Subject
title
Mayor and Council Budget Priorities Discussion
end
Department
Finance
Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Mayor and Council use this worksession to reaffirm the key initiatives previously established, identify any areas of emphasis, and provide any additional direction that may be needed.
Discussion
The FY 2027 budget development process builds upon the strategic foundation established by the Mayor and Council through their Guiding Principles which were adopted in May 2024. These principles-emphasizing effective and efficient service delivery; stewardship of the environment and infrastructure; public safety; housing; and economic development-serve as the overarching framework for evaluating all budget proposals. In accordance with GFOA best practices, the budget document aligns these long-term strategic principles with short-term objectives, departmental work plans, and performance measures to ensure that resource decisions are transparent, measurable, and directly connected to the City’s strategic vision.
Early public engagement activities further inform this framework. The City received 65 Propose-a-Project submissions, which largely focus on pedestrian safety, traffic calming, neighborhood connectivity, lighting and visibility improvements, and enhancements to parks, trails, and open spaces. A full listing of the Propose-A-Project submissions was included with the Budget Public Hearing materials from the November, 10, 2025 Mayor and Council Meeting. In addition, 192 community members have responded to the FY 2027 Community Budget Priorities Survey as of December 5, 2025, identifying several key areas of focus that will continue to evolve while the survey remains open through April. An interim report of survey data can be found in Attachment 2. Community members also have multiple opportunities to provide public testimony at upcoming budget hearings scheduled for March 2026. These engagement channels supplement the strategic direction provided by the Mayor and Council and help ensure that community priorities are reflected in the evaluation of budget proposals.
Staff have also incorporated 85 Key Initiatives (Attachment 3) that were reviewed by the Mayor and Council during the September 27, 2025 Retreat into the internal planning framework for the FY 2027 budget. These key initiatives represent a comprehensive set of priorities for the coming years. When considered alongside the Guiding Principles and public input, these initiatives provide clear and substantive direction for the development of the FY 2027 Proposed Budget. As part of this worksession, staff request that the Mayor and Council discuss areas of emphasis, sequencing, or strategic alignment as internal efforts to develop the Proposed Budget continue.
The materials attached to this report-including the presentation (Attachment 1), FY 2027 Community Budget Priorities Survey interim report (Attachment 2), and the Key Initiatives listing (Attachment 3)-are intended to help inform and facilitate this discussion.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council participated in a Retreat on September 27, 2025 which included the review and refinement of the FY 2026 - FY 2027 Key Initiatives listing. The first public hearing related to the FY 2027 budget was held on November 10, 2025.
Public Notification and Engagement
Additional public hearings related to the FY 2027 budget will be held in March 2026. In addition to these public hearings, the public can submit written comments directly to the Mayor and Council via the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations, as well as submit responses via the city’s Community Budget Priorities Survey, available at <https://www.rockvillemd.gov/Budget>.
The FY 2027 budget public record is scheduled to close in April 2026.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item; however, the FY 2027 Operating Budget and CIP will establish the annual City budget and the programs that the City will fund starting on July 1, 2026.
Next Steps
|
Date |
Action Item |
|
March 9, 2026 |
Budget Introduction Budget Worksession #1 - Revenues Budget Public Hearing #2 |
|
March 23, 2026 |
Budget Worksession #2 - Operating Expenses and Grants Budget Public Hearing #3 |
|
April 13, 2026 |
Close of the community budget priorities survey and public record M&C Worksession #3 - CIP and Final Balancing |
|
May 4, 2026 |
Budget Adoption |