Accomplishments and Initiatives

Climate Change...

• The FY27 Recommended Operating Budget and the FY27 Recommended Capital Budget and FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program collectively dedicate $355.3 million to climate change efforts. Funding is included in the following budgets:
  

  • Agriculture
  • Community Use of Public Facilities
  • Office of the County Executive
  • Climate Change Planning - Non Departmental Account
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of General Services
  • Office of Grants Management
  • Department of Housing and Community Affairs
  • Department of Permitting Services
  • Department of Transportation

• Add new zero-emission buses in FY27 and fund critical charging and facility infrastructure identified in the County's comprehensive Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Transition Plan. This plan outlines strategies for reduction of fleet emissions, assessment of infrastructure needs, and determination of optimal fleet composition. By advancing cleaner technology and essential upgrades, the County supports the Climate Action Plan goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and strengthens a more sustainable, resilient transit system.

• Expand the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Program in existing and additional Parking District facilities to meet increased adoption of electric vehicles, including the introduction of Level III Fast Charging infrastructure.

  
  
  
  

• Complete transition to electric landscaping equipment with most leaf blowers, trimmers, and mowers now electric, resulting in decreased greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of noise, and improvement of air quality throughout downtown Silver Spring.

• Explore opportunities to partner the Parking Lot Districts with the Montgomery County Green Bank and/or other stakeholders to install solar canopies on parking garages that can provide community solar.

Racial Equity & Social Justice...

• Continue to invest in the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice's efforts to normalize, organize, and operationalize racial equity and social justice.

• Allocate more than $2.56 million in on-going funding to continue services in Children, Youth, and Family Services originally funded through the Lighthouse Initiative. In addition, include almost $4.6 million in funding to continue the Lighthouse Initiative as a three-year grant program.

• Enhance supplemental funding for the Developmental Disability Service Provider Supplement ($559,000), the Adult Medical Day Care Provider Supplement ($62,000), and address the rising costs of Senior Nutrition Program meals ($143,000).

• Montgomery County Public Libraries, the Circuit Court, the Leggett Executive Office Building, and the Council Office Building are available for free facility use, ensuring that residents across the Montgomery County have equitable access to public spaces.

Thriving Youth and Families...

• Enhance funding for the Early Care and Education Non-Departmental Account (NDA) to continue ongoing services and programs that provide childcare subsidies for families with income up to 450 percent of the federal poverty level.

• Expand support for the County's Healthcare for the Uninsured Program. This includes an increase of the reimbursement rate from 45% to 52.5% of the cost of care ($1.56 million), provision of dental equipment and supplies in Montgomery County Public Schools ($50,000), support of Montgomery Cares endodontic services ($19,000), expansion of the East County dental services pilot ($15,000), and expansion of Care for Kids specialty dental services ($9,000).

• Foster greater accessibility to programs for adults 55 years and older for whom English is not their first language. Expanded 55+ offerings to include programs taught fully or partially in multiple languages, including Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, Korean, Japanese, and Sign Language. Inclusive Multilingual Programming broadens participation, strengthens inclusivity, and ensures that older adults can engage in programs that honor their diverse backgrounds and communication needs.

• The Community Engagement Cluster builds strong community trust and participation by convening 23 Community Exchange townhalls, creating consistent dialogue with residents, and generating more than 500 direct touchpoints with County residents.

• Use a variety of methods to ensure there is food access to address persistent inequities and disparities among residents and direct their engagement with our local food system. MC Groceries, Maryland Market Money, local grocer partnerships, and the Nutrition Benefits Outreach Grants maximize nutrition benefits and food retail access for Montgomery County families while reducing time and transportation barriers.

• Ensure safe and responsible management of clinical settings including County performance of nursing home inspections beginning in FY27 ($399,000), expanding of nurse/manager staffing ratios in school health settings ($340,000), and bolstering the ability to recruit and retain skilled contractual dentists ($197,000). DHHS will maintain compliance with State requirements, including enhancement of tobacco retail enforcement capacity ($78,000) and replacement of dental program equipment ($75,000).

A Growing Economy...

