Commissioners table ARPA small‑business amendment amid questions over $500,000 Booth contract

Commissioners on the Montgomery County Commission on March 31 postponed consideration of an amendment to the county's ARPA Montgomery Small Thrive Small Business Program after members asked for more detail about a proposed $500,000 contract with Booth and the program's remaining funding.

The item would authorize Booth to manage remaining program funds on the county's behalf and be paid for administration; commissioners were told the county had paid $568,000 to the city, had about $1.9 million remaining on the county side, and that hiring Booth would cost $500,000. Commissioner Costanza led questioning and repeatedly asked staff to clarify how much money remains, what sums had already been allocated to other contractors (referred to in the meeting as "S Boss"), and whether administrative costs had taken a…