For Immediate Release: Monday, March 30, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., Mar. 30, 2020—On Tuesday, March 31 the Montgomery County Council will introduce a special appropriation of $10 million to support Montgomery County’s hospitals in order to meet the urgent health needs of residents related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Montgomery County’s hospitals are actively preparing for the surge of Covid-19 cases and are working to increase the number of hospital beds and critical care capacity. This must happen quickly, and hospitals need financial assistance to make emergency purchases and cover costs. As of March 30, the Maryland Department of Health reports 1,413 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Maryland with 341 of these cases occurring in Montgomery County.
The funding from the special appropriation will be administered through the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security from the General Fund Reserves. Since this appropriation is needed to respond to a County emergency, the Council will introduce and vote on this measure on Tuesday. There is no requirement for a public hearing.
Section 308 of the County Charter provides that a special appropriation is an appropriation which states that it is necessary to meet an unforeseen disaster or other emergency, or to act without delay in the public interest. Each special appropriation must be approved by no less than six Councilmembers. The Council may approve a special appropriation at any time after public notice by news release. Each special appropriation must specify the source of funds used to finance it.
On the advice of public health experts, community members will not be given access to the Council Office Building during the state of emergency related to Covid-19.
Residents are encouraged to use #CountyHospitalsEmergencyFunding for this Council agenda item on social media. In addition, emails on this topic can be sent to: County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov and mail can be sent to the County Council at 100 Md. Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850. Based on Governor Hogan’s executive order on essential travel, there is no drop-off of hard copy communication. Community members can also express their views by calling 240-777-7900.
Residents are encouraged to watch Council meetings on County Cable Montgomery (Xfinity/RCN Channel 6 or in HD at 996/1056 or on Fios Channel 30) or on the Council’s web page and Facebook Live (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil).
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Release ID: 20-117