Prince George’s County Council adopts revised MGM local impact spending plan after hours of testimony

The Prince George’s County Council on Feb. 18 adopted a revised spending plan for the county’s MGM local impact grant after a lengthy public hearing in which dozens of residents, nonprofit leaders, students and elected officials urged funding for youth programs, senior services, workforce training and legal and housing assistance.

The council voted to substitute Draft 2 for Draft 1 of CR-005-2025 and then adopted the revised plan. The plan before the council was presented to replace an original multi‑year spending proposal totaling $11,536,600 with a revised Draft 2 totaling $9,736,600 — a $1,800,000 reduction the administration says will be re‑submitted through the legislative process.

Why it matters: the money comes from local impact grant proceeds tied to MGM National Harbor and is intended to improve conditions in the communities within the six‑mile impact area around the casino. Speakers at the hearing urged the council to invest in youth employment, leadership programs, senior services, legal housing assistance and community health interventions — citing long gaps in locally available services.

Council action and immediate effects

The council first approved a motion substituting Draft 2 for Draft 1 by voice and roll call (approved 7–0). The council then moved to adopt the resolution implementing the revised plan; that adoption passed in subsequent votes recorded by the clerk (vote recorded in public minutes as carrying with the council’s affirmative votes). The substituted Draft 2 reduces the original proposal from $11,536,600 to $9,736,600; the administration told the council the $1,800,000 removed from Draft 1 will be resubmitted in a later legislative package so it can “go through the complete process,” according to…