County Executive is Holding Series of Virtual FY22 Budget Forums, with Next One on Monday, Sept. 21

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding a series of virtual forums about priorities for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Operating Budget. The next forum will start at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21 and the following forum will be on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Each of the forums will be hosted via Microsoft Teams.

“I am hopeful that our virtual format will allow more residents to participate in these forums,” said County Executive Elrich. “Even though we cannot be together, this new format should enable us to discuss with residents the County’s budget process for Fiscal Year 2022. COVID-19 has changed how the government delivers services, and this virtual forum may make it easier for more residents to participate and engage with the process. We hope you will join us to listen, learn, ask questions, and let us know what is important to you.” 

The schedule for upcoming budget forums:

• Monday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. FY22 County Operating Budget Forum.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. FY22 County Operating Budget Forum.
• Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Mid County.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Bethesda. 
• Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Up County. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Silver Spring. 

County Executive Elrich will transmit his Recommended FY22 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY21-26 CIP to the County Council on Jan. 15. The County Executive will transmit his Recommended FY22 Operating Budget to the County Council on March 15. The Council will approve the budgets at the end of May.

Sign language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no less than 72 hours prior to the event. If these or other services or aids are needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6507, Maryland Relay 711 or email a request to Karen.falcon@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Sept. 21 and 30 meetings will be streamed live on the County’s website and Facebook page and on the YouTube channel. County residents can view the meeting live with closed captioning on County Cable Montgomery (cable channel CCM) by tuning to Comcast Channel 6 or 996 HD; RCN Channel 6 or 1056 HD; or Verizon Channel 30. Residents also can join on social media and help raise awareness by using #MoCoBudget22.

Fourth Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival Begins Sunday, Sept. 20

The COVID-19 health crisis has led to many changes in activities planned for 2020, including to the Fourth Annual Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival. However, even with a new look for this year, the Wheaton Arts Parade will again bring art to the streets of downtown Wheaton. It also will have a virtual festival of art.

The traditional one-day celebration will become a two-week event, starting Sunday, Sept. 20. This year’s event will have art installations placed around the downtown area so visitors can experience the works of local artists day or night. The arts presentations also can be viewed virtually. At noon on opening day, County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Sidney Katz will kick off the festival by unveiling an eight-foot pyramid in the first event on the new Marian Fryer Town Plaza. The plaza, on Reedie Drive, is adjacent to the recently opened 14-story County office building.

The “Path of Pyramids” and “Yarn Bomb” themed event will have eight-foot and four-foot-high artwork painted and sculpted by local artists installed around Downtown Wheaton from the town plaza to the Westfield Wheaton mall. The path also will extend north on Georgia Avenue to the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center complex.

Among the art on display will be a pyramid created in collaboration with One Montgomery Green using non-recyclable plastics. Another pyramid is a mosaic created by families from Wheaton’s Latino community as a tribute to their Salvadoran heritage. Linking the pyramids will be the “Yarn Bomb,” color hangings from lampposts that were crocheted by Wheaton area residents.

The Path of Pyramids will be on display through Sunday, Oct. 4.

Festival Details: www.wheatonartsparade.org

Pay Your Property Taxes Online: Payments Due Sept. 30 and Dec. 31

The Montgomery County Department of Finance is encouraging property owners to pay their tax bills online this year because of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Bills were mailed out to property owners earlier this summer and property tax payments are due Sept. 30 and Dec. 31. The County’s cashier window is currently closed to the public.

Payments can be made online with an electronic check (no extra charge) or by credit/debit card (a convenience fee of approximately 2.3 percent of the payment amount is charged by the payment processing company). To make an online payment, visit the County’s website to look up your account and to make an online payment.

Tax payment website at montgomerycountymd.gov/propertytax.

For more information about property tax bills, including a questions and answers section, visit the Department of Finance website. If you have additional questions, call 311 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday.

County Public Libraries Launch Enhanced Deaf Culture Digital Library Website

The Deaf Culture Digital Library (Maryland DCDL), a program of the Maryland State Library Agency, has launched its newly enhanced website. The website provides more comprehensive digital content related to American Sign Language, deaf culture, deaf history, deaf literature, news in American Sign Language and lists of organizations.

Since the latter part of 2015, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has hosted, developed and managed Maryland DCDL on behalf of the Maryland State Library. MCPL has managed DCDL due to MCPL’s long history of providing library services to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. These services include communication access, deaf resources, collections of materials for, by and about people who are deaf and hard of hearing and programs featuring deaf authors and speakers on topics related to deaf culture and coping with hearing level changes due to aging. These services are nationally and State renowned.

Many Partners Join City of Light Church to Distribute Food and Meals in Silver Spring

More than 500 individuals and families on Sept. 13 were provided with fresh produce, nonperishable groceries, ethnic food products and milk as many organizations and volunteers joined the Kings and Priests’ Court International Ministries City of Light Church “Helping Hands Food Pantry” food distribution event. The church is located on Randolph Road in Silver Spring.

