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Residents and nonprofits urge Montgomery County Council to shore up FY27 safety‑net, parks and housing funding
Summary
At a public hearing on the proposed FY27 operating budget, roughly 200 residents and nonprofit leaders called for higher funding for parks, affordable housing, homelessness services, food systems, and nonprofit contract COLAs; many speakers also pressed for clearer plans on waste management and the Dickerson facility.
Council President Nancy Gonzalez opened a public hearing on the county’s proposed FY27 operating budget and the FY27–32 public services program, drawing testimony from dozens of residents, nonprofit leaders and service providers.
Speakers repeatedly asked the Council to increase investments in core safety‑net programs and county services. Linda Bergoski, co‑chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, thanked the executive for a proposed $78.8 million allocation for aging and disability services but asked the Council to add funding — “upwards of $250,000” — for in‑home respite to meet growing demand and $60,000 in competitive grants to seed volunteer “villages” in underserved up‑county and East County communities. Robert Bestrunk and Halley Fernando urged fully funding Parks operating requests (the department asked for a 6.3% increase) to maintain trail systems and routine maintenance.
Nonprofit leaders pressed for larger contract adjustments across the sector. Shannon Babe Thomas of Community Bridges and others asked the Council to boost the County’s 2.5% inflationary adjustment to an 8% cost‑of‑living adjustment for nonprofit contracts, warning that lower increases risk staff turnover and service disruption. Several social‑service organizations — including A Wider Circle, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, and Student Global Ambassador Program — made similar appeals.
Housing and homelessness advocates described an urgent funding gap. Abe Schuchman of Housing Unlimited said about $169 million of affordable‑housing projects are in the FY27 pipeline while the executive’s proposed preservation/production allocation is roughly $100 million, leaving a $69 million shortfall; homelessness providers asked for operating support and shelter funding, including a $1.5 million request for a young‑adult shelter from Rainbow Place.
Food systems and mental health needs surfaced across panels. Speakers from the Montgomery County Food Council and Manna Food Center asked for protection of a $150,000 Food Systems Education enhancement and a supplemental $3.5 million for the Office of Food System Resiliency to expand trauma‑informed services. NAMI and other mental‑health organizations urged funding for mobile crisis teams, certified peer specialists in the correctional facility and staffing for the Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Center.
Several speakers also raised procedural and fiscal‑policy concerns: one testified about alleged reallocation or elimination of a prior MIDC line in the budget and others questioned the use of one‑time reserves to fund ongoing expenses.
Next steps: the Council will hold committee work sessions through April and continue deliberations before adopting a final FY27 operating budget. No formal votes occurred at this hearing.
