Dear Friends,
This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers are called to the profession. They do not do it for the money and the job is more difficult than you can imagine. I spent 17 years teaching in a high-needs elementary school, and I know the challenges. But I also know the satisfaction in being even a small part of helping students grow, gain confidence and learn new skills to prepare for a successful life. My experience as a teacher has helped me enormously in my work when I was a Councilmember and now as County Executive. I saw up close that by investing in our schools and our staff, we invested in our students.
That is why I proposed a modest 0.1% increase in the income tax (it would go from 3.2 to 3.3%). That increase would allow us to fully fund the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) budget request, without cutting other essential County services and keep our reserves at 11%, to give us a cushion as we face a year of great uncertainty because of actions by the Trump administration. Next week, the Montgomery County Council will be having a public hearing on Tuesday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m. regarding my income tax proposal.
This will be the last chance to have your voice heard by the Council on this budget, and I highly encourage residents to testify. Several Councilmembers have stated that they are supportive of this modest increase but without it, reductions will be required to MCPS, County government services or the reserves.
Investing in our schools and our students is one of the most critical roles of government. We have not been able to return to the spending per pupil that we had in 2010, before the Great Recession. The chart below shows that, in dollars adjusted for inflation, we were spending $16,806 per student. My recommended budget this year would provide $14,874 per student.
That is why I have recommended a modest increase in the income tax—from 3.2 to 3.3%. To put the increase in perspective, someone with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 would pay an additional $100 per year, which is about $2 a week.
My recommended budget includes this increase so that we can:
Specifically, fully funding the school's request will provide:
The more recent developer giveaway—Bill 2-25E—lacked the real housing affordability requirements we would normally require for a tax credit and had no financial need assessment on whether subsidies were warranted. (I have already written about projects in development and completed that received no subsidies.) The earlier bill eroded support for necessary infrastructure. How can we justify cutting education investment while handing millions to wealthy developers?
This is not just about fairness—it is about smart economic development. Virginia won the Amazon second headquarters bid not because of low taxes, but because it offered the company a strong educational system and workforce training. And we see this here at home—when AstraZeneca invested $300 million in life sciences research in our County, it was not because we offered the lowest taxes. It was because we invested in education, infrastructure and strategic growth. Strong infrastructure and strong schools drive economic growth. That’s the bottom line.
I want to thank Council Vice President Will Jawando for standing up for our students and our educators. His commitment as Chair of the Education Committee has been unwavering. He joined me during my media briefing this week to discuss prioritizing education funding through my proposed income tax increase.
We are in the final stretch of getting the FY26 budget approved. It's time for us to fight for our students, teachers, paraeducators and support services at MCPS and on behalf of all those who count on County government services—from our older adults on fixed incomes to those who are housing insecure or need subsidized health services to the recently displaced workers due to recent federal government decisions.
AstraZeneca Announcement
We proudly support this expansion with $100,000, which will leverage a $500,000 investment from the State of Maryland.
These are the kinds of targeted incentives that make sense. We are supporting a project that will create more than 150 high-quality jobs and build on our efforts to ensure our County remains one of the largest biomedical clusters in the country. This is what an investment of County dollars can produce. This is no giveaway.
After announcing their plans for this facility just over a year ago, AstraZeneca worked closely with our Department of Permitting Services and County staff to move this project along quickly. I appreciate DPS's work to support this project and its aggressive timeline, which means they will be able to manufacture their life-saving treatments for patients very soon.
This good news is just one part of a much larger story. We have recently seen significant expansions from United Therapeutics in Silver Spring, MilliporeSigma in Rockville and the new University of Maryland’s Institute for Health Computing in North Bethesda.
Montgomery County is a global leader in life sciences because we have worked to attract and retain the right partners. We will continue to do that, whether with large corporations or entrepreneurs, home-grown companies, or those we attract from around the nation and world.
Next month, I will attend the annual BIO International Conference, which is taking place this year in Boston. I look forward to sharing these successes while meeting with other potential bio and life science companies to convince them to relocate or expand to Montgomery County.
