Act Now to Restore Critical Funding
The County Executive’s recommended FY26 budget severely cuts the Parks Department’s funding request, affecting programs, operations, and maintenance. The Parks Department requested a 7.2% budget increase to maintain current services and a small amount of funding for increased programming and enhanced maintenance. However, the County Executive recommended only a 3.2% increase. In contrast, other county departments received an average 6.7% increase to maintain the same level of services.
What does this budget cut mean for Parks?
- Reductions to employee compensation and benefits.
- Insufficient funds to keep up with inflation for supplies and materials.
- Reduced maintenance and program offerings.
- No funding to maintain new and expanded parks.
- No new or expanded services or programs.
In recent years, the County Council has restored funding after hearing from constituents like you. Your support is more important this year than ever. Now is the opportunity to share your stories with the County Council as they deliberate the County Executive’s proposed FY26 budget.
You can register to testify in-person during one of the upcoming Montgomery County Council Public Hearings on April 7 or April 8. Alternatively, you can submit written or recorded testimony here.
Tell us if you plan to testify.
Thank you for your unwavering support of Montgomery Parks!
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Thanks for Lending Your Voice!
“I’m a local resident living in North Bethesda/Rockville…I’m frequently on my bike on the Beach Drive Trail or, my favorite, The Bethesda Trolly Trail. The county spent lots of money to build a beautiful entrance to that trail on Edson Lane. Unfortunately, it is not well maintained and looks messy much of the time. I was an A.D. at one of Bethesda’s high Schools and know how importance maintenance it is to the longevity of our parks and recreation areas. Please help see that maintenance is not “deferred” to the detriment of our beautiful park and trail system,
-Gary
Thank you for all your hard work at securing funding to carry on the tradition of our parks.”