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Residents, nonprofits urge council to protect grants and fund safe‑streets projects
Summary
At the March 9 community forum and public hearing, nonprofit leaders and residents urged maintaining funding for community services and enrichment grants, supported Vision Zero and bike connectivity projects, and sought clarification on timelines and grant reductions affecting Peerless Rockville and other groups.
During the community forum and the FY27 budget public hearing on March 9, nonprofit leaders and residents testified about programs that rely on city grants and urged the council to maintain funding.
Nancy Picard, executive director of Peerless Rockville, told the council the proposed budget showed a "drastic proposed reduction in funding with no advanced notice or explanation" that could cause critical staff and program losses; she said Peerless Rockville will return on March 23 to seek answers and asked for an interim meeting with staff (Nancy Picard).
Sarah Basehart, executive director of Community Reach, described program outcomes and service metrics — the language outreach program served 94 Rockville residents and the Casement Clinic increased patient encounters by roughly 20% — and urged the council to maintain community services and enrichment grants that support seniors, formerly unhoused residents, adult learners and low‑income patients (Sarah Basehart). David Hill and Drew Powell, representing Rockville Sister Cities Corporation, sought more predictable support for the organization’s student exchanges and milestone visits.
Residents and active transportation advocates repeatedly urged funding and early planning for Vision Zero projects and bike network connections, including the Scott Drive/Veirs Mill shared‑use path and Fleet/Monroe Complete Streets to link neighborhoods to the Millennium Trail and schools. The Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee requested the council set aside funds for long‑lead planning and capital work for those projects (Jake Jacobec).
Several speakers praised the new budget presentation format and asked staff to provide more time for public review of the 500+ page digital budget; council members responded by adding an extra public hearing on April 13 and leaving the public record open through April 13. Staff encouraged affected organizations to meet with staff for clarifications and pledged more detailed follow‑up at the March 23 hearing.