Transit Infrastructure and Ride On Flash Expansion
When I first proposed BRT back in 2008, it was because I knew we could not keep growing as a County without rethinking how people move – how do we get them from home to work without ever worsening road conditions? My goal since the beginning was to act quickly and get ahead of Northern Virginia. If we had followed through then, if we had the infrastructure and political will that places like Northern Virginia showed, we would already have a real BRT network. Instead, we are trying to catch up.
My first trip to Howard County to discuss his idea was in 2010, and that is how long people have been working on this.
It is a big deal—not just because it connects riders to Metro, MARC and eventually the Purple Line—but because it ties two of Maryland’s major job centers together. Four new stations will be built, including one at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. The federal government has already committed more than $3 million to support the project.
That’s good news, but we are still moving too slowly. The need is real. We are planning eight BRT routes with more than 100 stops across the County, and the sooner we build them, the sooner people can get to jobs, schools and hospitals more easily and affordably.
Through the Ride On Reimagined study, we heard clearly from residents—they want buses that run more often, even if it means walking a bit farther to get to a stop. Flash BRT delivers on that.
Ride On grew faster than almost any other transit system in the country last year. That’s a credit to the people behind the wheel, every one of whom is a union worker committed to public service. Their work is changing lives.
Transit is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a more equitable and sustainable future. If we are serious about economic development, sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, we must address our transit infrastructure. We will not be able to build a stronger economy if people cannot get where they need to go.
Honoring Fallen Heroes
From Patrolman Joseph Asbury Case, who fell in 1928, to Officer Kyle David Olinger, who died in 2019, every one of these individuals represents a life committed to the safety and well-being of our residents who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In Montgomery County, we have worked hard to make policing safer for officers and the public. We ask our officers to be compassionate, to listen and to diffuse situations rather than escalate tensions. Still, it is a dangerous job.
This week, we also recognized our corrections officers during National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. At an awards ceremony, we recognized the people who show up every day for one of the hardest and most underappreciated jobs in government. Corrections work doesn’t often make headlines, and it rarely gets applause, but the work is vital to the safety, well-being and rehabilitation of the people in our care—and the safety of the larger community. This week gave us a moment to pause and say thank you.
May Recognitions: Teachers, Small Business, Nurses, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, Corrections Employees and the People Who Keep This County Moving
May is a month filled with recognitions, making it important to recognize the people and communities that make this County what it is.
This week, I visited a few small businesses in Silver Spring and Burtonsville to hear directly from owners about what is working and what we can do better to serve their needs. Many have gotten support from our Department of Permitting Services, our Business Center, and our Regional Services Centers in Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Eastern Montgomery, Mid-County, Silver Spring and Upcounty. And new programs like the Technology Innovation and Founders Fund are helping small businesses grow.
This week is also Public Service Recognition Week. I have spent most of my life in public service, and I’ve never seen the kind of attacks we’re seeing now on the federal workforce. The people losing their jobs at NIH and HHS aren’t political operatives—they’re scientists, researchers and professionals doing important work for the country. They deserve support, not scapegoating. I encourage you to read some of the public service stories collected by the Partnership for Public Service.
And here in Montgomery County, I want to thank every County employee who is dedicated to keeping our County as a great place to live and work.
At the same time, we must acknowledge that with Trump back in office, so is his xenophobic behavior. I made clear that we will not change our welcoming approach in this county. We know that the diversity of our population makes us stronger
Last December, we launched a streamlined way to report hate and bias incidents online. It’s one part of a broader effort to ensure that everyone in Montgomery County feels safe and respected, including the diverse religions and ethnicities within our AAPI communities.
This County has changed a lot—we’re no longer 90% white—and we are better for it. Celebrating AAPI heritage means standing up for diversity, inclusion and equity. Something that I am proud to say, and wear as a badge of courage against conservative whitewashing of history and cultures.
As an “older American” myself, I am glad that we recognize Older Americans Month in Montgomery County. Aging with dignity is a priority of this County government, which is why we have been recognized as an AARP Age-Friendly Community. We’re one of only six jurisdictions in the state—and by far the largest—to earn that designation.
That’s because we take aging seriously--from transportation to housing to nutrition and social connection, we work to make sure older adults can stay active and engaged. Many of our County employees are older adults themselves, and their experience and leadership are a huge asset to this government and to the people we serve.
