Montgomery County Council and Committee Meetings to be Held on February 9

Per Montgomery County: The Council will hold a public hearing on the capital budget at 7 p.m.; Committees will receive updates on workforce development, workplace learning in Montgomery County Public Schools and shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and will review spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Operating Budget

The joint Economic Development (ECON) and Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. to receive an update on workforce development needs in Montgomery County and workplace learning in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.

The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink.

The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to discuss and make a recommendation to the full Council on spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Operating Budget.

The members of the GO Committee include Chair Kate Stewart, Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz.

The Health and Human Services (HHS)  Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The members of the HHS Committee include Chair Albornoz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Sayles.

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

FY24 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

Public hearing: The Council will hold a hybrid public hearing on the FY24 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at 7 p.m. The Council will receive testimony on the FY24 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY23-28 CIP for County Government, MCPS, Montgomery College, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Washington Suburban Transit Commission, Revenue Authority, Housing Opportunities Commission, and municipality and state projects and the FY24-29 CIP for WSSCWater. The Council will also receive testimony on supplemental appropriations to the FY23 Capital Budget.

Overview of Workforce Development Needs in Montgomery County and Workplace Learning in Montgomery County Public Schools

Briefing: The joint ECON and EC Committee will receive a briefing on workforce development needs in Montgomery County and workplace learning in MCPS. WorkSource Montgomery will present data and analysis of workforce needs in the County and provide an overview of the organization’s efforts. MCPS will provide information on programs and opportunities that provide students with hands-on experiences in work environments.

Spending Affordability Guidelines for the FY24 Operating Budget

Review: The GO Committee will discuss and make a recommendation to the Council on spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Operating Budget. The committee will prepare its recommendations for the Council’s review on February 14, which is the deadline for the Council to either confirm or amend the guidelines.

The Montgomery County Code requires the Council to specify the following when adopting the spending affordability guidelines for the operating budget: a ceiling on the funding from ad valorem real property tax revenues; a ceiling on the aggregate operating budget; and separate budget allocations for Montgomery County Government, the Montgomery County Board of Education, Montgomery College, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, debt service and current revenue funding of capital projects. As part of this process the Council will consider the condition of the economy, the level of economic activity in the County, trends in personal income and the impact of economic and population growth and projected revenues.

Shelter Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

Briefing: The HHS Committee will receive a briefing from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on shelter services provided for individuals experiencing homelessness in the County. The meeting will include discussion of the strategies, data and efforts DHHS utilizes toward ending homelessness and achieving population specific goals and an overview of programs and services, budget information, the work of the Interagency Commission on Homelessness and regional efforts in coordination with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

The Council recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council or committee meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

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