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Mission Statement

Urban Districts support and enhance the County's unincorporated downtowns (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Friendship Heights) as prosperous, livable urban centers by maintaining streetscape and its investments; providing additional public amenities such as plantings, seating, shelters, and works of art; promoting the commercial and residential interests of these areas; and programming cultural and community activities.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY25 Operating Budget for the Urban Districts is $12,782,043, an increase of $1,234,858 or 10.69 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $11,547,185. Personnel Costs comprise 44.64 percent of the budget for 61 full-time position(s) and one part-time position(s), and a total of 59.70 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 55.36 percent of the FY25 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

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

  • Thriving Youth and Families
  • A Growing Economy
  • A Greener County
  • Safe Neighborhoods
  • 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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Initiatives

  • The Urban Districts created and convened the Urban District Equity Core team to drive forward and fully integrate equity principals into all Urban Districts services.
  • Silver Spring Urban District and Wheaton Urban District will implement initiatives to address the increase of hazardous conditions in heavily damaged streetscape and roadside areas. The projects completed will improve walkability and make the areas safer for pedestrians.
  • The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District will provide a new public art element to downtown Bethesda by covering several signal boxes with a vinyl wrap based on original designs by local artists.


  • The Bethesda Urban District converted 10 streetlights to energy-saving LED heads and painted the poles of 274 aging streetlights. This initiative continues the district's mission to reduce greenhouse emissions and will make downtown Bethesda a more vibrant and livable place.

  • The Friendship Heights Urban District launched litter removal and street cleaning services along Wisconsin Avenue from Western to Oliver Streets, five days per week.

  • The Friendship Heights Urban District continued to maintain its branded planter program and median planting and maintenance program along Wisconsin avenue, bringing color and vibrancy along the Wisconsin Avenue corridor.


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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • The Bethesda Urban District is creating an updated website which will feature downtown Bethesda's events, local businesses, information on the Bethesda Urban Partnership and more.

  • The Bethesda Urban District purchased and will install 10 new recycling containers on the street in Woodmont Triangle. This improvement furthers the district's goal of becoming a greener county by increasing the total number of recycling containers downtown.

  • The Wheaton Urban District increased civic engagement by opening up the Marian Fryar Plaza, Wheaton Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Plaza, and Conference Room for utilization by the Community members.
  • The Wheaton Urban District completed the transition from gasoline-powered maintenance and snow equipment to electric-powered maintenance snow equipment in FY24.
  • The Wheaton Urban District activated a Community Access Grant to allow non-profits and public community groups to rent/utilize County resources and spaces within the Wheaton Urban District at a reduced rate.
  • The Friendship Heights Urban District supports marketing and communications for local businesses along the corridor, providing social media outreach, business listings, and promotional activities to drive customers to retailers and restaurants.

  • The Friendship Heights Urban District supports a business public safety program, convening regular meetings for business and community members with Montgomery County Police Department, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, and Metro Transit police.


  • The Silver Spring Urban District developed a planting plan that incorporates the beauty and function of native plant material in tree beds on Georgia Avenue from Spring Street to East-West highway and flowerpots throughout many other areas of the district. Native species are important because they allow pollinators such as birds and bees to thrive and can naturally adapt to local growing conditions and quickly contribute to a successful ecosystem.

  • The Silver Spring Urban District coordinated quarterly meetings of the 'marketing minds of Silver Spring' to discuss objectives for aligned and strategic marketing, offer networking opportunities, and provide training to participants. The Urban District will extend a social media, branding, and marketing series to local small businesses in partnership with the Business Center in the remainder of FY24.

Program Descriptions

  Promotion of Community and Business Activities

This program enhances the quality of life in the Urban Districts and surrounding communities; fosters a strong, vibrant business climate within each Urban District; and creates a positive image and a sense of identity for the Districts. These goals are accomplished through sponsorship of community events that may include festivals,...

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  Streetscape Maintenance

This program provides maintenance of, and improvement to, the streetscape amenities within each Urban District. Various service levels include litter collection, sidewalk maintenance, trash receptacle service at least three times a week, mowing and snow removal as needed, lighting maintenance, maintenance of planted/landscaped areas, and street sweeping....

