• Public Hearings on Operating Budget
• County Population Surpasses One Million
• Open for Business
• Earth Month Activities
• Fast Fact
• Green Tip of the Month
• Let's Talk

Let us know what you think. The County Executive released his Recommended Operating Budget on March 15, and now it is up to the County Council to consider his proposals and approve a final budget at the end of May. We will hold our public hearings on the budget on April 9 at 7:00, April 10 at 1:00 and 7:00, and April 11 at 1:00 and 7:00. To sign up to speak call 240-777-7803. If you can't make the hearings, you can also let us know your views by e-mailing county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Do you feel like one in a million? You should. According to the Planning Department at M-NCPPC, Montgomery County has reached the one million mark.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montgomery County’s population reached 1,004,709 last July. Recently released data shows that Montgomery County, the largest jurisdiction in the state since 1989, is now the first county in Maryland to reach the population milestone.

The Census data shows Montgomery County’s population gained over 13,000 people between July 2011 and July 2012, up from a revised 991,645 the previous year, a 1.3 percent increase.

Most of the population increase is due to births, what demographers call a “net natural increase” of 7,630 people. In the period, 13,097 births exceeded 5,467 deaths.

The rest of the increase is attributed to 8,700 people migrating into the county from abroad, offsetting the net loss of 3,100 people moving out of the county during the period. A trend of international migration that began in 1990 has not slowed.

Demographers say those changes are a result of a rebounding economy and housing market, which provides the confidence and means to set up residency elsewhere. During an economic downturn, people tend to stay put.

Get a sneak peek at the three-minute promotional video produced by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and the county's Conference and Visitor's Bureau. It will be shown onboard more than 1,700 U.S. Airways and select American Airlines Business and First Class national and international flights during the month of April. It is expected to be seen by nearly 400,000 travelers during its month-long run.

It’s finally time to put down your snow shovel and pick up your garden shovel. Here are some great ways to celebrate Earth Month, and all of them are approved for Student Service Learning hours for Montgomery County Public School students.

For more information and additional opportunities for Earth Day, call Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 or visit the Volunteer Center website at www.montgomeryserves.org.

Montgomery County ranks among counties with the highest median incomes. We take pride in being the economic engine of Maryland. Our schools make the lists of the best in the nation. Yet we have pockets of poverty that are not easily seen. Families of working poor and people whose circumstances have taken dramatic turns for the worse due to the economic conditions of the past few years make up an increasing portion of our community.

That’s why I asked County Cable Montgomery to help shine a light on the hidden poverty within our county. We often only get a chance to see the affluence in Montgomery County, and this television program, The Unseen Montgomery, gives us a chance to see a growing part of life here.

Now is a great time to plant a tree, especially if you have a $25 coupon. Visit the Planning Department’s Leaves for Neighborhoods site to learn more about this great program designed to increase the county’s tree canopy on residential property. Trees have many environmental benefits, including protecting soil and preventing erosion; absorbing carbon dioxide and improving local air quality; and filtering stormwater runoff to improve water quality.

Is your community organization hosting a public meeting?  Please let me know how I can help. I am happy to assist residents in understanding pending bills or in finding ways to get involved in the political process. Even more important, I want to hear about what matters to you.  Send your meeting notices to councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7959 if you would like me to address a particular topic with your group.