Montgomery County Council Meeting: Budget Worksessions, Legislative Session, and Proclamations - 2026-05-06

This summary covers the Montgomery County Council meeting held on May 6, 2026 (per the provided date; the agenda, minutes, and transcript are dated Tuesday, May 5, 2026). The meeting featured proclamations, introduction of four bills, a consent calendar, extensive FY27 Operating Budget and FY27–32 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) worksessions for numerous County agencies, and a public hearing/action on a supplemental appropriation.

Proclamations and Presentations

• Jewish American Heritage Month: The Council presented a proclamation. Councilmember Katz noted Montgomery County's Jewish population is about 10%, compared to less than 2% nationally, and highlighted $1.2 million in security grants for nonprofits and faith-based organizations. Community speakers, including Rabbi Abby Charosky and a JCRC student-to-student participant, spoke in support of celebrating Jewish heritage to combat antisemitism.
• Affordable Housing Month: Councilmember Friedson presented a proclamation with representatives from housing organizations. Speakers, including Habitat for Humanity and Bethesda Cares, expressed strong support for affordable housing production, preservation, and partnerships, emphasizing that housing is an opportunity for stability and democracy.
• National Travel and Tourism Week: Council President Fani-González presented a proclamation. Kelly Ruff, President/CEO of Visit Montgomery, stated tourism generates $2.2 billion in annual economic impact, welcomes 9 million visitors, produces $23 million in hotel tax revenue, and supports $640 million in food and beverage spending.
• Education Appreciation Week: The Education and Culture Committee, with the County Executive, presented a proclamation. Speakers, including MCEA President David Stein, school administrators, and Montgomery College faculty, urged the Council to provide meaningful budget support, not just words, for educators and students.

General Business and Announcements

• The Clerk announced the extended application deadline for the Board of Investment Trustees for the Montgomery County Employee Retirement Plans and the Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026. There were no minutes for approval.

Introduction of Bills

• Expedited Bill 19-26, Buildings – Moratorium on Permits for Data Centers – Established (Lead sponsor: Councilmember Glass). Public hearing scheduled for 6/16/26 at 1:30 p.m. Councilmember Glass stated the six-month moratorium would allow evaluation of environmental, grid, and cost impacts; it applies to new applications filed after the effective date.
• Bill 20-26, Fire and Rescue Services – Length of Service Awards Program for Volunteers – Amendments (at County Executive's request). Would expand eligibility, increase benefits, and amend survivor benefits. Public hearing scheduled for 6/9/26.
• Bill 21-26, Employee Retirement System – Savings and Benefits – Amendments (at County Executive's request). Would implement negotiated terms with MCGEO, including contribution changes. Public hearing scheduled for 6/9/26.
• Bill 22-26, Finance – Economic Development Fund – SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program – Repeal of Sunset Date (at County Executive's request). Would remove the sunset and revive the program. Public hearing scheduled for 6/9/26.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent calendar (11y), including: introduction of a resolution for FY27 Community Use of Public Facilities Fees (worksession scheduled for 5/6/26); Supplemental Appropriation #26-67 to the FY26 Capital Budget ($275,000 for North Bethesda Metro Station Northern Entrance); Supplemental Appropriation #26-25 to the FY26 Operating Budget ($2,200,000 for HHS and $800,000 for Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions for Community Connect Portal continued development, as amended); confirmation of Kiara Ames to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission; and confirmation of Irina Norrell to the Department of Permitting Services Advisory Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No oral testimony was provided during the public hearing on Supplemental Appropriation #26-43 (Roadside Trees Protection). The record was closed and the resolution was adopted.

Discussion Items: FY27 Operating Budget and FY27–32 CIP Worksessions

State's Attorney's Office

• Approved (11y) the FY27 operating budget as recommended by the Public Safety (PS) Committee, with a 4.8% ($1,314,706) increase. Reconciliation list items included $314,118 to continue the body-worn camera policy program and $225,383 for Axon Justice Premier licenses. State's Attorney McCarthy argued the SAO currently uses 53 licenses loaned from MCPD with only about 10% capability, and that full licenses would save on storage ($300,000), transcription ($76,000), and translation ($107,000) costs. Councilmember Jawando requested documentation of those savings.

Public Libraries

• Approved (11y) as amended, with reconciliation additions of $275,500 for Noyes Library reopening and $207,690 for security guards at five branches. CIP changes included a $2.274 million funding switch for Clarksburg Library and increased GO bond funding for Noyes Library. During discussion of Sunday hours, Director Graham said only 7 of 27 Maryland library systems offer Sunday hours, and Montgomery County is the only one operating 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; other jurisdictions rotate 1–5 p.m. Councilmember Friedson's motion to restore the original FY23–FY26 Chevy Chase Library CIP language (mixed-use development) passed unanimously.

Montgomery College

• Approved (11y) the FY27 operating budget and technical CIP amendments, as amended. The Education and Culture (EC) Committee recommended reducing the County contribution by $4.6 million while authorizing the College to draw on its OPEB trust assets to offset the reduction, avoiding program cuts. The committee also recommended restoring $3.625 million to the IT program in the CIP.

