Dear Friends,
Today, Council President Natali Fani-González offered a counterproposal to my FY27 Operating Budget Recommendations. I was quite surprised by this proposal from the Council President proposing dramatic changes to the budget and tax structure.
The timing is ironic given that early in this budget cycle, I proposed a new formula for raising bonding limits, enabling the County to borrow additional funds while remaining within the established thresholds. At that time, the Council President strongly objected to introducing such a change during budget discussions.
Nevertheless, my staff and I are currently reviewing her proposal as quickly as we are able, and I expect we will have more analysis next week.
For now, I would note that her proposal to eliminate the homeowner tax credit, known as ITOC, would result in most homeowners paying more property taxes than they would have under my proposal. To explain, the ITOC is a flat $692 credit against property taxes for every homeowner who claims their home as their principal residence. For anyone whose home is valued at under $1,090,000, their property taxes would be higher under her proposal than mine.
Additionally, her proposal would eliminate the Working Families Income Supplement, which is aimed at helping the working poor. While she does propose lowering the income tax for those with an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000, most low-income workers would likely see less money in their pockets under her proposal.
Of course, it will be up to the Council to make the final budget decisions, and I hope they will hold to the principles in my budget of supporting our schools, honoring the contracts with our County and school workers, and helping the most vulnerable among us.
Conclusion of 2026 General Assembly Session
Another legislative session in Annapolis is completed. I want to thank our elected leaders, especially our Montgomery County delegation members, for their work on behalf of our residents.
Our Montgomery County delegation, summarized in a letter published this week, increased state aid to the County by more than 6% and advanced projects that improve our schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and communities.
The General Assembly allocated $172 million to fund more than 130 capital projects across the County, including around $54 million for 11 schools. That is a $37 million dollar (21%) increase over last year. There is also $15 million earmarked for the Nancy K. Kopp Public Schools Facilities Priority Fund, to give our County and schools more flexibility in addressing needs.
Around $134 million will be spent on capital projects, including water quality improvements, work on the Montgomery College campus in Germantown, and redevelopment in White Oak. Other projects improve our quality of life by improving bike trails, theaters, libraries, and parks.
I want to thank the state legislators for their work to help protect our immigrant communities from the wrath of Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, and specifically ICE. The Maryland Community Trust Act sets clear, statewide rules that keep local law enforcement focused on public safety. We already have a similar Trust Act in Montgomery County, and it is good to have it statewide. On the last day of the session, the legislature also passed several other bills related to immigration enforcement, including civil penalties regarding masking and measures to prevent personal data from being released to immigration authorities. Thank you to Maryland Matters for their report on these bills.
There are other measures in the works to support our immigrant residents.
- The County Values Act requires warrants for access to non-public spaces, restricts use of County property, and trains staff on how to respond.
- The County Council is also moving forward with the ICE Out Act to prevent private detention centers.
- The Vehicle Recovery Act would make sure families can retrieve cars after detentions.
Another highlight of this year’s session is the Utility RELIEF Act. It’s expected to save the average resident about $150 a year. The State pulled $282 million from the green energy fund and redirected $100 million from other energy programs to lower those utility surcharges.
I am glad that the Vax Act passed to strengthen vaccination protections for families across Maryland by allowing the Maryland Department of Health to issue official recommendations based on science rather than relying on the vaccination skeptics and deniers who are currently running the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, like RFK Jr.
Maryland’s passage of the Massage Therapy Advertising bill and the State Acupuncture Board revisions strengthen oversight of these industries, helping prevent exploitation and shut down illegal activity that can be tied to human trafficking. These changes were advocated for through testimony from our Human Trafficking Prevention Committee and build on Montgomery County’s “Look Before You Book” campaign, which helps residents recognize warning signs and make informed choices about where they seek services.
This budget also brings complications. It cuts $127 million from planned growth in services for individuals with developmental disabilities. This is a cost shift that will place a greater burden on our Department of Health and Human Services and community partners. I’m also very concerned about the nonprofits' ability to absorb the cuts and maintain staffing levels. The blame for this lies squarely with the federal administration, which has targeted our County and our state.
This year's work by our delegation is a testament to the continued dedication of our local lawmakers. They’ve helped secure funding and supported legislation that benefits immigrant communities, prevents evictions, protects the environment, and expands economic development.
On my media briefing this week, I welcomed Maryland Senator Craig Zucker (D-14) to discuss the budget. You can watch that conversation on the County’s YouTube channel .
For more information about the bills passed by the 2026 General Assembly, please visit the Maryland General Assembly’s website.
Arrest Made in Bradley Hills Elementary School Incident
I was greatly relieved to see that MCPD arrested the accused vandal and arsonist terrorizing Bradley Hills Elementary School.
These incidents have unsettled the community, causing fear and anxiety for families with kids who attend the school, staff members who work there, and neighbors. I appreciate the way Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service collaborated to address this threat. And they were able to find the evidence and identify the suspect quickly.
