Joint Statement from County Executive Marc Elrich and Council President Gabe Albornoz Regarding Capital Budget Projects Recommendations from Senate Budget and Taxation Committee

Per Montgomery County:

For Immediate Release: Thursday 17 March

Today, the Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee recommended several vital projects for funding from our joint County Executive and County Council priorities list for the 2022 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session. These recommendations include $31 million to expand our Bus Rapid Transit system, $10 million for parks in the County, $6 million for our new Restoration Center, $6 million for the Bethesda Metro South Entrance, $4.4 million for various community projects, $2.5 million for the Great Seneca Science Corridor transit vehicles, $2 million for the White Flint Metro Station North Entrance, $1.4 million to finish the new “Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building” at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus, and $2 million for a Montgomery College East Campus expansion.

These projects are critical components of our economic development strategies and will support the County’s future growth, sustainability efforts, community equity, and educational opportunities. But most importantly, each of the projects will help to enhance the quality of life in Montgomery County for all our residents and businesses.

Funding is also provided for a restoration center, which will provide Montgomery County residents with an alternative to using hospital emergency departments when experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This approach will lessen the demands on our hospital system and provide a critical lifeline to those seeking mental health supports.

We appreciate the hard work of the entire Montgomery County Senate Delegation during this year’s General Assembly Session. In particular, we are grateful to Senate Budget and Tax Capital Subcommittee Chair Craig Zucker, Montgomery County Senate Delegation Chair Ben Kramer, and Senate Majority Leader Nancy King for working with our Senate Delegation to ensure the County’s needs were met.  We also are thankful for the advocacy of the County House Delegation for its work on the State capital budget, and we eagerly await further action on the capital budget in the House of Delegates.

After years of challenging budgets at both the State and local levels, we are very fortunate to have revenues available that will address long-term needs, as well as help with rebounding from the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is good news that all of our County officials at the municipal, County, State, and Congressional levels of government are working together, unified in our commitment to equity, by funding transportation, education, and economic development investments for all Montgomery County residents, families, and businesses.

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