Police Department

• Approved (11y) the FY27 MCPD budget and FY27–32 CIP amendment, as amended. The recommended budget was $385.7 million (9.4% increase). Reconciliation list items included AED replacements ($532,000), trial board costs ($300,000), case management software ($180,000), vehicle recovery software ($180,000), and fixed license plate readers ($150,000). Councilmember Jawando's motion to remove the Manager III position for the Vehicle Recovery Section ($160,458) passed 6–5, with Councilmembers Glass, Katz, Friedson, Fani-González, and Luedtke voting against. The department noted the vehicle recovery software generates about $4.5 million annually in revenue and the system is outdated.

Fire and Rescue Services

• Approved (11y) the FY27 budget and CIP amendment as recommended by the PS Committee. The budget was $311,700,388 (0.5% increase). Reconciliation items restored 9 FTE at Hillendale ($1,787,119) and maintained 6 FTE at Leightonsville ($555,703). Councilmember Friedson requested that OMB share the list of 3.5% reduction scenarios and offsets across all departments; OMB said items had been provided, and Council staff agreed to follow up.

Memorandum of Agreement with MCVFRA

• Adopted Resolution 20-1104 (11y) approving the FY27 Memorandum of Agreement between the County and the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, with a technical amendment.

FY27 County 9-1-1 Fee

• Approved (11y) as amended. The Council adopted Councilmember Jawando's motion to increase the County's portion of the 9-1-1 fee from $1.47 to $2.01, with Councilmember Friedson voting against. Adding the state's $0.50 fee makes the total $2.51. Each penny increase generates about $197,000; an 8-cent increase yields about $1.577 million. Revenue can only be used for 9-1-1 programming.

Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

• Approved (11y) as amended. The FY27 budget is $7,480,372 (30.7% increase). Reconciliation items included $800,000 for the Alert Montgomery system and $425,000 for response equipment. For the Public Safety Joint Operations Center (PSJOC), Councilmember Jawando motioned to maintain $1.2 million in GO bonds, with a friendly amendment from Councilmember Stewart to release $1.2 million in recordation tax premium into the CIP (not operating). The motion passed unanimously.

Department of Correction and Rehabilitation

• Approved (11y) as recommended. The budget increase was 4.21% ($4,616,019). Reconciliation items included a canine unit for contraband detection ($182,609), full-time instructors ($47,422), and replacement tasers ($18,000).

Circuit Court

• Approved (11y) as recommended. The budget increase was 5.99% ($1,230,531). The reconciliation list included $391,877 to address funding gaps for grant-funded positions, affecting pay parity among 129 employees (29 funded by state grants).

Office of the County Attorney

• Approved (11y) as recommended by the GO Committee. The reconciliation list included a Microsoft Azure AI document review tool ($23,172).

Office of Procurement

• Approved (11y) as recommended. Reconciliation list included $816,170 for an e-procurement system. The office received an OBET score of 11.

Conference and Visitor's Bureau Non-Departmental Account

• Approved (11y) as recommended by the Economic Development Committee. Councilmember Jawando asked about the impact of reducing funding; Visit Montgomery's Kelly Groff stated a reduction of nearly $1 million would cut marketing, sales, and staffing in half and substantially impair the organization's mission.

Department of Recreation

• Approved (11y) as recommended. The budget increase was $2.9 million (4.27%). Reconciliation items included $104,098 for a program manager for contract administration and $23,305 for background check systems. Councilmembers Luedtke and Evans requested expanding Excel Beyond the Bell (EBB) to Stedwick Elementary. Options presented included a full-year expansion at $441,202 for FY27 ($471,242 annualized FY28), an existing program expansion ($3,608 per child), a limited EBB model ($3,319.59 per child), and a Rec-Extra model ($1,070.75 per child serving up to 150 students). Department staff noted reducing days per week was not viable for many families.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

• Approved (11y) as amended. The EC Committee placed the full County Executive recommended $179 million local funding increase on the reconciliation list in 10 tranches of $17.9 million each. A committee floor recommendation of $149 million passed 2–1, with Councilmember Evans dissenting. Superintendent Dr. Taylor stated the $179 million request is below the $189 million needed to fund negotiated agreements and employee benefits. He reported that since 2021, MCPS added nearly 6,000 students eligible for free/reduced-price meals, more than 5,000 multilingual learners, and nearly 4,000 students with IEPs. A $90 million reduction could eliminate 900–1,000 positions and require reopening labor agreements. Councilmember Mink's motion to remove the $722,579 MCPS reduction from the reconciliation list passed unanimously, leaving the $179 million increase/tranches as the sole MCPS funding decision. Several Councilmembers expressed concern about the structural deficit and the constraints of not raising property taxes, while supporters emphasized the need to honor commitments to educators and staff.

Key Outcomes

• Introduced four bills (19-26 through 22-26) with public hearing dates in June 2026.
• Approved consent calendar (11y), including two supplemental appropriations and two appointments.
• Adopted Resolution 20-1104 (MCVFRA MOA) and Resolution 20-1105 (Supplemental Appropriation #26-43 for Roadside Trees Protection, $100,050).
• Approved operating budgets and CIP amendments for all agencies with unanimous votes (11y), except where noted: MCPD Manager III position removed by 6–5 vote; 9-1-1 fee increased to $2.01 by 10–1 vote.
• Set MCPS funding decision as $179 million on reconciliation list in 10 tranches, with removal of the additional $722,579 reduction.
• Next steps: continued budget reconciliation; public hearings on bills on June 9 and June 16, 2026; further discussion of George B. Thomas Learning Academy funding scheduled for Thursday.