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Montgomery College asks for $6.3M above maintenance and flags CIP IT needs after state action
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Summary
College leadership asked the council for $6,300,000 above maintenance of effort for FY27 and $3.6M in capital IT funding, citing 23% enrollment growth over five years and rising technology costs; staff also described CIP adjustments after state cuts to a Germantown project and noted subscription increases such as Workday rising from just under $900k to $1.3M annually.
Montgomery College leaders told the County Education and Culture Committee on April 22 they need $6,300,000 above the maintenance‑of‑effort level in FY27 and a commitment to $3,600,000 for capital information‑technology investments.
"We are asking now ... $6,300,000 above maintenance of effort for FY27," said Dr. Williams, urging the council to support the college as enrollment has grown 23% over five years and a high share of students face basic‑needs challenges: "Every day, many of our students ... are facing challenges with basic needs like housing and food." The college argued the additional operating funds are needed to hire more part‑time faculty, keep tuition affordable and preserve services without adding new permanent positions.
College staff also described CIP technical amendments after the state reduced its funding on the Germantown Services Center project — a cut that freed capacity to reinsert other projects including a Germantown student services building. The college flagged one deferred local technology line of $3,625,000 (funded from current revenue) and warned that subscription and infrastructure costs are rising. A college presenter noted example subscription increases, saying the annual Workday subscription is "increasing from just under 900,000 to $1,300,000."
Committee members praised the college’s community role and urged the college to keep the committee posted on site‑selection decisions for an East County campus expected in May or June. Chair Jiwando said the committee would concur for now with the County Executive’s recommended CIP adjustments and that restoration of IT funding would be considered as part of the larger CIP deliberations at full Council.
Next steps: The committee will forward its concurrence and discuss IT funding as part of countywide CIP budget deliberations; Montgomery College will follow up on site selection and any further budget clarifications.
