Other Unusual Operations

Grants debacle, parking, FiberNet, Vision Zero, OIG findings

Community grants

Nonprofit grants administered by the Office of Grants Management exceed $10 million annually. OGM had only 1.5 FTEs covering the work of 3.5 positions, creating massive backlogs. County Executive Elrich unilaterally awarded $4.7 million in "legacy grants" to 102 organizations without County Council input. Council Member Sidney Katz said: "We are treating our nonprofit partners horribly." Council Member Andrew Friedson called it "the exact opposite" of the goal to depoliticize grants.

Parking, conference center, and enterprise operations

The county operates Parking Lot Districts (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton) with tens of millions in combined operating budgets. The Montgomery County Conference Center in North Bethesda was built in 2004 for $36.5 million. The Revenue Authority operates public golf courses, an airpark, and The Crossvines winery/event venue — all framed as self-supporting without general fund subsidy.

FiberNet and Vision Zero

FiberNet is a county-owned fiber-optic network serving hundreds of government sites. MoCoNet provides free broadband to affordable housing residents. Vision Zero spending previously reached $123.1 million in a single year. Purple Line local commitments have escalated to approximately $250 million spent to date, potentially topping $300 million. FY27 DOT funding exceeded $317 million including free Ride On.

OIG findings (FY2025–FY2026)

The Office of Inspector General identified $18.1 million in questioned costs across 13 investigations in FY2025 — roughly a 5:1 return on its then ~$3.6 million budget (FY27 OIG appropriation ~$4.3M). Key findings include the MCPS electric bus contract ($168M), MCPS Chromebook inventory (May 2025), MCPS background screening (Aug 2025), MCPS procurement practices (Nov 2025), speed camera program overpayments (~$2.5M), carryout bag tax revenue loss ($8.2M since 2012), short-term rental noncompliance (~85% unregistered), MCFRS fiscal management (Dec 2025), and employee/fraud cases (DHHS; COVID rental assistance). In February–June 2026, IG Megan Davey Limarzi reported that county government denied her office access to investigative records after an Attorney General advice letter treated local IGs like ordinary MPIA requesters — a structural threat to oversight.