Dear Friends,
I am in Taiwan on an economic mission this week. Next week, I will fill you in more about the trip.
This is my third visit to the Smart City Summit and Expo, Asia’s largest smart city tradeshow. With 170,000 visitors and more than 500 matchmaking sessions, it is an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders and explore partnerships that can benefit Montgomery County.
Trips like these help us attract international businesses to our region. Foreign companies are investing in our local economy, but building these relationships is key to making Montgomery County the go-to destination for entrepreneurs expanding into the U.S. It is also an advantage to continue to have a presence at large trade shows to show that we are a premier place in the nation for life sciences and technology companies.
Back home, we are working to strengthen our life sciences industry. We recently closed applications for two major grant programs:
- The $7 million Technology Innovation Fund, which provides up to $200,000 for small businesses developing proprietary tech.
- The $3 million Founders Fund, which awards up to $100,000 for entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities.
Our goal is to grow and diversify our economy, creating opportunities for our highly skilled workforce and reducing reliance on the Federal sector. By fostering innovation and supporting local businesses, we are building a stronger, more equitable economy for Montgomery County.
I look forward to sharing more about this trip to Taiwan when I return next week.
FY 26 Operating Budget Released
As I reported last week, I sent my proposed operating budget to the County Council last Friday. You can review it on your own using interactive tools on the County’s budget website (seen above).
The budget process was particularly complicated this year because the General Assembly had not made final decisions yet on the State budget. They just announced an agreement on the budget, and we are still awaiting further details. We may still bear more financial responsibility than we have in previous years; we will know more once the State budget is completed.
The $7.7 billion operating budget proposal devotes a record amount to education. The $6.6 billion of tax-supported funding devotes 51% or ($3.4 billion) to public schools. This recommended budget exceeds the amount required by the State's Maintenance of Effort (MOE) law by over $256 million. MOE says that each county must spend no less per pupil than was spent per pupil the prior year. If approved, this would be the largest-ever year-over-year budget increase for Montgomery County Public Schools.
The education budget funds negotiated compensation agreements for all school staff. It also funds nearly 700 new MCSPS staff members, including 188 teachers and 500 paraeducators (134 new and 366 converted from part-time to full-time), to address an urgent need in educating our youth in special education programs. It also would pay for increased school safety personnel.
Beginning with the Great Recession and continuing, our per-pupil funding has not kept up with inflation as you can see from the above graph. This budget goes a long way toward raising those levels and getting our spending back to pre-recession levels. We are making the largest local investment ever in our schools because strong schools mean a strong workforce and economy. It is also important to fully fund Montgomery College and expand early childhood education initiatives.
This balanced budget is focused on protecting our core services such as education, public safety and housing. This budget increases police pay and makes the starting pay for a police officer $70,000, which will help us recruit for our police force, which is understaffed – like most police forces across the U.S. We also invest in new technology like the Drone as First Responder program, which has improved emergency response capabilities and provides critical support to law enforcement. Affordable housing is still a critical need in Montgomery County, which is why my recommended budget invests a record amount for strategic investments to preserve, protect and produce more affordable units to help our residents.
As the first step in the Council’s review of my recommended budget, they have scheduled public hearings on Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8. Sign up to testify on the County Council website or call (240) 777-7803.
Montgomery County: One of the Healthiest Places in Maryland and the U.S.
The latest County Health Rankings report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows Montgomery County continues to be one of the healthiest places to live in Maryland and in the U.S.
This study evaluated over 30 factors that impact health—everything from access to care and community support to lifestyle and economic conditions.
The results found that Montgomery County outperforms the state average for population health and well-being. And when compared nationally, we are also better than the typical county in the U.S.
The highlights include:
- Lower rates of premature death
- Higher life expectancy
- Strong community partnerships
The rankings remain high because this government invests in programs and services in many areas, not just health. We know that a person’s health has a lot more to do with factors other than their physical and mental health. It takes a commitment on the part of many.