We don’t know what motivated these terrible actions, but we all need to take them seriously. When safety concerns arise about the threats of mass violence, the first call should be to the police through 911, or MCPD’s non-emergency phone number at 301-279-8000.
I want the community to know that increased patrols within MCPD’s second district will continue in and around the Bradley Hills campus. Thank you to everyone for their continued vigilance and collaborative work.
New Website Launches Next Week
We have some exciting news to share about the way many of you get information about Montgomery County. Our website, montgomerycountymd.gov, is getting a new look starting on Monday, April 20.
Our goal is to make it easier for you to learn about County services, get your questions answered, and learn about news directly from the County. It also gives us a chance to clear out outdated information and make our website easier for everyone to use, whether you access it on your phone, tablet, or computer.
You’ll notice a cleaner look across all departments and a more user-friendly way to access content. Public input played a pivotal role in shaping the redesign. Insights from a survey of over 5,700 users revealed that almost 60% accessed the site via mobile devices, with many expressing challenges in locating information and navigating across various County departments.
To address these concerns, the updated website will feature pop-up surveys, enabling users to provide direct feedback. This proactive approach will assist the County in promptly identifying and resolving any issues or navigation difficulties, ensuring a smoother and more user-friendly experience for all visitors.
I encourage residents to check out our new website and to please share their feedback with us.
Operating Budget and the SALT Deduction
Wednesday’s Tax Day was good for many Marylanders. The same federal legislation that has been cutting services, pulling back from education funding, and shifting responsibilities for essential services to states and counties has also delivered a significant tax benefit to many Montgomery County residents.
Trump’s One Beautiful Bill reduced the burden on many County residents. The President’s plan to shift program costs to the states will put the burden on local governments like ours. For example, the hit on health insurance is projected to leave thousands in our county unable to afford insurance. We are not proposing to backfill all those costs, but our health care system anticipates that thousands of people will have to turn to our clinics for care, which doesn’t fit in last year’s budget.
I’m amazed that people who cheered the tax cuts ignore the part about who will have to pick up the bill. The cuts to programs the federal government used to fund, along with the shifting of responsibility to us, have real costs. On top of that, the President targeted Maryland and Montgomery County for major reductions that have impacted growth projections and revenue growth. For us, revenues are still increasing, but at a far lower rate than before Trump.
Federal shrinkage not only decreased federal employment but also affected the private sector. Look at the life sciences sector: the President is attacking research that Robert Kennedy, Jr., doesn’t like.
The State, as we all know, has been hit hard, and it has both reduced some of what it does and shifted costs to the counties. It is unrealistic not to expect it to have a budget impact, and I don’t think it’s smart to shrug it off. We expect more homelessness, more hunger, more uninsured residents, and less support for education and economic development – these are issues that have to be dealt with.
We all know that the President wants to see us walk away from these programs – his whole philosophy is that government programs foster dependency, and if we stopped housing people, for example, they would just go out and get jobs and find housing. He may not care about what happens, but I do.
This week, I asked our Office of Management and Budget team to provide four different resident scenarios to demonstrate the combined impact of my proposed property tax increase, along with the federal tax cuts and changes. The graphic below outlines these scenarios.
The first scenario would be a typical renter making about $100,000 per year. They would only pay an additional $33 in income tax, while they are projected to get a federal tax cut between $430 and $994.
The second scenario would be a family making $225,000 per year with a house valued at $640,000. They would owe the County an extra $75 in income tax and $403 in property tax, for a total of $478. Their federal tax benefits fall between $1,600 and $3,000.
The third scenario would be a family making $500,000 per year with a house valued at $1.25 million. They would pay $167 more in income tax and $788 more in property tax, for a total of $954. Their federal tax cut would be in the range of $9,600 to over $10,000. These large increases are driven by the increase in the State and Local tax – or SALT - deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000.
And the final scenario is retirees. If a retiree has an income of about $100,000 per year and lives in a house valued at $800,000, they would pay the County an extra $33 in income tax and an additional $504 in property taxes. However, the federal tax cuts they received range from $720 to $1,320. These federal tax cuts for retirees are also driven by SALT deductions and a new senior deduction for those over 65, which allows an additional $6,000 deduction.
These federal tax benefits don’t come without strings attached. Those strings include less federal funding to the County and State for education, health care, services for older adults, and housing – especially for those who are unhoused.
I am committed to maintaining these services because the demands from them are only increasing. I hope the County Council will support this approach because there aren’t any magical solutions here. And if they don’t make the necessary revenue changes this year, our financial stability will only worsen next year. The State is already talking about an even larger deficit and likely more cuts, unless they’re willing to consider adding revenues.
Have a look at my ideas for adding revenue through special taxing districts that I summarized in my executive message. I think it’s important that we figure out how to avoid going into a downward spiral.
