Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is dialing into the civic spirit with a series of Community Conversations aimed at dissecting the Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. Held across a mix of locations and formats, the meetings are designed to pull in the public's view on how the county should steer its investment ship for the long-term when it comes to its land, buildings, and equipment, among other capital assets. According to the County's announcement, these conversations are an "opportunity for residents and stakeholders to have their voices heard".
The next gathering for residents of Silver Spring is slated for April 28 at the Civic Building. Running from 7 to 8:30 p.m., community members will get a chance to delve into various project implications, including those affecting schools, transportation, affordable housing, and more, which Elrich believes would benefit from their insight. The virtual meeting, open to all, is on May 6. It's the only one that doesn't require stepping out to participate, as reported by Montgomery County.
In a statement made by Montgomery County's news portal, Elrich expressed his desire for community engagement: "I invite residents to participate in the process and attend one of our community conversations to give their thoughts on the County’s capital projects and budget priorities." He underlined the importance of these dialogues, especially given that these budget discussions unroll every two years, marking key decisions on projects that shape the community's fabric.
All the on-ground conversations, including the Silver Spring meeting at the Civic Building located at 1 Veterans Place, are laid out in Montgomery County's press release. For those seeking accommodations such as sign language interpretation, the County has its doors open to requests, preferably three business days ahead, to provide the necessary support for all attendees. To quote Mark Roper's contacts from the release, for those in need, you can reach him at 240-962-1743 or send an email to [email protected].
