The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners convened on September 4, 2025, to address a state budget shortfall, recognize community achievements, hear presentations on tourism and public health, and vote on several resolutions including the creation of a Human Relations Commission. Commissioners highlighted the $10 million monthly funding gap from the state due to the unresolved budget, discussed food insecurity affecting 85,000 residents, and approved $610,000 in food system grants. The meeting also featured updates on the 2026 semiquincentennial events, West Nile virus surveillance, and an emergency behavioral health center.
The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude for Executive Administrator Becca, who is leaving to start a restaurant in Philadelphia. Commissioners praised her dedication and service.
I have it. Okay. We should grab the line. Yeah. So far. Okay. I know. How are you? Yeah. I think that's a good way. Oh, that's right. Yes. Oh, yeah. Yeah. See what actually happens. Good morning, everyone. Order the September fourth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, seeing all three commissioners present. Ask our director of public health to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, Christina Miller. Yes. I pledge America. Hopefully people will be able to get to the game today, moving now to the policy comments. But uh we are see still seeing a significant gap uh in funding for mass transit in the state. The state doesn't have a budget, and now that's going to be starting acting human services. So our county relies on ten million dollars in state funding every month. Uh, that goes to programs that support the elderly population, drug and alcohol prevention, recovery, education, uh, children and families in our foster care system, uh, individuals with developmental disabilities, emergency shelters, many critical services, uh, rely on state funding, so uh we really want to urge all of our legislators in Harrisburg and all of our residents and citizens to reach out to them uh to encourage them to come to a resolution because uh you know the county has done quite a bit uh to you know right now we're still working on preparing and planning, but fundamentally this would lead to some very hard decisions. Uh we've had strong financial management in the county, a triple A bond meeting, uh bond rating, uh a healthy fund balance. We've had strong financial management in the county, a triple A bond meeting, uh bond rating, uh a healthy fund balance, uh, but uh that amount of funding is not something that we can just compensate with internally. So uh we really want to encourage all of you to reach out to your legislators and let them know about uh you know the consequences that would happen if if the budget is not passed promptly. And as an example of one of the things we've had to do in the face of state and federal cuts is uh addressing hunger. So we saw Snap cuts in the recent federal budget. There are 85,000 Monco residents that experience food insecurity. 67,000 residents in Montgomery County rely on SNAP, and uh it's honestly devastating to see what could happen to many families. Uh I was at uh a food pantry earlier uh uh in the summer, and uh they're preparing for an uptake in a lot of use, and they've already been seeing that given the inflation. You all know grocery prices have gone up uh at least 25% in the last few years, and it's it's hard for working families. So tomorrow uh I'm thankful that uh fellow commissioners and I will be uh presenting uh uh check for $500,000 to the local uh food pantries through the Monco Anti Food Anti-Hunger Network, MON. So we'll be at the community cupboard in Upper Marion uh making that investment and we are voting today on six hundred and ten thousand dollars in uh support for local organizations that support our community's food infrastructure. So you'll hear more about that. So we're already having to make up for some of the losses we're seeing at the federal and state level, uh, but we have to warn you that we can't do that uh indefinitely. So we really need state budget that supports all of our communities here in Montgomery County. So on aligning, uh I want to recognize a very special guest we have with us this morning. So I read in the paper this last week uh that we have a lawyer's fruit student, eight-year-old Aidan Wilkins, uh, who has taken his first class uh in neuroscience at North Science College, the youngest that we're aware of in history. So welcome, Aiden. He's here uh with his moms and with councilwoman uh McKinney from uh from Collegeville, uh, who works at our Sinus, represents our Sinus and brought him uh and he's the youngest student ever enrolled at the Sinus College. Most of the time when you apply in your aid, they really don't give you the full consideration. But um Aiden knew his councilwoman and she said, why not? Uh he he's ready to learn and uh also I'm glad you you know uh squeezed this in right before you turn nine in three days because you set the record at eight. Um so that was very smart, but uh he's taking a neuroscience class as part of a dual enrollment program through his high school and online charter school. And you know, I'm impressed by your passion. I fun fact I studied neuroscience that I was not your age, but double your age at 16. I started then, and then I told him about some of the activities I did before the senior engagement.