Among those that helped with the event were the Montgomery County Government and the East County Regional Services Office; the County’s Housing Initiative Fund; the American Diversity Group; the Capital Area Food Bank; the Greater Washington Community Foundation; the Immigrant Community Services, Inc.; the Manna Food Center; and the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Access Coalition.

Pastor, Dr. Abdul Sesay and the City of Light community also were helped by numerous volunteers in the major food distribution effort. Among the volunteers were Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando and East County Regional Services Director Jewru Bandeh.

Compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, demand for food assistance in Montgomery County, as reported by food providers, has increased by 500 percent. County employees have worked in cooperation with more than 100 nonprofit partners to help feed families across the County.

Over the past week, food distribution organizations provided more than 5,000 families with rice, beans and lentils.

Information on food resources is available on the website. 

• City of Light Event
• Guru Gobind Sikh Foundation Efforts

County Health Officials Monitoring Novel Coronavirus Situation; What You Can Do to Help Be Prepared

As federal officials continue to monitor the outbreak of respiratory illnesses caused by a new form of coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, China, County Executive Marc Elrich and County health and emergency management officials are coordinating efforts across agencies as well as with state officials and healthcare providers to ensure we are prepared for the situation as it evolves.

Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises state and local health departments to prepare for community spread of COVID-19. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services is working with partners, including the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, public safety agencies, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and hospitals to plan for a response should there be cases in Montgomery County.

Here is how the County has prepared:

• Launched an internal emergency management group for coordination, enhanced monitoring and planning with partners and other local agencies.
• Developed an action plan for incident management and surveillance for individuals at risk of infection.
• Communicated with hospitals and healthcare providers to provide the latest information and guidance from the CDC.
• Communicated and coordinated with MCPS to provide guidance to parents, teachers and staff.
• Launched a COVID-19 website to update Montgomery County residents on the current situation. The website is updated regularly.

While the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is low, here are some steps that residents should take to prepare:

• Stay informed by using trusted sources for up-to-date information. The County’s website includes information on prevention techniques as well as links to the CDC and other resources.
• Wash hands frequently throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Keep surfaces (especially bathroom surfaces and children’s toys) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

Residents are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for Public Health and Environmental Alerts for critical updates. Sign up for alerts (listed under Montgomery County Government Alerts) through the County’s Alert Montgomery notification system.

March is Women’s History Month

It is Women’s History Month! The Montgomery County Commission for Women invites residents to participate in its fourth annual Girl Power Contest. County residents ages 5 to 105 (or older) are encouraged to submit a short story, poem, or drawing that addresses the following question: As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, what barriers do you think still exist for women and girls and how can you help break them?

For more information and to submit contest entries, visit the Commission for Women website.

The Census Is Coming: Here is Important Information You Need to Know

The invitations to respond to the 2020 Census will begin arriving to households March 12. Here is some information you need to know about the census.

What is the Census?
Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a population count of everyone in the United States.

Why is the Census important?

• Every year, the federal government allocates more than $675 Billion in funding based on census data.
• Every Marylander not counted costs the state approximately $18,250 over 10 years.
• Census data is used to plan schools, new homes and businesses, and improve neighborhoods.

Who needs to respond to the Census and is my information secure?
The census counts every household and person living in the U.S., this includes both citizens and non-citizens. The U.S. Census Bureau must keep all information confidential.

Action Plan Town Hall and Open House Sets Tone to Address Climate Emergency

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council Vice President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Even Glass joined community members for a recent “Climate Action Plan Town Hall and Open House.” The event held at the United Therapeutics Corporate Headquarters in Silver Spring featured presentations—and 850 recommendations—from five County workgroups who have been studying issues and actions the County can take to reach its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals. 

In 2017, the County approved a Climate Emergency Resolution with the goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. The 150 members of the five workgroups are part of a planning process the County developed to prioritize actions and strategies to meet its GHG emission reduction goals and make the County more resilient to the impacts from climate change.

The workgroups were formed from a combination of volunteers with backgrounds and strong interests in energy and climate change and County staff that work on those issues. The workgroups focused on buildings; clean energy; transportation; public engagement and education and climate adaptation and sequestration.

Residents can review the recommendations and contribute comments at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/climate.

The workgroup recommendations and the public feedback will help the County prioritize the actions for inclusion in a Climate Action and Resilience Plan to be issued in 2021.

Elrich Celebrates Read Across America Day with County Youth

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Will Jawando participated in National Education Association’s Read Across America Day, which is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. The Greater Washington Community Foundation organized Montgomery County’s celebration, which was held at the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center located at 11701 Georgia Ave.

Young County readers joined Elrich, Albornoz and more than 45 million readers, both young and old, from across the country to pick up a book and read. The event featured the children’s books “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” by New York Times best-selling author Mo Willems and Book Fiesta!,” which is the bilingual story of Children’s Day written by Pat Mora.