Montgomery County Council Backs $7.9 Billion Budget as MCPS Falls $36 Million Short
Updated
Updated · BethesdaMagazine.com · May 15
Montgomery County Council Backs $7.9 Billion Budget as MCPS Falls $36 Million Short
1 articles · Updated · BethesdaMagazine.com · May 15
$143 million in added school funding won a 9-2 Montgomery County Council straw vote, but MCPS still remains $36 million below its request, leaving hundreds of educator jobs at risk.
A 7-4 amendment shifted $36 million from the capital improvements program to schools, sparing two planned reduction tranches worth $35.8 million and nearly 448 positions.
The broader $7.9 billion budget avoids a property tax rate increase, instead pairing a new progressive income tax for filers above $150,001 with elimination of the $692 Income Tax Offset Credit.
Marc Elrich had proposed a 6% property tax increase in March to fully fund the district's request, but council support faded and a modest hike discussed this week did not advance.
Final action on the fiscal 2027 spending plan is due by June 1, with Superintendent Thomas Taylor warning that unfunded gaps could still trigger layoffs or wage cuts.
Is the county trading a school staffing crisis today for a school infrastructure crisis tomorrow?
Will the new 'progressive' tax plan actually cost most homeowners more than the tax hike it replaced?