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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich's ‘Community Conversation’ on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget on Monday, Oct. 21 Will Focus on Older Adults

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Older Adults 2024 budget forum

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting 11 "Community Conversations" through November to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Operating Budget. Five of the 11 forums are dedicated to addressing the needs of each region of the County. The next conversation, from 12:30-2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, will be a hybrid meeting that will focus on issues important to older adult residents.

The in-person Older Adults Community Conversation will be held at Leisure World in the Crystal Ballroom of Clubhouse 1. Leisure World is located at 3701 Rossmore Blvd. in Silver Spring. Only Leisure World residents may participate in-person, but anyone can view online.

Two satellite viewing locations will be available in Damascus and Wheaton. Residents can view the presentation at the Damascus Senior Center, located at 9701 Main St. in Damascus, and the Wheaton Senior Center, which is located at 11701 Georgia Ave. (in the Social Hall) in Wheaton. Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.

Nine of the 11 conversations are conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older adults and another focusing on issues of importance to educators, parents and students. Two non-English language forums will be held, one in Spanish and another in Chinese. Each of the 11 forums will be held online so the public has the option to participate remotely.

The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY26 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2025. The Council then will have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY26 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.

“We hold these community conversations to give people a chance to be heard because their voice matters,” said County Executive Elrich. “Their insight helps drive our decisions and our priorities for the next fiscal year. The budget reflects not only the County’s needs and concerns but also our community’s values and goals. I encourage every resident to participate in these conversations because their voice shapes our path forward. When I started my administration, we started with five community conversations; since then, we have more than doubled the number of sessions to 11. I am glad that we are providing more opportunities to reach diverse communities within the County.”

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)
  • Riderwood Senior Living Community residents in Silver Spring can view the presentation in their homes on Riderwood TV.
  • Satellite viewing location: Damascus Senior Center, 9701 Main St., Damascus
  • Satellite viewing location: Wheaton Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 11701 Georgia Ave., Social Hall, Wheaton.
  • Click here to view online.

The Community Conversations will be livestreamed on 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

Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request -- with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before the event. For more information, contact Mark Roper at 240-962-1743 or send a request to [email protected]. In all situations, a good-faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations. TTY users can use Maryland Relay 711.

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Release ID: 24-459
Media Contact: Mark Roper 240-962-1743
Categories: Budget