Montgomery Council Weighs 2-Cent Property Tax Hike for $3.79 Billion Schools Budget
Updated
Updated · BethesdaMagazine.com · May 12
Montgomery Council Weighs 2-Cent Property Tax Hike for $3.79 Billion Schools Budget
2 articles · Updated · BethesdaMagazine.com · May 12
A 2-cent property tax increase gained support from some Montgomery County Council members as they looked for a way to fund more of MCPS' FY2027 request without deeper school cuts.
Thomas Taylor, the MCPS superintendent, warned earlier Tuesday that failing to fully fund the district could force cuts to instructional specialists, media assistants, social workers, college and career navigators and other roles.
Each 1-cent tax increase would raise about $26.1 million, making Stewart's proposal worth roughly $52.2 million—well below County Executive Marc Elrich's earlier 6.3-cent plan projected to raise about $164 million.
The shift follows pushback from school officials and unions after 10 council members rejected Elrich's tax hike in a May 4 straw vote; six votes can raise the rate, while eight are needed to pass the budget.
The 11-member council resumes tax-rate deliberations Wednesday ahead of a June 1 deadline for the county's $8 billion FY2027 operating and capital budget plans.
Hundreds of school jobs are on the chopping block. How will the county's final budget decision reshape student education?
Is eliminating a major homeowner tax credit the only way to prevent massive layoffs in Montgomery County's school system?