Recommended
A proposal from the County Executive or another proposing body. It can change during review.
Read glossary definitionBudget version
Is The Current Montgomery County, Maryland Budget Final?
This page explains which Montgomery County, Maryland budget version is currently shown on the site and what that label means. Recommended, approved, adopted, actual, amended, and draft figures should not be treated as the same thing.
Last updated: 2026-05-19
Independent and unofficial. Source-linked version labels.
Why Status Matters
The County Executive can recommend a budget, the County Council can revise it, and final adopted figures should be labeled only after an official adopted source is verified.
Most launch figures on this site are labeled FY27 Recommended unless a page says otherwise. That means they come from the County Executive's proposal, not from a final approved or adopted budget.
How The Version Labels Differ
Approved
A budget version supported by final Council action or an official approved budget publication.
Read glossary definitionAdopted
A final budget label used only when official final adoption is verified.
Read glossary definitionAmended
A budget version changed after an earlier approved or adopted version.
Read glossary definitionActual
A historical record of what was spent, not a plan for the current budget year.
Read glossary definitionWhat People Often Misunderstand
The newest budget page is not always the final budget. A recommended document can be easier to find during budget season, but Council action and official approved documents can change the record.
Actual spending is also different from an approved budget. Actuals look backward at what happened; approved and recommended budgets are plans or spending authority.