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Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Public Information (PIO) is to provide timely, accurate, and effective communication to the public. PIO works with the County Executive, departments and agencies, media, County employees, the County Council and other elected officials, businesses, civic groups, and every other segment of the Montgomery County community. PIO provides information through the mass media, social media, internet, presentations, publications and graphics, cable television programming, and telephone and electronic requests for information and assistance via the MC311 Customer Service Center.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Office of Public Information is $2,957,149, a decrease of $4,189,560 or 58.62 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $7,146,709. Personnel Costs comprise 94.48 percent of the budget for 17 full-time position(s) and one part-time position(s), and a total of 17.50 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 5.52 percent of the FY25 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following is emphasized:

  • Effective, Sustainable Government

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY24 estimates reflect funding based on the FY24 approved budget. The FY25 and FY26 figures are performance targets based on the FY25 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY26.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • To take advantage of efficiencies generated by technological advancements, MC311 is shifting from the Public Information Office (PIO) into Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS). This realignment will allow MC311 to continue to provide excellent customer service for Montgomery County residents while leveraging TEBS's expertise with chatbots and artificial intelligence to help residents find answers to their questions faster.

Program Descriptions

  Public Relations

Under this program, the Public Information Office: Educates and informs residents about County issues, programs, and services through press releases, media advisories, news, public events, the County website, online newsletters, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and podcasts. Works directly with media organizations to ensure that reporters and editors have accurate and...

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  Web Content and Graphic Management

The Web Content and Graphic Development Program has four major functions: Provides creative and technical support to Public Relations, Cable Programming, MC311, and County departments. Develops and oversees the County's graphic identity program to ensure consistency in the County's printed communication for the public. The program develops...

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  MC311 Customer Service Center

MC311 is a key strategic, enterprise-wide initiative that provides the public with a single three-digit number (311) to call for County information and service from anywhere within Montgomery County. In addition, MC311 provides the County with a sophisticated ability to count, track, and respond to resident requests. MC311 is the...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Barry Hudson of the Office of Public Information at 240.777.6507 or Seamus McNamara of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2755 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY23
Budget
FY24
Estimate
FY24
Recommended
FY25
%Chg
Bud/Rec
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages4468059.005272519.00 5077745.00 2200036.00-58.3
Employee Benefits1386516.001622282.00 1537834.00 593997.00-63.4
County General Fund Personnel Costs5854575.006894801.00 6615579.00 2794033.00-59.5
Operating Expenses246515.00251908.00 251908.00 163116.00-35.3
County General Fund Expenditures6101090.007146709.00 6867487.00 2957149.00-58.6
PERSONNEL
Full-Time76.0075.00 75.00 17.00-77.3
Part-Time1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
FTEs60.9060.11 60.11 17.50-70.9
County General Fund Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures6101090.007146709.00 6867487.00 2957149.00-58.6
Total Full-Time Positions76.0075.00 75.00 17.00-77.3
Total Part-Time Positions1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
Total FTEs60.9060.11 60.11 17.50-70.9
Total Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FY25 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION714670960.11
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Shift: Cable Fund Chargeback to General Fund [Public Relations]4793743.30
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases3133690.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs3103250.00
Shift: Shift Cable Fund Chargeback to General Fund [Web Content and Graphic Management]1171890.79
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment690170.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail1460.00
Decrease Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment-7380.00
Decrease Cost: Retirement Adjustment-15760.00
Shift: MC311 Overtime to TEBS [MC311 Customer Service Center]-35480.00
Shift: Lapse Planning from MC311 to PIO Core [Public Relations]-309680.00
Shift: MC311 Operating Expenses to TEBS [MC311 Customer Service Center]-882000.00
Shift: MC311 Lapse Planning to TEBS [MC311 Customer Service Center]-1074790.00
Shift: Long-term Vacant Position Transferred to OHR to Support Countywide Human Resources Efforts [MC311 Customer Service Center]-123411-1.00
Shift: MC311 Workforce to TEBS [MC311 Customer Service Center]-5123060-45.70
FY25 RECOMMENDED295714917.50
Program Summary
Program NameFY24 APPR
Expenditures
FY24 APPR
FTEs
FY25 REC
Expenditures
FY25 REC
FTEs
MC311 Customer Service Center493391146.7000.00
Public Relations188067911.20250036714.50
Web Content and Graphic Management3321192.214567823.00
Total714670960.11295714917.50
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY24
Total$
FY24
FTES
FY25
Total$
FY25
FTES
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
Cable Television Communications PlanCable TV5468094.0900.00
Permitting ServicesPermitting Services3226862.903410572.90
Housing and Community AffairsMontgomery Housing Initiative846880.90888080.90
Health and Human ServicesGeneral Fund1653251.501681141.50
Recycling and Resource ManagementSolid Waste Disposal4689074.754905824.75
Recycling and Resource ManagementSolid Waste Collection1211371.251267471.25
Total170955215.39121530811.30
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY25FY26FY27FY28FY29FY30
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended2957.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.0000002957.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.00000045.00000045.00000045.00000045.00000045.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures2957.0000003002.0000003002.0000003002.0000003002.0000003002.000000