Montgomery County is preparing for next year’s operating budget deadline and has scheduled “community conversations” to discuss ways to improve Montgomery County, with the community meetings beginning in less than a month.
Many of the budget discussions have already been set with details of the finalized dates, times and locations listed here:
- East County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 9. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Social Hall, Silver Spring.
- Mid-County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton.
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Community Conversation. Wednesday, Sept. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Bethesda – Chevy Chase Regional Services Office, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, East West Room, Bethesda.
- Up County Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 30. 7-8:30 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.
- Spanish Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 2. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton.
- Silver Spring Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring.
- Older Adults Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 21. 12:30-2 p.m.
- Leisure World, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Clubhouse 1 Crystal Ballroom, Silver Spring (Only Leisure World residents may attend in-person at Leisure World)
- Satellite viewing location: Wheaton Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Social Hall, Wheaton.
- Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.
- Chinese Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 23. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg.
Two more conversations are still being planned—one in September and another in October for Montgomery County’s Parent Teacher Association leaders.
County Executive Marc Elrich wrote, “We hold as many of these community conversations as possible to give people a chance to be heard. The ideas and feedback we hear help drive our decisions. In the budget process, which benefits from the arguments, advocacy and activism of those supporting specific requests and needs.
I encourage you to participate in these conversations because your voice shapes our path forward. Learn more about our current spending and use our open budget tool by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/budget.”