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Residents and environmental groups urge restoration of RainCheck and resilience programs in FY26 budget
Summary
Speakers at the May 6 hearing urged the council to restore county programs that fund private-property stormwater retrofits and community resilience hubs, saying the RainCheck rebate program is mandated by county code and central to local flood and climate adaptation efforts.
Residents, environmental advocates and community groups told the County Council on Tuesday that the county should restore funding for the RainCheck rebate program, resilience hubs and stormwater stewardship grants removed from the executive's FY26 proposal.
The Most Newsworthy: Janet Gingold, a Kettering resident, told the council RainCheck is mandated by county code and funded by the stormwater tax; she urged the council not to cut the program. Naomi Edelson of the National Wildlife Federation and Sacred Grounds said their congregational landscaping initiative depends on RainCheck funding for stormwater retrofits. Lily Fountain, chair of the Prince George's Sierra Club, and other witnesses requested restored funding for climate and energy divisions, RainCheck (which testimony said has a $3,000,000 code-linked allocation) and community engagement programs.
Why it matters: Witnesses described an immediate need to fund small-scale, property-level projects (rain gardens, permeable surfaces) to reduce flooding and pollution, complement large infrastructure projects and protect residents during more frequent extreme storms.
Testimony highlights: Janet Gingold said RainCheck helps property owners decrease runoff through stormwater retrofits and pointed out the program is funded through the county's stormwater fee. Naomi Edelson said her group works with more than 30 houses of worship planning native-planting projects that rely on the rebate program. Dan Smith and other local advocates said the grants and RainCheck encourage community-led action and help organizations such as Joe's Movement Emporium and native-planting projects scale up.
County context: Witnesses warned that federal programs are shifting and local programs are essential to maintain climate resilience. Several speakers urged the council to reinstate RainCheck and related stewardship grants in the FY26 budget and preserve funding for new climate and community engagement divisions.
What's next: The council will consider budget amendments; witnesses asked for restored funds to be prioritized for property-level stormwater solutions, resilience hubs with battery storage, and public engagement programs.
