Budget roundup: council backs public elections fund addition, DPS staffing shift and MCAEL funding

In a set of smaller but practical FY25 decisions, the Montgomery County Council on May 10:

- Added $333,000 to the Public Elections Fund to help prepare county election infrastructure; Vice President Stewart said the addition would bring the fund closer to a previously recommended target and the committee recommendation was approved unanimously.

- The Economic Development committee (Chair Councilwoman Fontaine Gonzalez) described a $45.3 million DPS recommendation that includes transferring some health permit review functions from Health & Human Services to DPS so permitting positions can be paid from the DPS enterprise fund, with the aim of reducing restaurant permitting delays; DPS deputy director Ethan Botazi said DPS concurs and is ready to implement the changes.

- The Education & Culture committee recommended, and the council approved, county support for the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL). The county-executive recommended $2,484,393; the committee supported that funding and recommended adding $27,639 to meet increased demand. MCAEL's Executive Director Kathy Stevens told the council the additional funding would be leveraged to increase instructor wages and startup grants for new programs.

All three items were approved by unanimous voice or hand votes.