Finally, Building Safety Month is a time to recognize the important work our Department of Permitting Services does every day—often behind the scenes—to keep residents safe. They’re offering free deck inspections and sharing helpful tips.
Happy Mother’s Day
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
This will be the last chance to have your voice heard by the Council on this budget, and I highly encourage residents to testify. Several Councilmembers have stated that they are supportive of this modest increase but without it, reductions will be required to MCPS, County government services or the reserves.
Investing in our schools and our students is one of the most critical roles of government. We have not been able to return to the spending per pupil that we had in 2010, before the Great Recession. The chart below shows that, in dollars adjusted for inflation, we were spending $16,806 per student. My recommended budget this year would provide $14,874 per student.
That is why I have recommended a modest increase in the income tax—from 3.2 to 3.3%. To put the increase in perspective, someone with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 would pay an additional $100 per year, which is about $2 a week.
My recommended budget includes this increase so that we can:
- Fully fund the request from Montgomery County Public Schools.
- Preserve vital County services.
- Maintain an 11% reserve, providing a cushion for uncertain times.
- 160 additional special education teachers.
- 500 full-time special education paraeducators—360 of whom are currently part-time without benefits.
- 52 new security staff for our elementary, middle and high schools.
The more recent developer giveaway—Bill 2-25E—lacked the real housing affordability requirements we would normally require for a tax credit and had no financial need assessment on whether subsidies were warranted. (I have already written about projects in development and completed that received no subsidies.) The earlier bill eroded support for necessary infrastructure. How can we justify cutting education investment while handing millions to wealthy developers?
This is not just about fairness—it is about smart economic development. Virginia won the Amazon second headquarters bid not because of low taxes, but because it offered the company a strong educational system and workforce training. And we see this here at home—when AstraZeneca invested $300 million in life sciences research in our County, it was not because we offered the lowest taxes. It was because we invested in education, infrastructure and strategic growth. Strong infrastructure and strong schools drive economic growth. That’s the bottom line.
I want to thank Council Vice President Will Jawando for standing up for our students and our educators. His commitment as Chair of the Education Committee has been unwavering. He joined me during my media briefing this week to discuss prioritizing education funding through my proposed income tax increase.
We are in the final stretch of getting the FY26 budget approved. It's time for us to fight for our students, teachers, paraeducators and support services at MCPS and on behalf of all those who count on County government services—from our older adults on fixed incomes to those who are housing insecure or need subsidized health services to the recently displaced workers due to recent federal government decisions.
AstraZeneca Announcement
We proudly support this expansion with $100,000, which will leverage a $500,000 investment from the State of Maryland.
These are the kinds of targeted incentives that make sense. We are supporting a project that will create more than 150 high-quality jobs and build on our efforts to ensure our County remains one of the largest biomedical clusters in the country. This is what an investment of County dollars can produce. This is no giveaway.
After announcing their plans for this facility just over a year ago, AstraZeneca worked closely with our Department of Permitting Services and County staff to move this project along quickly. I appreciate DPS's work to support this project and its aggressive timeline, which means they will be able to manufacture their life-saving treatments for patients very soon.
This good news is just one part of a much larger story. We have recently seen significant expansions from United Therapeutics in Silver Spring, MilliporeSigma in Rockville and the new University of Maryland’s Institute for Health Computing in North Bethesda.
Montgomery County is a global leader in life sciences because we have worked to attract and retain the right partners. We will continue to do that, whether with large corporations or entrepreneurs, home-grown companies, or those we attract from around the nation and world.
Next month, I will attend the annual BIO International Conference, which is taking place this year in Boston. I look forward to sharing these successes while meeting with other potential bio and life science companies to convince them to relocate or expand to Montgomery County.
Transit Infrastructure and Ride On Flash Expansion
When I first proposed BRT back in 2008, it was because I knew we could not keep growing as a County without rethinking how people move – how do we get them from home to work without ever worsening road conditions? My goal since the beginning was to act quickly and get ahead of Northern Virginia. If we had followed through then, if we had the infrastructure and political will that places like Northern Virginia showed, we would already have a real BRT network. Instead, we are trying to catch up.