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  Enhanced Security and Ambassadorship

This program promotes clean, safe, and welcoming Urban Districts through uniformed aides. The program provides visual deterrents and/or trained observer documentation for theft, vandalism, and violations in the Silver Spring and Wheaton Urban Districts. Aides also act as ambassadors by providing information, directions, first aid and CPR, and roadside assistance...

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  Administration

This program provides staff support for contract administration, the Urban District Advisory Committees, and for the administration of Urban District corporations. This program also provides for budget preparation and monitoring, payment authorization, records maintenance, and the Bethesda Circulator contract....

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Yvette Torres of the Urban Districts at 240.777.8044 or Katherine Bryant-Higgins of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2764 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY23
Budget
FY24
Estimate
FY24
Recommended
FY25
%Chg
Bud/Rec
URBAN DISTRICT - BETHESDA
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages58760.0093047.00 60390.00 91746.00-1.4
Employee Benefits18533.0029631.00 15569.00 26792.00-9.6
Urban District - Bethesda Personnel Costs77293.00122678.00 75959.00 118538.00-3.4
Operating Expenses3275933.003456822.00 3442949.00 3681479.006.5
Urban District - Bethesda Expenditures3353226.003579500.00 3518908.00 3800017.006.2
PERSONNEL
Full-Time1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
REVENUES
Property Tax884605.00836546.00 932487.00 981572.0017.3
Optional Method Development186917.00183975.00 183975.00 183975.000.0
Urban District - Bethesda Revenues1071522.001020521.00 1116462.00 1165547.0014.2
 
URBAN DISTRICT - SILVER SPRING
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1993631.002205270.00 2317146.00 2320920.005.2
Employee Benefits629950.00786280.00 792039.00 839394.006.8
Urban District - Silver Spring Personnel Costs2623581.002991550.00 3109185.00 3160314.005.6
Operating Expenses1267850.001271735.00 1271755.00 1446823.0013.8
Urban District - Silver Spring Expenditures3891431.004263285.00 4380940.00 4607137.008.1
PERSONNEL
Full-Time38.0038.00 38.00 37.00-2.6
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs35.0035.00 35.00 34.00-2.9
REVENUES
Property Tax956944.001049134.00 1057386.00 1112440.006.0
Optional Method Development265629.00120000.00 120000.00 120000.000.0
Urban District - Silver Spring Revenues1222573.001169134.00 1177386.00 1232440.005.4
 
URBAN DISTRICT - WHEATON
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1350101.001408224.00 1516846.00 1839351.0030.6
Employee Benefits469832.00506523.00 567611.00 587241.0015.9
Urban District - Wheaton Personnel Costs1819933.001914747.00 2084457.00 2426592.0026.7
Operating Expenses1191033.001172135.00 1172135.00 1330779.0013.5
Urban District - Wheaton Expenditures3010966.003086882.00 3256592.00 3757371.0021.7
PERSONNEL
Full-Time22.0023.00 23.00 23.000.0
Part-Time1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
FTEs24.7024.70 24.70 24.700.0
REVENUES
Property Tax264331.00270858.00 330643.00 348056.0028.5
Urban District - Wheaton Revenues264331.00270858.00 330643.00 348056.0028.5
 
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS URBAN DISTRICT
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Friendship Heights Urban District Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Operating Expenses0.00617518.00 617518.00 617518.000.0
Friendship Heights Urban District Expenditures0.00617518.00 617518.00 617518.000.0
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
REVENUES
Commercial District Charge0.00617518.00 617518.00 617518.000.0
Friendship Heights Urban District Revenues0.00617518.00 617518.00 617518.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures10255623.0011547185.00 11773958.00 12782043.0010.7
Total Full-Time Positions61.0062.00 62.00 61.00-1.6
Total Part-Time Positions1.001.00 1.00 1.000.0
Total FTEs60.7060.70 60.70 59.70-1.6
Total Revenues2558426.003078031.00 3242009.00 3363561.009.3
FY25 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
URBAN DISTRICT - BETHESDA
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION35795001.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Bethesda Urban Partnership Increase [Promotion of Community and Business Activities]2295000.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases49740.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment39620.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment35650.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail13720.00
Decrease Cost: Risk Management Adjustment-62150.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs-166410.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED38000171.00
 