• Support the County's Economic Development Initiative with funding for economic development organizations that augment County services. These services help businesses start and grow in the County; support business growth and economic growth through workforce development and training programs; provide a venue to host business and private events in the County; provide business, marketing, and technical assistance to County businesses; attract tourism to the County; attract strategic industries to relocate and launch in the County; and facilitate access to State and County funding programs to support business growth. The FY27 recommended budget includes funding for the following:
  

  • Business Center Team
  • Economic Development Fund
  • BioHub Maryland at Montgomery County NDA
  • Conference and Visitors Bureau NDA
  • Conference Center NDA
  • Incubator Programs NDA
  • Institute for Health Computing NDA
  • Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation NDA
  • Small Business Support Services NDA
  • WorkSource Montgomery NDA

• Support workforce development and training with funding for the Upcounty American Job Center, expanding access to workforce services for residents in the Upcounty region.

• The Silver Spring Urban District is strengthening small business growth by partnering with Montgomery County's Business Center to connect local entrepreneurs with key resources and promote their brands on Instagram, boosting the district's overall economic vitality.

A Greener County...

• The Department of General Services (DGS) is the lead department in greening the County's buildings, fleet, and many of its operations. The department's initiatives include generating solar, combined heat and power and other low emissions energy on County facilities; reducing fuel consumption through green fleet operations; building high performance green buildings; continually improving energy efficiency of existing buildings; and clean energy purchasing. DGS leads the initiative to transition to a zero-emissions fleet of County vehicles and buses and to develop the charging infrastructure necessary to make this transition.

• Expand the County's electric vehicle charging infrastructure through continued collaboration between the Office of Energy and Sustainability and Fleet Management Services, supporting ongoing growth of the zero emission fleet. To date, 206 electric vehicles have been added, with 24 new charging stations scheduled for installation in FY26 and another 33 stations in design to meet future charging needs across County facilities.

• As part of its zero-emission fleet transition, the County has incorporated 82 battery-electric buses into the Ride On fleet and plans to add 22 more by the end of FY27 for a total of 104 electric buses. In addition, the County will receive its first 13 hydrogen fuel cell buses, introducing a complementary zero-emission technology designed to support longer-running routes where battery-electric buses are not yet practical. Hydrogen fuel cell buses offer faster refueling times and longer ranges, making them well-suited for service patterns that exceed current battery-electric capabilities and strengthening the County's ability to deliver reliable, zero-emission service across the full network.

Easier Commutes...

• Advance the Ride On Reimagined Service and Implementation Plan, a long-range strategy shaped by extensive research and community input to create a more equitable and sustainable transit network. The plan's first year delivered foundational upgrades to infrastructure and existing routes, with continued expansion aimed at improving accessibility, increasing service availability, and supporting long-term mobility goals. In FY27, implement all-day Flash Bus Rapid Transit service to the Burtonsville Park and Ride.

• Expand Ride On Flex service to include new zones in Poolesville and Damascus, adding to existing service areas in Rockville, Wheaton, and Olney. This growth supports the Ride On Reimagined effort to modernize mobility by offering on-demand, curb-to-curb microtransit that improves first-mile/last-mile access, reduces wait times, and better serves communities that lack convenient fixed-route options.

• Enhance rider access and trip planning by expanding use of the Ride On Trip Planner, a real-time digital tool that provides step-by-step directions, route options, travel times, and service alerts across the network. Integrating GPS tracking and live data, the platform helps riders make informed decisions, reduce wait times, and navigate the system more efficiently. As part of the County's Intelligent Transit System strategy, the trip planner improves accessibility for all users especially those less familiar with transit by offering an intuitive experience on both desktop computers and mobile devices.

  
  
  
  
  

An Affordable, Welcoming County for a Lifetime...

• Provide one-time funding of more than $1.96 million for overflow emergency shelter support for families at a reduced level of motel room usage due to $2 million in one-time funding added to the Short-term Housing and Resolution Program (SHARP).

• Expand support for the County's Services to End and Prevent Homelessness by providing almost $1.17 million to address an adult shelter budget gap due to increased emergency shelter operational costs and one-time funding that was not sustained. Provide almost $439,000 in funding to fill an outreach budget gap and to expand outreach services to help unhoused individuals successfully seek support and become stably housed.

• Provide $102.0 million to support the production and preservation of affordable housing units in Montgomery County. This investment includes allocating $86 million and incorporating $10.1 million in FY26 loan repayments into the Affordable Housing Acquisition and Preservation CIP project, $2.0 million for the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund, an additional $128,000 in loan repayments for the Nonprofit Preservation Fund, $2.2 million to revitalize Common Ownership Communities through the CIP-supported Common Area Assistance Loan Fund, and $1.62 million for the Montgomery Housing Initiative (MHI) Fund.

