For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting 12 “Community Conversations” through November to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget. The next conversation will be for the East County community from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, in the Social Hall at the White Oak Community Recreation Center.

The White Oak Community Recreation Center is located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring.

Ten of the 12 conversations will be conducted in English, including one each for the residents of the African-Caribbean diaspora and the Black/African American community, one dedicated to the concerns of educators, parents and students and two focusing on issues for older adults. Two non-English language forums will be held, one in Spanish and a multi-lingual forum conducted in English with interpretation services provided in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Residents have the option to participate either in-person or virtually.

The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY27 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by Monday, March 16, 2026. The Council will then have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY27 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.

“I urge every resident to participate in these discussions; your feedback shapes our future,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We host these community conversations to garner input and feedback on how tax dollars are spent. We gain valuable insights from these conversations that help guide our decisions and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget reflects our community’s goals and values. With one forum in each of the five regions of the County, along with conversations conducted in multiple languages, there are multiple opportunities to participate and be heard.”

The Community Conversations are scheduled as follows:

• East County Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 6. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually.

• Mid-County Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 13. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Click here to participate virtually.

• Spanish Language Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 27. 7-8:30 p.m. Gaithersburg High School, Auditorium, 101 Education Blvd., Gaithersburg. Click here to participate virtually.

• MCPS Educators, Parents and Students Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 3. 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Educational Services Center, Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Click here to participate virtually.

• Black/African American Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 10. 7-8:30 p.m. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 608 North Horners Lane, Rockville. Click here to participate virtually.

• Older Adults Community Conversation. Thursday, Nov. 13. 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: Damascus Community Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
• 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.
• Click here to participate virtually.

Click here for full news release from the Montgomery County Government