URBAN DISTRICT - SILVER SPRING
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION426328535.00
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Sidewalk Streetscape Improvements (Silver Spring) [Streetscape Maintenance]1000000.00
Enhance: Lighting/Facade Improvements (Silver Spring) [Enhanced Security and Ambassadorship ]350000.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Restore: Restoration of One-Time Lapse (Silver Spring) [Administration]1799430.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment1457900.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases1262710.00
Increase Cost: Overtime Adjustment1081910.00
Increase Cost: Events, Marketing, and Promotion (Silver Spring) [Promotion of Community and Business Activities]750000.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment52140.00
Decrease Cost: Risk Management Adjustment-71230.00
Decrease Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment-277890.00
Re-align: Elimination of Long-Term Vacancies [Promotion of Community and Business Activities]-76317-1.00
Decrease Cost: Lapse Adjustment-1081910.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs-2121370.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED460713734.00
 
URBAN DISTRICT - WHEATON
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION308688224.70
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Sidewalk Streetscape Improvements (Wheaton) [Streetscape Maintenance]1000000.00
Enhance: Lighting/Facade Improvements (Wheaton) [Enhanced Security and Ambassadorship ]250000.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Restore: Restoration of One-Time Lapse (Wheaton) [Administration]1799430.00
Increase Cost: Lapse Adjustment1657210.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment918580.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases912720.00
Increase Cost: Events, Marketing, and Promotion (Wheaton) [Promotion of Community and Business Activities]500000.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment46180.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts [Administration]9000.00
Decrease Cost: Risk Management Adjustment-55710.00
Decrease Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment-116850.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs-215670.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED375737124.70
 
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS URBAN DISTRICT
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION6175180.00
FY25 RECOMMENDED6175180.00
Program Summary
Program NameFY24 APPR
Expenditures
FY24 APPR
FTEs
FY25 REC
Expenditures
FY25 REC
FTEs
Administration26250896.0030674645.50
Enhanced Security and Ambassadorship 203969219.50218230718.75
Promotion of Community and Business Activities446337035.20488823835.45
Streetscape Maintenance24190340.0026440340.00
Total1154718560.701278204359.70
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY24
Total$
FY24
FTES
FY25
Total$
FY25
FTES
URBAN DISTRICT - SILVER SPRING
Parking District ServicesSilver Spring Parking1652303.001652303.00
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY25FY26FY27FY28FY29FY30
URBAN DISTRICT - BETHESDA
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended3800.0000003800.0000003800.0000003800.0000003800.0000003800.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.0000002.0000002.0000002.0000002.0000002.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures3800.0000003802.0000003802.0000003802.0000003802.0000003802.000000
 
URBAN DISTRICT - SILVER SPRING
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended4607.0000004607.0000004607.0000004607.0000004607.0000004607.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Elimination of One-Time Items Recommended in FY250.000000-108.000000-108.000000-108.000000-108.000000-108.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY25, including for overtime will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
Restore One-Time Lapse Increase0.000000108.000000108.000000108.000000108.000000108.000000
Restores in FY26 the one-time lapse increase made in the FY25 budget.
Labor Contracts0.00000077.00000077.00000077.00000077.00000077.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures4607.0000004684.0000004684.0000004684.0000004684.0000004684.000000
 
URBAN DISTRICT - WHEATON
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended3757.0000003757.0000003757.0000003757.0000003757.0000003757.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Elimination of One-Time Items Recommended in FY250.000000-166.000000-166.000000-166.000000-166.000000-166.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY25, including a decrease for laps, will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
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 Expenditures3757.0000003636.0000003636.0000003636.0000003636.0000003636.000000
 
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS URBAN DISTRICT
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Recommended618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Subtotal Expenditures618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000618.000000