget Recommendation: Housing, Schools, Climate

Council and committee meetings are held in person, but residents can still tune in online on YouTube, Facebook Live, County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Here are the budget sections that committees are schedule to talk about tomorrow, according to the County Council website:

• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Office of Agriculture (OAG)
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Incubator Programs – Economic Development Partnerships Non-Departmental Account
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Department of Housing and Community Affairs
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Housing Opportunities Commission
• FY23-28 CIP Amendment – Affordable Housing Acquisition and Preservation CIP; FY22 Supplemental – Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Fund; FY22 Supplemental – Loan Repayment Proceeds Affordable Housing Acquisition and Preservation
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Police
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Police Accountability Board
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Montgomery College
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Libraries
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – NDA Arts and Humanities Council
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – NDA Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL)
• Capital Improvements Project – Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center
• Capital Improvements Project – Libraries: Noyes Library for Young Children
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – FY23 WMATA Budget Briefing
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Transportation Fees, Fines and Fares Resolution and DOT Mass Transit Fund
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – General Services Fleet
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Utilities
• FY23 Recommended Operating Budget – Motor Pool NDA
• FY23-28 CIP – Further Revisions to Transportation Projects

See more information on when each committee will meet.