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Montgomery College trustees and faculty ask County Council to approve FY26 funding to preserve affordability amid rising enrollment
Summary
Montgomery College trustees and faculty urged the Montgomery County Council to approve the college’s FY26 operating request, stressing rising enrollment and reliance on county support to maintain affordability and faculty compensation.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery College leaders and educators asked the County Council on April 8 to approve the college’s FY26 operating budget so the institution can keep tuition affordable and maintain faculty and staff compensation as enrollment rises.
Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, chair of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, said MC serves more than 45,000 students and reported a 7 percent enrollment increase over the prior year. “We need your continued commitment, and we need your support to keep MC affordable,” Aparicio Blackwell said.
Testimony highlighted the East County Education Center’s first‑year service to more than 50,000 residents and programs to support displaced federal workers with short-term credentials and job fairs. Educators and college representatives emphasized that county funding is essential to preserve in-county pathways to careers and to keep the college as a workforce pipeline for the county.
Speakers asked the council to approve the college’s operating request during the FY26 budget process, saying the request funds basic operations and compensation rather than new initiatives. Several educators connected support for the college to broader economic and workforce objectives for Montgomery County.
The council will consider the college’s request in committee and in full-council sessions scheduled as part of the FY26 budget review.
