Committee advances Montgomery College FY26 capital amendments, defers $5 million for East County campus planning

The Education and Culture Committee moved forward amendments to Montgomery College’s 2025–2030 capital improvement program on March 20, advancing a set of FY26 adjustments that include a $12.4 million increase across six years and a $5 million deferral of East County campus planning funds from FY26 to FY27.

Doug Prouty, senior legislative analyst for the council, told the committee that “MC has submitted an amended CIP adding $12,400,000 over the 6 year period.” The committee reviewed individual requests — ranging from capital renewal and library renovations to student-services center expansion and life-cycle asset replacement — and several items were advanced by unanimous consent.

Dr. Williams of Montgomery College framed the request as tied to student demand and workforce needs, saying the college is “serving more than 45,000 students” and that “based on our last economic impact study” the institution provides about $1,400,000,000 in annual economic activity. Williams highlighted that the East County Education Center has exceeded early expectations: a feasibility study had projected 1,000 students in phase one, and the center has served “more than 1,500 students.”

On the East County campus specifically, staff described the FY26-to-FY27 deferral as a timing change for planning, programming and master-planning updates rather than a reduction in total funding. Prouty said the county executive recommends approval and council staff concurs. Council members asked whether the deferral would delay the overall project; Dr. Williams and college presenters said the shift “does not affect the overall timeline” and emphasized ongoing site assessments and master-planning work.

A college presenter said the board of trustees approved funds to engage a master planner (Cannon Design) and that the college is conducting alternative-site assessments and coordination with finance staff on bond structures and public-benefit alignment as part of project preparation. Carla Pullen, introduced at the end of the session, identified herself as “vice president for facilities management, capital planning, and sustainability” at Montgomery College.

Key line items presented and advanced by the committee included: - A $3,000,000 FY26 increase to capital renewal (building systems, code updates). County Executive recommends and council staff concurs. - $864,000 added in FY26 for renovations at Rockville and Takoma Park–Silver Spring libraries to modernize study and collaborative spaces. - A requested $5,000,000 deferral from FY26 to FY27 for East County campus planning and master planning; land acquisition, design and construction to be budgeted later in the forecast. - Germantown Student Affairs Building Phase II (FY30 request of about $1,166,000 plus additional forecast funds) to expand student affairs, physics and engineering spaces. - A $5,000,000 increase spread FY26–FY29 for a new ~150,000-square-foot Germantown Student Services Center to consolidate provost offices, computing support, library and bookstore functions. - A $3,000,000 FY26 increase for planned life-cycle asset replacement and deferred-maintenance work. - A correction and amendment to the Rockville Theater Arts Building renovation request (approximately $167,000) to repurpose and expand that facility.

During discussion, Council Member May and Council Member Abernathy expressed strong support for the East County campus and encouraged the college to pursue bold, revenue-generating and community-serving elements, such as multiuse spaces that could host graduations or conferences. The college said it will return with more detailed timelines and community engagement plans once site assessments and master planning advance.

The committee advanced the East County CIP adjustment by unanimous consent after the vice president said, “without objection, we will, enthusiastically move forward this adjustment to the CIP for the East County Campus.” No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.

The committee adjourned after introductions and brief closing remarks. Montgomery College and county staff will continue site work, alternative-site assessments and master planning and are expected to present detailed timelines and community engagement steps at a later meeting.