My first trip to Howard County to discuss his idea was in 2010, and that is how long people have been working on this.
It is a big deal—not just because it connects riders to Metro, MARC and eventually the Purple Line—but because it ties two of Maryland’s major job centers together. Four new stations will be built, including one at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. The federal government has already committed more than $3 million to support the project.
That’s good news, but we are still moving too slowly. The need is real. We are planning eight BRT routes with more than 100 stops across the County, and the sooner we build them, the sooner people can get to jobs, schools and hospitals more easily and affordably.
Through the Ride On Reimagined study, we heard clearly from residents—they want buses that run more often, even if it means walking a bit farther to get to a stop. Flash BRT delivers on that.
Ride On grew faster than almost any other transit system in the country last year. That’s a credit to the people behind the wheel, every one of whom is a union worker committed to public service. Their work is changing lives.
Transit is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a more equitable and sustainable future. If we are serious about economic development, sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, we must address our transit infrastructure. We will not be able to build a stronger economy if people cannot get where they need to go.
Honoring Fallen Heroes
From Patrolman Joseph Asbury Case, who fell in 1928, to Officer Kyle David Olinger, who died in 2019, every one of these individuals represents a life committed to the safety and well-being of our residents who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In Montgomery County, we have worked hard to make policing safer for officers and the public. We ask our officers to be compassionate, to listen and to diffuse situations rather than escalate tensions. Still, it is a dangerous job.
This week, we also recognized our corrections officers during National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. At an awards ceremony, we recognized the people who show up every day for one of the hardest and most underappreciated jobs in government. Corrections work doesn’t often make headlines, and it rarely gets applause, but the work is vital to the safety, well-being and rehabilitation of the people in our care—and the safety of the larger community. This week gave us a moment to pause and say thank you.
May Recognitions: Teachers, Small Business, Nurses, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, Corrections Employees and the People Who Keep This County Moving
May is a month filled with recognitions, making it important to recognize the people and communities that make this County what it is.
This week, I visited a few small businesses in Silver Spring and Burtonsville to hear directly from owners about what is working and what we can do better to serve their needs. Many have gotten support from our Department of Permitting Services, our Business Center, and our Regional Services Centers in Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Eastern Montgomery, Mid-County, Silver Spring and Upcounty. And new programs like the Technology Innovation and Founders Fund are helping small businesses grow.
This week is also Public Service Recognition Week. I have spent most of my life in public service, and I’ve never seen the kind of attacks we’re seeing now on the federal workforce. The people losing their jobs at NIH and HHS aren’t political operatives—they’re scientists, researchers and professionals doing important work for the country. They deserve support, not scapegoating. I encourage you to read some of the public service stories collected by the Partnership for Public Service.
And here in Montgomery County, I want to thank every County employee who is dedicated to keeping our County as a great place to live and work.
At the same time, we must acknowledge that with Trump back in office, so is his xenophobic behavior. I made clear that we will not change our welcoming approach in this county. We know that the diversity of our population makes us stronger
Last December, we launched a streamlined way to report hate and bias incidents online. It’s one part of a broader effort to ensure that everyone in Montgomery County feels safe and respected, including the diverse religions and ethnicities within our AAPI communities.
This County has changed a lot—we’re no longer 90% white—and we are better for it. Celebrating AAPI heritage means standing up for diversity, inclusion and equity. Something that I am proud to say, and wear as a badge of courage against conservative whitewashing of history and cultures.
As an “older American” myself, I am glad that we recognize Older Americans Month in Montgomery County. Aging with dignity is a priority of this County government, which is why we have been recognized as an AARP Age-Friendly Community. We’re one of only six jurisdictions in the state—and by far the largest—to earn that designation.
That’s because we take aging seriously--from transportation to housing to nutrition and social connection, we work to make sure older adults can stay active and engaged. Many of our County employees are older adults themselves, and their experience and leadership are a huge asset to this government and to the people we serve.
Finally, Building Safety Month is a time to recognize the important work our Department of Permitting Services does every day—often behind the scenes—to keep residents safe. They’re offering free deck inspections and sharing helpful tips.
Happy Mother’s Day
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
