For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 18, 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. Focusing on issues important to older adults, the next conversation will be held at The Beacon newspapers’ 50+ Expo from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, in the Fenton Room at the Silver Spring Civic Center Building.

The Silver Spring Civic Center Building is located at 1 Veterans Place 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. Eleven of the 12 forums will be hybrid, so residents also have the option to participate virtually. The Community Conversation at The Beacon 50+ Expo will be in-person only.

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:

• Older Adults Community Conversation at The Beacon 50+ Expo. Sunday, Sept. 28. 3-4:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Fenton Room, Silver Spring. In-person only.

• African-Caribbean Diaspora Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 29. 7-8:30 p.m. Montgomery College, East County Education Center, Community Event Room, 2221 Broadbirch Drive, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually.

• 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.

• Multilingual Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 17. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg. This forum will be conducted in English with interpretation services provided in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Click here to participate virtually.

• Silver Spring Community Conversation. Tuesday, Nov. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually.

The Community Conversations will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube and televised live on the following cable channels, subject to channel availability:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM): Comcast channels 6 and HD 996; RCN channels 6 and HD 1056; and Verizon channel 30

• Montgomery College Television (MCTV): Comcast channels 998 and 10; Verizon channels 10; and RCN channels 10 and HD 1059

• Montgomery County Public School (MCPS TV): Comcast channels 34 and HD 1071; Verizon channel 36; RCN channels 89 and HD 1058

• Montgomery Community Media (MCM): Comcast channels 21 and HD 995; RCN channels 21 and HD 1055; and Verizon channel 21

• Montgomery Municipal Channel (MMC): Comcast channels 16 and HD 997; RCN channel 16; and Verizon channel 16

• Takoma Park City TV: Comcast channel 13; RCN channels 13 and HD 1060; and Verizon channel 28

Click here for full news release from the Montgomery County Government