Mayor and Council Tweaking FY2024 Budget
At its Monday, May 1, 2023 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss the FY2024 Budget (that’s it!). On the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion) are four proclamations for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Historic Preservation Month, Older Americans Month, and National Public Service Recognition Week.
The City Council is continuing to adjust the budget. Reductions include the Movies in the Park series, residential street sweeping, composting, Latino Youth Development Program, Lincoln Park Community Center, Thomas Farm Community Center After School programs, Twinbrook rentals, and Peerless Rockville [just in time for Historic Preservation Month!] (page 18). Increases include fall protection at the Senior Center, mowing for cross country events at RedGate, Teens on the Go program, energy audits, badge system annual fees, and overtime pay for Rockville Police (page 18). Concerned? Community Forum happens at 7:10 pm (but you have to request to speak by noon of the day of the meeting at mayorandcouncil@rockvillemd.gov; no more opportunities to just drop in!).
More details in the 92-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05012023-6892.
What a Week–and It’s Not Over
I took this week off from work to devote my energies fulltime to the campaign. I spent five days walking precincts (I think I visited two thousand homes), attended three forums, and responded to questionnaires in the time remaining. I’m exhausted–I don’t know how the other candidates did it (Piotr Gajewski seemed incredibly peppy at the King Farm Forum, but perhaps that’s because he was on home turf). I was elated that it rained this afternoon and I forced off the streets.
Tomorrow is the penultimate forum, this time with Rockville Central at the new Thomas Farm Community Center on the west side of 270 starting at 9:30 am. From the description of format, it should be a bit unusual (at one point, we’ll draw names from a hat and ask another candidate a question–should I be nice or naughty?). The eighth and last forum for this election season will be next Thursday, October 29 at the Rockville Senior Center. They’ve all been well attended so if you haven’t been to one, you have two more chances.
Max for Rockville 