Help for High Water Utility Bills
WSSC Water has relaunched its Get Current 2.0 program to help income-eligible customers struggling with overdue water and sewer bills.
This initiative offers residential customers below 150% of the area median income (AMI) bill credits and waived fees upon full or partial payment and potential payment plan completion.
The following information will help you understand what 150% AMI looks like for area families.
| Household of 1: | $158,250 |
| Household of 2: | $180,900 |
| Household of 3: | $203,550 |
| Household of 4: | $226,050 |
| Household of 5: | $244,200 |
| Household of 6: | $262,350 |
Families that exceed these income thresholds and commercial accounts can also receive waivers for late payment charges and turn-on fees. The program aims to address the significant number of past-due accounts, currently totaling over $47 million.
Interested residents can find more information here. The Get Current 2.0 program will run through June 30.
World Water Day 2025
World Water Day on Saturday, March 22, will be a day of fun, learning and activities focused on water conservation and responsibly enjoying one of the globe's most important natural resources. It is the County’s first one ever, and it will be held at Wheaton Regional Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can participate in guided nature walks and environmental exhibits, a piñata exhibit for the family and a trout fishing activity for kids 15 and younger at the park’s Pine Lake. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Mobile First Catch Fishing Center will provide fishing gear and lessons.
The theme of World Water Day is “Save Our Glaciers,” highlighting climate change’s impact on water sources worldwide. Only three percent of Earth’s water is fresh and drinkable, and 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. We must help everyone understand how important it is to protect our waterways for future generations.
World Water Day is brought to you by Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery Parks, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Impact Silver Spring, Defensores De La Cuenca, the Latino Health Initiative and Montgomery Housing Partnership.
Making a difference for generations to come begins by acting today. World Water Day is a wonderful way to learn how to be better stewards of our water system.
MoComCon Returns This Weekend
MoComCon is back and bigger than ever. It is now a two-day event happening this Saturday and Sunday, March 22 – 23, in Germantown.
Montgomery County Public Libraries’ most popular annual event celebrates comics, storytelling and art with activities for all ages. This expansion means more opportunities for people to participate with tailored experiences across a variety of demographics.
On Saturday, BlackRock Center for the Arts will host its portion of the event from 1 to 5 p.m. These activities are geared toward youth ages 13 and up and adults. Panels, workshops and a cosplay contest will be some of the highlights.
On Sunday, the fun moves to the Germantown Library starting at 10 a.m. Activities will be more family-focused for kids of all ages. A costume parade and interactive displays will continue until 2 p.m.
More information on this popular event can be found later in the newsletter.
Employers and Employees Benefit from FareShare Program
A program meant to help more people choose public transportation to and from work is becoming more beneficial.
Montgomery County employees can now receive up to $325 per month for public transit costs through the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s FareShare program, up from $300 last year. Employers must contribute $25 per month per employee. The upside is a tax-free contribution from both employees and employers.
Here's another upside--commuters using public transportation can save up to four times the costs associated with using a personal car.
The money set aside by employees and employers can be used for Ride On buses, Metro bus, Metro rail or MARC train. Rail passes, vanpool fares and other transportation expenses are also allowed. (As a note, my recommended budget would make Ride-On free, but FareShare would still be important for other transit.)
As the federal government returns to in-person work, we need more commuters to consider public transit options. We encourage more businesses to take advantage of this opportunity and make transit an easier choice for their workers. Employers who participate give their employees a financial break while they’re supporting a healthier, more sustainable transportation system for everyone.
For more information and to request free support to implement or increase a transportation reimbursement program in the County, email FareShare at commuter.services@montgomerycountymd.gov.
A number of you have asked the County to join Bluesky, the newest social media platform. We have joined and we hope you will follow us there at @montgomerycountymd.bsky.social.
Spring officially started this week. Happy Spring! In the weeks to come, look out for information on many upcoming community events.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