• Allocate $52.3 million to the Montgomery Housing Initiative Fund to sustain programs and projects dedicated to developing and preserving affordable housing and related services. This funding will support renovation of distressed housing, development of units for residents with special needs, rental assistance and rapid rehousing initiatives, homelessness prevention and relocation assistance, homeowner downpayment assistance and counseling, home accessibility improvements, services under the Building Neighborhoods to Call Home and Housing First programs, and the development of mixed-income housing.

• Add one position in the Office of Landlord and Tenant Affairs for implementation of legislative mandates required in Bill 31-25 to provide tenants with timely eviction notification.

• Increase funding for fair housing testing by leveraging Federal resources to identify and assess evidence of housing discrimination within Montgomery County.

• Allocate $7.07 million in the Housing Initiative Fund for required debt service to support leveraging additional resources for the Housing Production Fund, which finances construction of mixed-income, mixed-use developments.

• Continue funding to support the Rent Stabilization Program, which implements legislative rent stabilization mandates and maximum allowable rent increases.

• Recommend funding for one position in the Multi-family program to enhance capacity for evaluating project proposals and negotiating Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements that implement affordability requirements for eligible housing development projects.

Safe Neighborhoods...

• Continue funding to operate the County's red light and speed camera program. A new vendor was selected to improve the program's efficiency and to enhance public safety; the new vendor will utilize the most current level of software and hardware technology on the market.

• Establish a dedicated K9 Unit in the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation to enhance institutional safety; deter the introduction of contraband; and support facility operations through targeted search, detection, and security functions.

• Host community outreach events to focus on emergency preparedness, including the second Ready Montgomery Public Safety and Preparedness Fair, providing residents with education on response skills and climate resilience. Expand outreach to Spanish-speaking residents and increase engagement with older adults.

• Allocate funding to maintain Alert Montgomery, the County's emergency public alert system, ensuring residents receive timely and reliable emergency notifications while strengthening public safety and community resilience.

• Upgrade street and pedestrian lighting to brighter, energy-efficient LED fixtures, enhancing visibility, safety, and sustainability throughout the Wheaton Urban District.

• Expand the Alcohol Beverage Services Licensee Education Program, to include a partnership with the non-profit organization Safe Bars, to provide free bystander intervention and de-escalation training in preventing sexual violence.

• Restore 25 positions to the Emergency Communications Center, reflecting success by Police in hiring and retaining civilian call takers.

• Transition the Drone as First Responder Program to dock-based drones. This will significantly enhance operational efficiency and response capabilities. Automated docking stations allow drones to launch, fly, and recharge with minimal staff intervention, enabling rapid deployment for calls for service to reduce response times, increase situational awareness, and improve officer safety. The system provides real-time aerial intelligence before units arrive on scene, and the increased availability and autonomous flight capabilities will expand coverage to more areas of the county.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Effective, Sustainable Government...

• Montgomery County earned the following National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards in 2025:
  

  • Aquatic Egg Hunt
  • Alcohol Training in Six Languages
  • Babies Born Healthy "Right From The Start"
  • Breakage and Replacement Management
  • Cardboard Boat Regatta
  • Charlemos Con Zumba (Let's Chat and Zumba)
  • Construction of the new NetZero Sixth District Police Station
  • DHHS Mobile Health Clinic
  • Dry January
  • Electronic Health Records (CorEMR)
  • ePaper Transit Real Time Bus Stop Information Signs Project
  • Fire Safety: One Cup of Cocoa at a Time
  • Great Seneca Transit Network
  • Gude Landfill Remediation Project
  • Hands Only CPR Campaign
  • Healthy, Efficient, Electrified, Climate-Adapted Pilot Homes Grants Program
  • Jail-Based Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program
  • Kegs Room Transformation
  • Local Products Partnership with Tourism Bureau
  • MCDOT Flash Friday Campaign
  • MCDOT Sweep the Salt Pilot Program
  • MCDOT Waze School Flasher Integration
  • MC Groceries: Retail Food Access Program
  • Montgomery County GIS-Enabled DOT Field Photo Management Application
  • Montgomery County GIS Strategic Alignment and Activity Tracking Application
  • Montgomery County Recreation Skateboarding
  • Montgomery County Student Project Partnership
  • Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs Community Volunteer Program
  • Recipe for Success
  • Ride On Trip Planner App
  • Rock-reation: Indoor Rock-Climbing Program
  • RTD Connect
  • Spirited Discussions Podcast
  • Sweet Release Bakery Job Training Program
  • The Rising Together: Inclusive Pathways to Child Care Employment for Refugee Women
  • Under the Lights
  • Using Data for Loss Prevention Success
  • Veteran-Owned Business Preference Program
  • Youth Cricket Academy

• Modernize the Department of Health and Human Services' enterprise Integrated Case Management (eICM) system by transitioning from outdated, high-risk software to the new eICM 2.0 platform, strengthening cybersecurity, and improving customer service and continuity of care.