Tragedy in Virginia
What happened this week in neighboring Fairfax County, where former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is reported to have killed his wife before taking his own life, is a tragedy that is hard to comprehend. Our thoughts are with the family, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this loss.
Incidents like this shake people, not just because of the violence, but because they force us to confront something that too often stays hidden. Domestic violence does not follow a single pattern. It cuts across income, education, profession, and public standing. What may look stable or successful from the outside can mask fear, control, and harm behind closed doors. That reality makes it harder for people to come forward and easier for warning signs to be missed or dismissed.
This is why awareness matters. It is why early intervention matters. And it is why access to support can make the difference between safety and danger. In Montgomery County, we have tried to build a system that meets people where they are and provides a path to help. The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council works across agencies and with community partners to strengthen prevention, improve responses, and make sure victims are not navigating this alone.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are people ready to listen and help. Reaching out can feel difficult, especially when there is fear or uncertainty, but no one should have to handle this on their own. Montgomery County provides direct services for people who need immediate help or support:
- The Montgomery County Family Justice Center offers a single location where survivors can access legal assistance, counseling, safety planning, and other critical services. They are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 240-773-0444.
- The Montgomery County Crisis Center is available 24 hours a day for walk-ins and anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or in need of urgent support. Their phone number is 240-777-4000.
- Montgomery County Trauma Services provides care for those dealing with the impact of violence and traumatic events. Their offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and their phone number is 240-777-1355. Their 24/7 crisis line is 240-777-4357. Counseling services are by appointment only, with evening hours available.
If you see something concerning, take it seriously. If you need help, ask for it. There are people here who will respond.
Maryland Prescription Drug Board
For years, I’ve been advocating for changes at the State level to lower prescription drug costs in Maryland. The work of the Maryland Health Care for All coalition and the Maryland Prescription Affordability Board will be lifesaving. Our State adopted the first board like this in the nation, and other states have since adopted it.
The latest move to set upper payment limits on the diabetes drug, Jardiance, is the first action under this law. You can watch Wednesday’s announcement thanks to Maryland Healthcare for All. It is great to see all the amazing scientific breakthroughs in health care, but if people can’t afford the drugs, the benefits are diminished. On the flip side, when drugs that people want to use are affordable, it improves overall health, which reduces the long-term costs of health care.
I want to thank Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and members of our delegation, such as Sen. Brian Feldman and Del. Bonnie Cullison, for their efforts. And I am glad to be a part of a bipartisan group of County Executives and the Mayor of Baltimore that supported and advocated for these reforms.
Learn more about the cost review study process and how the board works on the Prescription Drug Affordability Board website.
Appreciation for Our 911 and 311 Operators
This week marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a chance to recognize the voices behind the headsets.
Public safety telecommunicators are the first, most critical link in any emergency. They provide vital information, support first responders in the field, and help protect our community. Their calm, skill, and professionalism save lives every day.
Another group handles public calls, too. Our 311 Customer Service Center connects our residents to vital County services. They’re available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday, by calling 311 or 240-777-0311 from outside the County. They can help customers in over 150 languages via chat on mc311.org.
We are grateful for the compassion and commitment of all our telecommunicators. Whether their mission is public safety or making sure you know how to get a pothole fixed, our professionals are there to help you.
Coming Up on April 25th: Taste of Burtonsville and GreenFest
I want to highlight two events coming up later this month that should both draw many people.
A lot of people are excited about the very first Taste of Burtonsville. It’s happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Marilyn J Praisner Community Recreation Center on Old Columbia Pike. It is an opportunity to celebrate local restaurants, hear live music, and come together for family fun, with kids under 12 admitted free.
East County has seen tremendous commercial growth over the last few years, following many economic development projects that stalled for too long. Now that we’ve seen many companies open, it is time to celebrate and enjoy what they bring to the table.
You can visit the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce website if you’re interested in learning more or scroll to the bottom of the page if you’d like to volunteer for the event.
Also on Saturday, April 25, I’d like to invite you to participate in GreenFest 2026. It has been more than 10 years since the first community gathering in Silver Spring to encourage more people to focus on their environmental impact.
This year’s celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Blackrock Center for the Arts in Germantown. It’s an opportunity to learn and take action together at one of my favorite events of the year. I like how it connects people with valuable resources, including volunteer opportunities, sustainability programs, and rebates and incentives for home electrification. Real change starts with knowledge, and events like this help to educate, inspire, and empower our community.
We have ambitious climate goals, but we’re making progress year by year in reducing our carbon emissions. The only way we reach 100% reduction by 2035 is if everyone participates. A few weeks ago, I highlighted the 250 Actions challenge in honor of the County’s 250th anniversary. Visitors will learn more about that push to make your home, office, or neighborhood more sustainable.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
