Planning, Housing and Parks Committee Work Session on M-NCPPC FY27 Budget – April 23, 2026
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Planning, Housing and Parks Committee Work Session on M-NCPPC FY27 Budget – April 23, 2026
The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee met on April 23, 2026 from 2:16 p.m. to 4:28 p.m. to review the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) FY27 Operating Budget and FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program for the Park Fund and Administration Fund. The committee considered staff recommendations, heard presentations from M-NCPPC leadership, and voted on proposed reductions and reconciliation list items in the context of a challenging fiscal environment requiring approximately $189 million in decreases countywide.
Discussion Items
Park Fund – Compensation Lapse Rate The Park Fund requested a decrease in its salary lapse rate from 10% to 8%, costing $1.4 million, to allow filling 12–14 vacant positions including park police and maintenance roles. Staff recommended splitting the request into three tranches on the reconciliation list: $412,582 (9% lapse), $498,330 (8.5% lapse), and $498,327 (8% lapse). The committee voted unanimously to place all three tranches on the reconciliation list.
Park Fund – Known Operating Commitments M-NCPPC sought $2.5 million for major known commitments (risk management, utilities, contracts, supplies). Staff proposed grouping Tier 1 items into two tranches on the reconciliation list: $667,687 (risk management/operating budget impacts) and $592,422 (contractual and inflationary increases). The committee voted to place both Tier 1 tranches on the reconciliation list but did not support the Tier 2 item ($438,990 for additional chargebacks).
Park Fund – Ballfield Maintenance The committee accepted a $342,337 reduced transfer from the general fund due to lower-than-expected bids.
Administration Fund – Commissioner’s Office M-NCPPC offered a $3,000 cut for training and a $5,800 cut for internship hours. The committee voted 2-1 (Friedson opposed) to not place the internship funding on the reconciliation list, effectively reducing the office budget by $8,800.
Planning Department – Master Plan Funding The Planning Department requested $200,000 additional ongoing funding for master plan professional services (total annual ~$400,000). The committee agreed to maintain the base amount with inflation ($212,000–$215,000) and place approximately $80,000 on the reconciliation list to reach $300,000, reflecting last year’s unfunded request. The vote was unanimous.
Planning Department – Climate Resilience Functional Plan and Other Initiatives The committee placed $29,741 for the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Functional Plan on the reconciliation list. Two studies (Greater North Bethesda implementation and industrial land assessment) were not funded; planning will use existing resources.
Planning Department – New Positions The department requested six new positions (five on reconciliation list). The committee did not support any new positions in this budget cycle.
Central Administrative Services (CAS) The committee supported a $40,010 reduction to the CAS budget (Montgomery County share), which must be agreed upon with Prince George’s County.
Non-Departmental Account (NDA) The committee placed $153,318 on the reconciliation list for compensation adjustment markers to ensure competitive salaries.
Development Review Special Revenue Fund M-NCPPC requested a $3.9 million transfer from the Administration Fund. The committee supported $2.4 million (including $900,000 for staff salaries) over the County Executive’s $1.5 million recommendation, but did not place the additional $1.2 million on the reconciliation list.
Water Quality Protection Fund (WQPF) The Planning Department requested $2.08 million from the WQPF for staff time. The committee did not support the revenue transfer at this time, directing DEP and M-NCPPC to meet after the budget to develop a more equitable funding mechanism. The status quo (funding from general fund/Admin Fund) will continue, with a target for a briefing by September 30, 2026.
Capital Improvements Program – State Aid The committee recommended approval of $10.485 million in additional state aid and Program Open Space funding for park projects, including $10,485,000 total from Legislative Bond Initiatives and other sources.
Key Outcomes
- Reconciliation List Additions (Park Fund): $2,669,348 in three tranches for lapse reduction (9%, 8.5%, 8%) and $1,260,109 in two tranches for Tier 1 known commitments. Tier 2 ($438,990) not added.
- Reconciliation List Additions (Administration Fund/Planning): $117,979 for professional services (climate plan and master plan support); $153,318 for NDA compensation markers; $29,741 for climate plan; plus ~$80,000 for master plan funding (to reach $300,000).
- Reductions Adopted: $485,460 from Park Fund; $8,800 from Commissioner’s Office; $1,263,762 from Planning Department; $40,010 from CAS; $93,682 from NDA.
- Transfer to Development Review Fund: Supported $2.4 million (not $3.9 million); no reconciliation component.
- Water Quality Protection Fund: No change; meetings to follow.
- CIP: Approved additional state funding of $10.485 million.
- Overall, the committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the full Council.
Meeting Transcript
We are here with a guest countdowner, counterdowner. We are here for our conversation about the Marrill National Capital Park and Planning Commission budget work session. Here is a planning housing and parks committee. We have the Planning Board Chair, Mr. Harris, and we have the directors of parks and the Director of Planning. And we are going to go through the packet. Why don't I turn it over to staff first? If you want to kick us off, and then we can get some opening comments and then we'll go through the packet. Great. Thank you, and good afternoon. So you do have a staff report packet before you that covers the whole MNC PPC operating budget. We are going to start with just basic background information, big overview information, and then we will delve into the park fund, which funds the parks department. The name pretty much implies that. And then we'll get into the administration fund, which funds the Commissioner's Office, the Planning Department, and the Central Administrative Services. Then there are a host of other funds that are within MNC PPC's budget. Some of those are internal service funds. We just have mention of those. Others are special revenue funds. We will go over some of those. And then at the end, there is a summary chart that lists all the information that you are going to be hearing about as we go through the packet. There's a summary chart at the end, line by line that might be helpful to talk about. So I'll leave it at that and if the chair has any opening remarks. Yeah. So thank you so much. Artie here as chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board. And also I have with me today, in addition to Director Figaretto and Director Sartori have Bill Spencer, who is the executive director, directing executive director of the Central Administrative Services. And if we have questions about the Central Administrative Services budget, we have Terry Bacle Charles, who is the director of budget. So thank you for the opportunity to review MNCPPC's budget with you. Our proposed budget was primarily a same services budget. We understand the challenging fiscal situation we are in and propose a budget with the minimal and in many departments, no enhancements. We are your agency. We are looking to you to ensure that we have the resources we need to continue our critical work. You more than anyone know and understand the importance of economic development and planning for housing and sustainability. We see ourselves as a driver of our economy. Residents move to the county because of our complete communities and exceptional parks. We have expedited review to ensure projects are happening quickly. Our data-driven approach supports the council in the development of local legislation and ZTAs and informs thoughtful response to state legislation. Before I close, I want to flag for the committee that over the past few years our approved budgets have become more reliant on fund balance to close the gap in expenditures versus revenue. Unfortunately, our fund balance is being depleted at a quicker rate than it is being replenished. Given this, any additional cuts taken in tax supported revenue will put M and C PPC at an extreme disadvantage to complete our work programs without impacts on our residents. We want to keep being a strong partner to the council. I thank you in advance for working to ensure we have the resources needed to do your work to ensure that we are meeting the expectations you have of our departments. Thank you. And now I'll turn it over to Director Figueretto. Good afternoon. Thank you, Councilmember Friedson and members of the committee. Our budget request at Montgomery Parks for the park fund was really simple this year. We asked for a 6.3 percent increase over FY26. That's about half a percent over what we asked last year. And as the Chair said, we didn't ask for any additional funding for new or expanded programs.
openpublica.com