Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Federal Earmarks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council OKs submission of 11 federal earmark requests, deadlines in early March
Summary
Montgomery County authorized submission of 11 proposed federal earmark projects — from a Wheaton arts walk to Georgia Avenue bus lanes and a police-University AI project — and staff said congressional portals close March 7.
Montgomery County Council on Feb. 24 authorized staff to submit 11 proposed federal earmark projects for congressional consideration, including transportation, public-safety and public-health requests.
Sarah Morningstar of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations reviewed the list and the departments sponsoring each request, saying the county is preparing FY26 project requests and must meet congressional portal deadlines. "Our senators' portals for consideration, are, is open now. You need to have information in by the March 7," Morningstar said.
Projects reviewed included a $1.8 million Wheaton Environmental Arts Walk and Streetery (DEP); a $6.4 million request for Georgia Avenue bus lanes (DOT); several DOT safety and lighting projects; HHS requests for mobile crisis outreach vehicles and sexually transmitted infection services; and a roughly $4 million police–University predictive policing and community-engagement proposal. Morningstar told the Council staff would submit items consistent with guidance from the congressional delegation.
Council Member Sales moved to submit the list, the motion was seconded and the Council voted in favor. "And that is everyone in favor of submitting these for the federal earmarks," the Council President said after the vote.
Why it matters: staff must meet March 7 portal deadlines to preserve the county's chance of federal consideration. If Congress adopts FY25 allocations differently, some requests could shift, Morningstar said.
