Committee asks County Executive to restore $3.17 million to parks budget, places three park enhancements on reconciliation list

The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee unanimously agreed to ask the County Executive to include $3,171,556 in an amendment to his FY26 recommendation to restore baseline maintenance and contractual obligations in the Montgomery County portion of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M‑NCPPC) park fund.

The request covers a shortfall the commission says is needed to maintain current levels of service — compensation, utilities, contractual escalations and other operating costs — and reflects committee concern that a smaller amendment recently signaled by the executive would not fully cover the base budget gap. Committee staff said the committee will send a letter asking that the full $3,171,556 be included in the County Executive’s amendment.

Why it matters: Parks officials told the committee the commission’s total FY26 operating request is just over $221 million with an appropriation requirement of $236.5 million; the tax‑supported operating budget request totals about $197.4 million, roughly $14 million (7.6%) above FY25. Parks’ requested FY26 tax‑supported funding is $142.2 million (about a 7.5% increase over FY25); the County Executive recommended a smaller increase (about 3.2% over FY25 for parks). Committee members said the difference between the executive’s initial amendment and the full baseline gaps — largely compensation and unavoidable contractual/inflationary costs — must be restored to avoid cuts to everyday maintenance and services.

Key facts and committee action

- Committee staff summary: Pam Dunn, council staff, told the committee the commission’s overall FY26 operating request ‘‘is just over $221,000,000’’ and that the appropriation required to support the operating budget is $236,500,000.

- Major budget drivers: Parks staff told the committee personnel costs account for about $8.3 million of the increase; non‑personnel changes (debt service, utilities, contracts) are roughly $3.8 million; and new program enhancements total about $2.4 million.

- Staffing and programs: Parks requested 18 new positions in FY26 (some annualize to no net increase in year‑one); program enhancements include a volunteer‑cleanup coordinator, cultural resource program manager, a bilingual outreach specialist, GIS specialist, nature/outdoor programming staff for older adults, and inspectors for hard‑surface trails tied to federal grants.

- Mandatory / compliance items: Parks emphasized a required increase to cover National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) obligations and costs associated with operating newly completed capital projects.

- Committee outcome: The committee directed staff to send a letter to the County Executive asking that his amendment restore $3,171,556 as maintenance‑of‑service funding (compensation plus contractual/utility/inflation increases). Committee members agreed to track remaining restoration items on the reconciliation list that will be considered by the full council.

Tier 2 priorities placed on the reconciliation list

Committee members agreed to prioritize three front‑facing, customer‑oriented enhancements to be placed on the council’s reconciliation list (to compete with other county priorities):

1) Parks cleanup volunteer coordinator (permanent funding for a position piloted with grant support that increased cleanups by 50% and targeted equity focus areas). Parks staff said the pilot showed a measurable increase in volunteer cleanup activity in equity focus areas.

2) Nature and outdoor programming staff for people age 55+ (funding to expand senior‑focused nature programs at park nature centers).

3) Park facelifts: a $200,000 fund for small‑scale, high‑impact improvements (sign replacement, benches, kiosks, bike racks). Parks said $100,000 in year‑end funds last year paid for improvements at about 10 parks and replaced roughly 34 signs; committee members supported dividing the request into two $100,000 tranches if that helps reconciliation.

Parks staff also described other enhancements that the committee did not prioritize as top reconciliation asks but flagged as important: electric zero‑turn mowers and charging trailers (to meet county electrification goals), a GIS specialist to support mapping and an accessible park atlas, a bilingual outreach specialist, ActiveMontgomery support staff to assist customers with permitting, and a hard‑surface trail construction inspector to support federally funded trail projects.

Selected direct quotes (from meeting participants)

Pam Dunn, committee staff: “The Commission’s total FY26 budget request is just over $221,000,000… What we’re going to focus on today is the FY ’26 proposed tax supported operating budget.”

Shu Chi Verra, Division Chief, Management Services (M‑NCPPC Parks): “We have a portable toilet contract… there’s always escalation cost with that when you’re dealing with contracts… we’re really talking about minimal baseline maintenance standards that we just need to keep up with.”

What the committee will do next

- Letter to County Executive: Committee staff and parks officials will draft and send a letter asking that the executive’s amendment include the full $3,171,556 as maintenance‑of‑service funding and will copy council members.

- Reconciliation: The prioritized Tier 2 items — volunteer coordinator, senior nature programming and the park facelift fund — will be added to the council’s reconciliation list so they can compete with other items in the full council process.

- Timing and procedural note: The commission’s Central Administrative Services (CAS) portion of the budget requires by‑county approval with Prince George’s County; committee staff reminded members that CAS items are not revisited after the bi‑county meeting on May 8.

Ending: The committee emphasized it will press the full council to support restoration of baseline park funding and to prioritize the three front‑facing enhancements, noting staff said the cuts otherwise would delay or reduce maintenance and service levels countywide.