• Consolidate the Office of Procurement's contract lifecycle applications into a unified e-Procurement solution to integrate sourcing, contract management, vendor management, and compliance functions for greater efficiency and transparency.

  
  

• Deliver nearly 50,000 resident conversations through Monty 2.0 in its first two years, providing 24/7 access to information on thousands of County services. Monty 2.0 expands address-specific tools such as voting locations and leaf collection schedules. Upcoming enhancements will allow residents to submit select service requests directly through the chatbot, strengthening Monty 2.0 as a key customer service channel.

• Recommend funding to update the electronic systems associated with the County's ethics programs of financial disclosure, outside employment, and lobbying registration and reporting.

• Develop a tool that electronically generates deeds of temporary construction easements by partnering with the Department of Transportation's Property Acquisition Section, enabling the Office of the County Attorney to streamline deed reviews and accelerate project timelines.

• Advance the Department of Transportation Property Acquisition Section's use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital workflow automation by training staff and deploying AI-assisted document review, data analysis, and correspondence tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in the acquisition process while enabling staff to focus on higher-value strategic tasks.

• Alcohol and Beverage Services, in partnership with Montgomery College, created a customer service training program for retail employees to strengthen the retail customer experience and increase customer satisfaction.

• Organize and coordinate twelve operating budget forums during development of the County Executive's FY27 Recommended Operating Budget, giving residents an opportunity to share their input. Ten forums were held in English, including sessions tailored for the African-Caribbean and Black/African American communities, educators and families, and older adults. Two forums provided multilingual support, including one in Spanish and another in English with simultaneous interpretation in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese to ensure broader accessibility and inclusivity.

• Improve audio and video livestreaming of the vote by mail canvass to enhance the transparency of the Board of Elections' operations.

• Develop and launch a skilled-trades apprenticeship program in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC to address workforce shortages, strengthen in-house capabilities, and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the Department of General Services.

• Partner with the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions to offer 360-degree virtual tours of rental facilities, enabling Community Use of Public Facilities customers to remotely explore available spaces at Montgomery County Public Schools and the Silver Spring Civic Building and better visualize ideal event settings.

• Launch an innovative Housing Portal that enables landlords to register the rents and fees they charge to enforce provisions of the County's rent stabilization law. The Department of Housing and Community Affairs will continue to enhance the portal's efficiency, customer experience, and utility by incorporating other publicly-facing department programs and services.

• Improve the County's hiring process by attaining a 93 percent merit-position fill rate, marking the highest occupancy level in more than five years.

Funding the Budget...

• Recommend a total County budget from all sources for all County agencies of $8,019,823,000 which is $388.1 million or 5.1 percent more than the FY26 budget.

• Recommend tax-supported funding for the Montgomery County Government of $2,949,990,353 (including debt service and OPEB funding).

• Recommend tax-supported funding for the Montgomery County Government of $2,486,523,403 an increase of 5.9 percent (excluding debt service).

• Funding for Montgomery County Public Schools will increase by $189.8 million or 5.3 percent. Within this total, the County contribution is $202.8 million over maintenance of effort.

• Funding for Montgomery College's FY27 Recommended Operating Budget totals $351.5 million.

• Recommend tax-supported funding for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) increases by $7,414,231or 3.8 percent from FY26 (including debt service and OPEB funding).

• Fund the WSSC Water's FY27 operating and capital budgets with a 5.0 percent water and sewer rate increase in accordance with the Spending Affordability Guidelines adopted by the County Council.

• Recommended a property tax rate of $1.0885 per $100 of assessed value and a $692 homeowners' property tax credit. This rate includes a 6.3 cent increase to the supplemental education property tax rate.

• Promote existing mechanisms for senior citizens and those on limited incomes to assist them as needed with property tax increases, such as the Senior Tax Credit program that benefits eligible residents who are at least 65 years of age. This credit is calculated as 50 percent of the combined State Homeowners' Tax Credit and County Supplement.

• Retains the energy tax rate at the level approved by the Council for FY26, preserving an important stable and broad-based revenue source that includes Federal institutions that otherwise pay no taxes in exchange for County services.