Press Releases

Montgomery County Council Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee Meeting on February 2, 2023

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Committee will review the FY24 Capital Budget and amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program Spending Affordability Guidelines and a declaration of no further need for a property in the White Flint area

The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss and make a recommendation to the Council on spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Capital Budget and amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The committee will also discuss a declaration of no further need for a portion of Executive Boulevard in the White Flint area of North Bethesda.

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

More detail on each agenda item is provided below. 

Spending Affordability Guidelines FY24 Capital Budget and amended FY23-28 CIP

Review: The GO Committee will discuss and make a recommendation to the Council on spending affordability guidelines for the FY24 Capital Budget and amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The committee will prepare its recommendations for the Council’s review on February 7, 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. The Council must adopt guidelines for the next operating budget by the second Tuesday in February.

According to the County Code, any February revision should reflect a significant change in conditions regarding affordability and not take need into account. After February 7 the Council can adopt an aggregate capital budget that has expenditures that exceed the guidelines, but only with eight or more affirmative votes.

Declaration of No Further Need - Disposition via Transfer of certain properties in the White Flint area, located in North Bethesda, Maryland, to Stonebridge

Review: The GO Committee will discuss and make a recommendation to the full Council on the County Executive’s proposed disposition of approximately 1.27 acres of County-owned property located in the White Flint area of North Bethesda to the developer Stonebridge. The transfer will be via a sale of the properties at fair market value.

The properties include a portion of the County right-of-way located on Executive Boulevard, which was abandoned in 2015 under Section 49-62 of the County Code and as approved by the Council under Resolution 18-21, and a portion of the Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center parking lot property.

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.

Release ID: 23-023
Media Contact: Genevieve Kurtz 240-777-7805, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884